EFFECTS OF SPACING AND POULTRY MANURE ON THE YIELD PARAMETERS OF TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicum L.) IN YOLA ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA\

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important vegetables worldwide. As it is a relatively short duration crop and gives a high yield, it is economically attractive and the area under cultivation is increasing daily. It is widely grown in many tropical areas of the world including Nigeria. However, average yield as obtained by the local farmers in Nigeria has been low, due mainly to lack of adequate information on the spacing and incorporation of poultry manure 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 the effects of Spacing and poultry manure levels on yield 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 days to 50% flowering, days to 50% fruiting, fruit weight and number of fruits per plant. 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 number of fruits per plant (26.689), days to 50% flowering (29.422 days) and days to 50 % fruiting (43.29 days), while 15 tons/ha poultry manure performed better on fruit weight (61.87g). The tomato Plant that were spaced 60x30 cm significantly affected the fruit weight. Across the year’s interaction between Dansiriya X 30 tons/ha X 40x20 cm spacing produced the highest (34.667) number of fruits per plant. so also, interaction effect between 2022 cropping season X UTC cultivar X 30 tons/ha PM recorded the highest (26.266) number fruit per plant. It is therefore recommended that farmers should plant Tandino cultivar and applies 30 tons/ha rate of poultry manure as well as adopt spacing of 60x30 cm for optimum tomato yield in the study area.