POULTRY MANURE AND SPACING AS IT AFFECT GROWTH PARAMETERS OF TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicum L.) IN YOLA ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum (L.)) is an important vegetable and cheap source of vitamin C, thus ranks number one in contribution to diet. It is widely grown in many tropical areas of the world including Nigeria. However, average yield as obtained by the local farmers in Nigeria is low, due mainly to lack of adequate information on the proper agronomic and cultural practice involve in tomato farming for optimal yield. Field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Production and Horticulture, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria, in the cropping seasons of 2021, 2022 and 2023 to evaluate how poultry manure and spacing affects growth Parameters of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum (L)). The treatment consisted of five poultry manure levels (0 tons/ha, 15 tons/ha, 20 tons/ha, 25 tons/ha and 30 tons/ha) as the main plot treatments and five spacing intervals (90x60 cm, 80x40 cm, 60x30 cm, 50x50 cm and 40x20 cm) as sub-plot treatments. The experiment was laid on a split plot design and was replicated three times. Three Tomato cultivars (Tandino, UTC and Dansiriya) were used. Appropriate agronomic practices recommended for the production of tomato were carried out to ensure optimum performance. The parameters measured were plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, stem girth. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and significantly different means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD). The result showed that 30tons/ha poultry manure significantly affected plant height (61.43 cm), number of branches per plant (5.087), 25tons/ha poultry manure performed better on stem girth (4.344 cm), 20 tons/ha poultry manure significantly affected number of leaves per plant (25.891). Plant spaced 60x30 cm performed better on stem girth. It is therefore recommended that farmers should plant Tandino cultivar and applied 30 tons/ha rate of poultry manure as well as spacing tomato 60x30 cm for optimum growth of tomato in the study area.