PAPER TITLE : GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSE OF TOMATO PLANTS GROWN UNDER DIFFERENT SUBSTRATES CULTURE

JOURNAL Of SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY | VOLUME 9 NUMBER 2 2018

Paper Details

  • Author(s) : OLUBANJO, O.O. * and ALADE, A.E.
  • Abstract:

 The knowledge and choice of suitable substrates for growing tomatoes using hydroponic techniques is not known to many. Therefore, this research determines the effect of substrates on optimum growth, yield and nutrient composition of tomato plant so as to form an effective support system to be used for plants in soilless farming methods. This research was carried out at the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering experimental farm, Federal University of Technology, Akure. Tomatoes plants were subjected to two different substrates (rice husk and sawdust) and soil. The study includes agronomic, physiological response, growth, biomass yield, water and nutrient, proximate and mineral composition. The results showed that rice husk gave the highest plant height of 42.74 cm, number of leaves of 120.60 and stem girth of 0.57 cm, respectively while soil gave the lowest plant height of 27.80 cm, number of leaves of 67.40 and stem girth of 0.42 cm. Higher yields were also recorded from rice husk while the soil has the least yield. The physiological appearance and the yields were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the various treatments due to effects of the substrates physicochemical features and the planting methods. The proximate and mineral composition of the fruits were higher in the fruit from rice husk and least in the fruits from the soil. These were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the treatments effects as a result of its physicochemical features and the planting methods. With the outcome of this research, it is strongly advised that soilless farming should be embraced by farmers in areas where there are limitations of land for agricultural activities.
Keywords: Growth, Yield, Tomatoes, Substrate culture, Hydroponic, Soilless farming methods