Importance of NPK Foliar Fertilization for Improving Performance of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), Managing Diseases and Leafminer (Tuta absoluta)
Christopher Ngosong *
Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon
Clovis B. Tanyi
Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon
Cyril A. Njume
Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon
Priscilla M. Mfombep
Department of Agriculture, Higher Technical Teachers' Training College Kumba, University of Buea, P.O.Box 249, Kumba, South West Region, Cameroon
Justin N. Okolle
Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), Ekona, P.M.B. 25, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon
Thomas E. Njock
Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon
Raymond N. Nkongho
Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon
Aaron S. Tening
Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: To improve tomato performance, manage diseases and leafminer via NPK foliar fertilization as compared to soil fertilization.
Methodology: Six treatments (control, soil NPK, Soil+Foliar NPK, Mucuna, Tithonia and Mucuna+Tithonia) were evaluated for their potential to improve tomato performance, manage diseases and leafminer.
Results: Tomato disease incidence ranged from 12−100% across treatments that differed (P = .001) significantly, with lowest in Soil+Foliar NPK and highest in control compared to the other treatments (P = .05). A negative correlation occurred between disease incidence and treatments (r = −0.78). Highest tomato blight occurred in control (P = .05) that correlated negatively with treatments (r = −0.79). Highest septoria leaf spot occurred in control (P = .05) that correlated negatively with treatments (r = −0.73). No leafminer was recorded in Soil+Foliar NPK, followed by Mucuna+Tithonia as compared to other treatments (P = .05). Leafminer correlated negatively with treatments (r = −0.88). Tomato disease severity correlated negatively with treatments (r = −0.73) and ranged from 9−93% across treatments that differed (P = .001) significantly. Lowest disease severity occurred in Soil+Foliar NPK with the highest in control compared to other treatments (P = .05). Tomato fruit rot correlated negatively with treatments (r = −0.63) and positively with blight (r = 0.52), ranging from 1-17 across treatments that differed (P = .001) significantly, with highest in control compared to other treatments (P = .05). Tomato yield ranged from 10−20 t ha-1 and differed (P = .001) significantly across treatments, with highest in Soil+Foliar NPK treatment and lowest in control (P = .05). Tomato yield correlated positively with treatments (r = 0.92) and negatively with disease severity (r = −0.68).
Conclusion: NPK foliar fertilization demonstrated strong potential to improve tomato performance, manage diseases and leafminer as compared to soil amendments.
Keywords: Blight, foliar fertilizer, leafminer, mucuna tithonia, septoria leaf spot