Evaluation of the Effect of Organic Fertilizers, NPK 20-10-10 and Their Combination on the Behavior of Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) Variety Roma Grown in Bangui (Central African Republic)
Hubert Dieu-Béni Elian *
Laboratory of Agronomic and Environmental Sciences, Higher Institute of Rural Development (HIRD) of Mbaïki, University of Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic and Department of Agriculture, Higher Institute of Rural Development (HIRD) of Mbaïki, University of Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic.
Egisthe Gueret
Department of Agriculture, Higher Institute of Rural Development (HIRD) of Mbaïki, University of Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Organic fertilizers are an important step to increase agricultural production while protecting the environment. The general objective of the study is to evaluate the contribution of organic and NPK fertilizers on the growth and yield of tomato. The seed of the exotic variety of tomato called "Roma" were used in the trial and the experimental design applied was the Fisher block design with eight treatments and four replications. The treatments used were: T1 (control), T2 (dung), T3 (cow dung), T4 (NPK), T5 (termite mound), T6 (dung+NPK), T7 (cow dung+NPK) and T8 (termite mound+NPK). Observations were made on vegetative parameters and yield. The results obtained show that the height of the stem in T2, T4, T8, and the diameter at the neck of the plants of T8 and T6 are higher compared to the T1 control from 60 days after transplanting (DAT) and the T4, T6, and T7 treatment have a lower number in fruit while the T2 treatment had an average number with 6.33 and is lower than the T1 treatment without the contribution of organic fertilizers. The combination of these fertilizers is better indicated for a substantial increase in yield. It can therefore be recommended as a mode of integrated soil fertility management.
Keywords: Lycopersicum esculentum, organic fertilizer, NPK, growth, yield, Bangui