Research Article

Effect of NPK and poultry manure on selected soil properties, and performance of snake tomato (Trichosanthes cucumerina) in Wukari, Taraba State, Northeastern Nigeria

Waizah, Y.1*, JOHN WAMARHYEL GUNDIRI2
1 Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Federal University Wukari. Taraba State, Nigeria
2 UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI
* Corresponding author: waizahyakub@gmail.com
Published: Aug, 2025
DOI: 10.67042/njss.2025.r5d33id8
Pages: 1-6
Views: 778
Downloads: 836

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of NPK and poultry manure (PM) on selected soil properties and performance of snake tomato. The experiment was laid out in a randomized, complete block design with four treatments and three replicates. The treatments are 240 kg/ha NPK 15:15:15, 20 tons/ha PM, 120 kg/ha NPK 15:15:15 + 10 tons/ha PM, and control. The soil was loamy sand with low OC, N and P. The parameters assessed were leaf area, number of leaves, plant girth, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit girth, and number of seeds/fruit. The data generated were subjected to an analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means were be separated using LSD. The combined application of NPK and PM significantly improved the fertility status of the soil in terms of organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases, and cation exchange capacity compared to the other treatments, while Zn, Cu and Fe content were improved by poultry manure treatment. Similarly, the combined application of NPK and PM performed better than all the treatments, recording highest leaf area of 6.2, 12.1, 12.3, and 12.7 at weeks 4, 6, 8, and 10, respectively,. Also higher number of leaves at weeks 4, 6, 8, and 10 (40.1, 54.4, 59.9, and 66.6) was also observed with the combined treatment. The combined use of NPK and PM, producing the highest fruit weight (566.7g), dry weight (25.7g), and number of seeds per fruit significantly enhanced the yield components, although fruit length and girth were statistically similar across fertilized treatments. The result show that mixing NPK fertilizer with PM improves soil fertility, plant growth, and yield of snake tomatoes and is hence recommended.

Keywords

Snake tomato Growth parameters Soil properties Poultry manure

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How to Cite

Y., W., & GUNDIRI, J. W. (2025). Effect of NPK and poultry manure on selected soil properties, and performance of snake tomato (Trichosanthes cucumerina) in Wukari, Taraba State, Northeastern Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, 34(2), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.67042/njss.2025.r5d33id8

W. Y., and J. W. GUNDIRI, "Effect of NPK and poultry manure on selected soil properties, and performance of snake tomato (Trichosanthes cucumerina) in Wukari, Taraba State, Northeastern Nigeria," Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 1-6, August 2025. doi: 10.67042/njss.2025.r5d33id8

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