EFFECT OF IRRIGATION INTERVAL AND PLANT DENSITY ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF TWO TOMATO (Lyeopersicon esculcntum Mill) CULTIVARS AT SAMARU, NIGERIA
EFFECT OF IRRIGATION INTERVAL AND PLANT DENSITY ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF TWO TOMATO (Lyeopersicon esculcntum Mill) CULTIVARS AT SAMARU, NIGERIA
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Date
1999-02
Authors
RILWANU, DAYI UMAR
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Abstract
Field trials were conducted at the Institute for Agricultural Research (I.A.R) farm
Samaru, Zaria, during the 1994/95 and 1995/96 dry seasons to determine the response of two
tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) cultivars to varying irrigation interval and plant
density. The treatments consisted of two tomato cultivars namely TI106 and TI 539, three
irrigation intervals (5, 10 and 15 days) and three plant densities (27750, 55500 and 83250
plants/ha). These were arranged in a split-plot design in which the combinations of irrigation
interval and plant density were allocated to the main plots while the varieties were assigned to
sub plots and these were replicated three times. The result indicated that variety TI 106 was
significantly superior to TI 539 in terms of all growth parameters, such as total fruit yield per
hectare, fruit yield per plant, and proportion of unmarketable fruits. However, TI 539 has
significantly larger fruits size than TI 106. Extension of irrigation interval from 5 to 15 days
reduced growth and yield parameters measured on both trials. The proportion of unmarketable
fruits was however significantly reduced by drier condition as the irrigation interval was
extended from 5 to 15 days. The plant height, leaf area index and total yield per hectare
responded positively to increasing plant density from 27750 to 83250 plants/ha although the
differences between 5550 and 83250 plants/ha were not significant. But unlike the positive
response of the plant height, leaf area index and total fruit yield/ha to increasing plant density
and other growth and yield parameters responded negatively to increasing plant density beyond
27750 plants/ha. In the 1995/96 dry season trial, significant and positive correlation (P-0.01)
was obseived between tomato total fruit yield/ha and growth and yield parameters tested, except
with the exception of leaf area index
Description
A thesis submitted to the Postgraduate School, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,
in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Agronomy.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY, FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA.
FEB. 1999
Keywords
IRRIGATION,, INTERVAL,, PLANT DENSITY, TOMATO,, (Lyeopersicon esculcntum Mill),, CULTIVARS,, SAMARU, NIGERIA