2025/06/08 by Njoku, E. A., Onoh, C. M., Agah, L. J. +3
#Fertilization #Productivity #Storability #Tomatoes #Varieties
paper · doi:10.82552/njhs.v29i1.61-71
Tomato is a global crop with high nutritional and health values. Its storability may be affected by variety, fertilizer type and storage materials. The experiments conducted at the Department of Crop Science Research farm and Teaching Laboratory of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka, determined the effect of variety and fertilizer on growth, yield and storability of two tomato varieties. The fruit storability of tomato varieties (Cobra and Roma) grown with three rates of fertilizer application (20 t/ha of poultry-manure, 300 kg/ha of NPK 15:15:15 and 0 t/ha) was evaluated using perforated bags (paper, polyethylene) and plastic egg-crate. Randomized complete block design with four replications and completely randomized design with three replications were used for field and laboratory experiments, respectively. Data were analyzed using GenStat (12.1 edition). Treatment means were separated using least significant difference at 5% probability level. Cobra and Roma did not significantly (p > 0.05) differ in number of branches, trusses, and fruits. Cobra significantly flowered and fruited earlier, produced higher fruit weight (502.75 g) than Roma (407.62 g). Poultry manure significantly produced more number of branches and trusses, flowered and fruited earlier, produced more fruits and higher fruit weight. Storage method significantly did not differ in number of rotten roots. Cobra, poultry-manure and egg crate lost the least weight. Roma, unfertilized fruits and paper bag had fewer number of shrunk roots. The combination of Cobra and poultry-manure produced the least number of rotten fruits. Thus, the application of poultry manure (20 t/ha) significantly increased tomato growth and fruit yield. Tomato fruits could be better stored in egg crates.