Performance of tomato as influenced by organic manure and sowing date in Samaru, Zaria

A field trial was conducted to study the performance of tomato as influenced by organic manure and sowing date during the 2013 dry season at the Teaching and Research Farm of Samaru College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria on the growth and yield of tomato. Treatments consist of control, cow dung, goat manure and poultry manure and sowing date of 8th January, 2013, 22nd January, 2013, 5th February, 2013 and 19th February, 2013 dry season and laid out in a split plot design with organic manure assigned to the main plots; whereas sowing date to the sub plots with three replications. Data were collected on growth and yield parameters; vine length, number of leaves plant-1, number of branches plant-1, leaf area plant-1, number of flowers plant-1, number of fruits plant-1, fruit weight plant-1, fruit yield plot-1 and fruit yield hectare-1. Results obtained indicated that growth and yield of tomato was lowest in control treatments which showed that the organic manure and sowing date used in the study especially poultry manure and sowing date of 5th February, 2013 promoted the yield of tomato. Poultry manure and sowing date 5th February, 2013 enhanced tomato vine length, number of leaves plant-1, number of branches plant-1, number of flowers plant-1, number of fruits plant-1, fruit weight plant-1, fruit yield plot-1 and fruit yield hectare-1 compared to control treatments. There was no significant effect with respect to leaf area plant-1, number of fruits plant-1 and fruit weight plant-1.