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Tillage is expected to influence growth, yield and nutrient status of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum, Mill.) plant, but there is scarcity of research to investigate the relationship between tillage and performance parameters of tomato. Hence the variation in soil physical and chemical properties, tomato growth, plant nutrient contents and fruit yield in response to different tillage methods and seedling bed types and positions, were investigated on an alfisol (Ferric Luvisol) at Akure in the rainforest zone of Nigeria. Different bed types for transplanted tomato seedlings were created using herbicide-based zero tillage, manual clearing (a form of zero tillage), top, side and base positions of ridges and mounds for planting seedlings of early and late season tomato crops. The soil at the top, side and base positions of ridges and mounds had lower bulk densities that was associated with greater root length, plant height, number of stems, branches and number of leaves and weight of tomato fruits, and leaf nutrient contents compared with zero tillage and manually cleared soils. Planting on ridge or mound positions increased the number of fruits and fruit weight by 200 and 100%, respectively, compared with planting on untilled soils. Soil bulk density was negatively correlated with root growth and leaf nutrient content. Tomato requires tillage for optimum productivity. #

Purpose This research work described the effect of organic waste (poultry manure) on soil cumulative infiltration rate (CIR), soil organic matter (SOM), and maize performance on two contrasting alfisols of southwestern Nigeria. Methods Six treatments of poultry manure were applied in split at 0 Mg/ha, 2 Mg/ha, 4 Mg/ha, 6 Mg/ha, 8 Mg/ha, and 10 Mg/ha, in replicate under a completely randomized design to clay loam (CL) and sandy clay loam (SCL) soils, at 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after the initial application. Results The results showed significant increases (P < 0.05) in CIR, SOM, and maize performance compared to the control in both soils. Poultry manure at 10 Mg/ha recorded the highest SOM which was significantly (P < 0.05) different from other application rates in both soils. The mean values for SOM in SCL were between 0.67 and 3.75% for 0 Mg/ha and 10 Mg/ha, while the mean values recorded for CL were between 0.80 and 4.35% at 0 Mg/ha and 10 Mg/ha. Poultry manure reduced CIR in the SCL, but improved CIR with increasing rates on CL. Poultry manure at 4-10 Mg/ha increased the maize shoot biomass significantly (P < 0.05). However, the application rate of 6 Mg/ha manure recorded the highest fresh shoot biomass, while 8 Mg/ha increased dry shoot biomass in both soils. Conclusion This study indicated that poultry manure applied at 10 Mg/ha gave the best results in improving CIR, SOM, and maize performance on different soil types.

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