Influence of Plant and Animal Manures on Soil Chemical Properties and Tomato (lycopersicum Esculentum) Yield

Low nutrient status of tropical soils requires external source of nutrients for sustainable cropping. Field experiments were conducted in 2009 and 2010 cropping seasons at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria to evaluate the effect of plant and animal manures on soil chemical properties and yield of tomato. Treatments used were: poultry manure (PM), Tithonia diversifolia composted with poultry manure (CP), Fresh Tithonia diversifolia (GM), Neem organo compound Fertilizer (NF), Sunshine organo-mineral Fertilizer at the rate of 10 t/ha, N-P-K 20-10-10 (CF) at the rate of 120 Kg N/ha and control (C), Randomized Complete Block Design was used with four replicates. The test crop was tomato (Lycopersicum esculentus). Parameters evaluated were: plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, yield and uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Post-planting soil samples were analyzed for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, pH, organic matter, calcium and potassium. Data were analyzed using the analysis of variance. Results showed that neem organo compound fertilizer significantly increased tomato height and number of leaves compared to the control while tomato stem girth was improved by the application of OMF and NF. Tomato yield was increased by OMF application and OMF, NF and CP improved the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, while all organic based fertilizers improved soil properties.