Soil Type and Amendment Influence Growth and Yield of Tomatoes Lycopersicon esculentum L. in the Humid Mt Cameroon Region

Abstract

Global demand for food, coupled with degrading soils in sub Saharan Africa necessitates novel approaches to soil fertility management. Recently, amendments other than inorganic fertilizers are being promoted to improve crop yield. They vary from region to region and crop to crop. The aim of this research was to investigate the efficacy of deep litter poultry manure as a soil amendment in tomato production in Cameroon. We tested the effects of poultry manure at 60 t ha -1 and NPK 20:10:10 at 300kg ha -1 in a Randomised Complete Block Design, with the treatment sites blocked by soil type. Classical growth parameters were measured weekly. Yield attributes were measured following harvest, and data submitted to RT ANOVA and Repeated measures ANOVA in the Minitab Version 16 statistical package. Both the organic and inorganic soil amendments increased growth and yield of tomato, but this effect was more significant in plots treated with poultry manure at 60 t ha -1 two weeks before planting. Growth effects were not clear-cut across sites and were probably mitigated by sitespecific differences in rates of nutrient-leaching. We recommend poultry manure at 60 t ha -1 to small holder tomato farmers in the humid tropics.

Growth and Yield Response to Fertilizer Application and Nutritive Quality of Huckleberry (Solanum scabrum Mill.) Varieties Cultivatedin the Mount Cameroon Region

“…The Mount Cameroon Region is located in the South West Region of Cameroon and covers an area of main mass of about 50 km long and 35 km wide [18]. This study was carried out between the months of February and October 2016 within the Mount Cameroon Region precisely in the Faculty of Science Research Farm, University of Buea, Cameroon.…”

“…This study was carried out between the months of February and October 2016 within the Mount Cameroon Region precisely in the Faculty of Science Research Farm, University of Buea, Cameroon. Buea is located on the eastern slope of Mount Cameroon [18]. The area has a predominantly humid tropical climate, showing a definite rainy and dry season [19].…”

“…The area has a predominantly humid tropical climate, showing a definite rainy and dry season [19]. The mean rainfall and temperature of Buea is 2800 mm and 23˚C per annum respectively [18]. The soils are volcanic in origin and have been considered relatively fertile.…”

“…The soils are volcanic in origin and have been considered relatively fertile. In spite of this, intensive and continuous cultivation of crops on these soils have left them nutrient deficient [18]. Soil samples were collected from the same study site at 0-10 cm dept before experiment and routine chemical analyses carried out as reported by Egbe et al [20].…”

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“…Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one of the most important vegetable crops in the world (Mfombep et al, 2016;María et al, 2019). In Africa, it is the vegetable species most cultivated because it is part of many diets.…”