Effects of Different Animal Manure Combined with Carbonized Rice Hull on the Growth and Yield Performance of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different animal manure to tomato production. The study adapted the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) of experiment having five (5) treatments which were; Treatment A- 40% Horse manure with 10% carbonized rice hull and 50% Garden soil; Treatment B- 40% Cattle manure with 10% carbonized rice hull and 50% Garden soil; Treatment C- 40% Goat manure with 10% carbonized rice hull and 50% garden soil; Treatment D- 40% Vermicast with 10% carbonized rice hull and 50% Garden soil; Treatment E- 100% Garden soil Control and were replicated three (3) times. It appeared that the application of cattle manure & carbonized rice hull combination and goat manure & carbonized rice hull combination had significantly influenced the total weight harvested, weight of yield per harvest and number of fruits per harvest of tomato. The fruit diameter was significantly affected by the application of horse manure and carbonized rice hull combination. The growth increment, average number of days from flowering to first harvest and fruit length of tomato were not directly influenced by the different organic fertilizer and soil enhancer applied. Therefore, the different animal manure mixed with carbonized rice hull applied as fertilizer gave uniform response to the tomatoes in its vegetative stage. Combining or mixing all the treatments (animal manure) and carbonized rice hull applied in the study would give significant results to the organic production of tomatoes.