Comparative Growth and Yield of Roma vf Tomato Fruits with Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer

Abstract

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) is a perishable nutritive fruit vegetable with high organic acid content. It is a C3 plant which explains its low yield due to photorespiration. However, the productivity of the plant is enhanced by the use of fertilizers. The experiments were conducted at the Directorate of University Farms (DUFARMS), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), between 2014 and 2015 to evaluate the effects of fertilizer type on tomato productivity. Two nutrient sources were investigated: NPK 15:15:15 (300 kg/ha); Poultry manure (20 t/ha) and the Unfertilized plots, as the control were assessed in growing tomato variety Roma VF using a Randomized Complete Block Design replicated three times. Data were collected on plant height, leaf area, number of flowers, fruit yield and unit fruit weight. Data were subjected to Analysis of Variance and the mean values were separated using Least Significant Difference at 5% probability level. Plants grown using poultry manure had taller plants, more leaves, more branches and more flowers. Plants treated with NPK 15:15:15 had higher yield and unit fruit weight in 2014 than 2015. However, there was no significant difference in the yield and unit fruit weight across treatment. In 2015, plants treated with poultry manure had higher yield and unit fruit weight than plants grown using NPK 15:15:15 and plants from the unfertilized treatment.