Effects of Tillage Methods on Soil Properties, Nutrient Content, Growth and Yield of Tomato on an Alfisol of Southwestern Nigeria

Adekiya, A.O and Agbede, T.M and Ojomo, A.O (2009) Effects of Tillage Methods on Soil Properties, Nutrient Content, Growth and Yield of Tomato on an Alfisol of Southwestern Nigeria. American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 3 (3). pp. 348-353.

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Abstract

Information on the tillage requirements of tomato is inadequate and contradictory. Five tillage methods were compared as to their effect on soil physical and chemical properties, leaf nutrient concentration and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum, Mill). Tillage methods compared during 2006 and 2007 for the early and late seasons on Oxic Tropuldalf at Owo in rainforest zone of Nigeria were manual clearing, manual mounding, ploughing, ploughing plus harrowing and ploughing plus harrowing plus ridging. Ploughing plus harrowing plus ridging produced the highest mean fruit weight (8.16 t/ha), plant height, tap root length followed by manual mounding (7.05 t/ha), ploughing plus harrowing (6.24 t/ha) and ploughing (5.81 t/ha). The lowest yield (5.03 t/ha) was produced by manual clearing. The tillage treatments had lower bulk densities and higher leaf N, P, K, Ca and Mg compared with manual clearing. Soil bulk density was negatively correlated with leaf nutrient concentration in both years. Ploughing plus harrowing plus ridging improved nutrient availability and yield of tomato on an Alfisol because of reduced soil bulk density. Compared with manual clearing, manual mounding, ploughing, ploughing plus harrowing and ploughing plus harrowing plus ridging increased tomato fruit yield by 40, 16, 24 and 62%, respectively. Ploughing plus harrowing plus ridging is recommended for commercial production of tomato on Alfisol of humid tropics.

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