RESPONSE OF TOMATO (Lycopersicon lycopersucum KARST) VARIETIES AS INFLUENCED BY STAKING, IRRIGATION INTERVAL AND POULTRY MANAURE IN SOUTH- SOUTH ECOLOGICAL ZONE, NIGERIA.

Ogboi .E. and Odeh, H.O

Department of Agricultural Technology

Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro

Email: ogboied@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Field experiment was conducted during 2014/2015 dry season at Irrigation Research Station in demonstration research farm of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro to study the “response of tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum Karst) varieties as influenced by staking, irrigation interval and poultry manure at Ozoro. The treatment consisted of staking (staked and unstaked), two tomato varieties (UC 82B and Petomech VF) and three poultry manure rates (0,6 and 12 tonnes ha^-1), which were combined factorially in split plot design where staking and irrigation interval were allocated to main plot while tomatoe varieties and poultry manure were assigned to sub plots. The treatments were replicated three times. The result showed a significant effect of staking on number of branches and plant height only, where staked tomato produced taller plants with higher number of branches. Similarly irrigation interval effects was significant, in which 15 days irrigation interval produced plants with higher number of branches and fruit as well as higher fresh fruit yield compared to 10 and 20 days irrigation intervals. The result indicated that Petomech VF was significantly taller compared to UC 82B. poultry manure at the rate of 12 tonnes ha¹ gave the higher fresh fruits yield in both varieties. In conclusion, 15 day irrigation interval with manure application of 12 tonness ha^-1 on staked tomato gave higher fresh yield in both varieties while Petomech VF out yielded UC 82B.

Keywords: Experiment, Varieties, Poultry, Manure.