Articles
Effect of organo-mineral fertilizer rates on nutrient uptake and fruit quality of snake tomato (Trichosanthes cucumerina L.)
Article number
1198_22
Pages
125 – 140
Language
English
Abstract
The snake tomato (Trichosanthes cucumerina L.) is a member of the botanical family Cucurbitaceae. The crop regarded as a substitute to the regular tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum (L.) Mill.) has not been well researched and there is a need to develop agronomic practices suitable for its cultivation.
It was therefore the objective of this work to evaluate the performances of the crop when applied with different fertilizer types/rates and to determine the optimum fertilizer requirement.
Field experiments were therefore conducted in Abeokuta in 2007 and 2008 to determine the growth, fruit quality/yield and plant nutrient uptake in responses to fertilizer types/rates.
The treatments included two cropping seasons and organo-mineral fertilizer (OMF) rates applied at 5, 10, 20 and 40 t ha-1 where both zero application and NPK 15:15:15 served as the control.
The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates.
The result indicated that 40 t ha-1 OMF rates was significant higher in P, K, Ca and Mg, but lower in Zn and recorded higher dry weight but was not different from 20 t ha-1 OMF in fresh weight plant biomass and in yield components.
The NPK treatment was however lower compared to plants treated with 10, 20 and 40 t ha-1 OMF in total, vine, leaf and root fresh weight but not different from 10 t ha-1 OMF in root fresh weight.
Despite that sugar was higher in 10 t ha-1 OMF, the zero application was higher in ascorbic acid and starch compared to lower or higher OMF rates.
The increased inorganic content at higher OMF rates and probably the higher micro-nutrient contents could have resulted in reduced fruit quality with the lower ascorbic acid level.
It was therefore the objective of this work to evaluate the performances of the crop when applied with different fertilizer types/rates and to determine the optimum fertilizer requirement.
Field experiments were therefore conducted in Abeokuta in 2007 and 2008 to determine the growth, fruit quality/yield and plant nutrient uptake in responses to fertilizer types/rates.
The treatments included two cropping seasons and organo-mineral fertilizer (OMF) rates applied at 5, 10, 20 and 40 t ha-1 where both zero application and NPK 15:15:15 served as the control.
The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates.
The result indicated that 40 t ha-1 OMF rates was significant higher in P, K, Ca and Mg, but lower in Zn and recorded higher dry weight but was not different from 20 t ha-1 OMF in fresh weight plant biomass and in yield components.
The NPK treatment was however lower compared to plants treated with 10, 20 and 40 t ha-1 OMF in total, vine, leaf and root fresh weight but not different from 10 t ha-1 OMF in root fresh weight.
Despite that sugar was higher in 10 t ha-1 OMF, the zero application was higher in ascorbic acid and starch compared to lower or higher OMF rates.
The increased inorganic content at higher OMF rates and probably the higher micro-nutrient contents could have resulted in reduced fruit quality with the lower ascorbic acid level.
Authors
O.O. Olubode, O.J. Idogun, S.F. Sulaimon
Keywords
fruit quality, organo-mineral fertilizer, plant nutrient uptake, seasonal response, Trichosanthes cucumerina
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