Articles
Impact of the alfalfa-tomato association on agronomic parameters of tomato
Article number
1422_23
Pages
183 – 190
Language
English
Abstract
In Senegal, tomatoes, second among horticultural crops, face significant challenges related to soil fertilization and increasing production in dry areas.
A promising solution emerges with the alfalfa-tomato association.
Alfalfa, as a nitrogen-fixing plant, plays a crucial role in enriching soils, improving their structure, and imparting resilience to drought.
The main objective is to assess the impact of alfalfa cultivation on the agronomic parameters of tomatoes.
Specific objectives include evaluating the impact of alfalfa on the phenological parameters of tomatoes and assessing its impact on tomato yield.
The study, conducted at the Environmental Center for Research and Training in Agroecology (CERFA) in Sandiara, uses an experimental method with two approaches: tomato cultivation in association with alfalfa and a single tomato crop (control). For the association crop, a complete randomized block design includes five treatments: T1 = tomato cultivation with NPK input, T2 = tomato cultivation without NPK input, T3 = alfalfa year 1, T4 = alfalfa year 2, and T5 = alfalfa year 3. For the single tomato crop cultivation, two treatments include Te0 = control tomato without NPK input and Te1 = control tomato with NPK input, each repeated four times.
Evaluated agronomic parameters include height, number of leaves, clusters and fruit weight.
The alfalfa-tomato association significantly impacts the phenological parameters of tomatoes.
Treatment T1 associated with alfalfa achieved significantly greater height (35.1 cm) compared with T2, Te0, and Te1 (30.9, 30.4, and 30.3 cm, respectively). Similarly, the effects on the number of leaves and clusters were significant.
Treatments T1 and T2 with alfalfa recorded the highest values compared with Te0 and Te1. However, the average tomato yield per treatment was higher in the tomato plots with alfalfa (T1 and T2): 4.5 and 3.6 t ha‑1, than in the pure crop (Te0): 0.7 t ha‑1, and (Te1): 1.9 t ha‑1. The alfalfa-tomato association promotes the growth of tomato plants in challenging climatic conditions.
This sustainable alternative could effectively address current challenges in tomato production in Senegal, providing an ecological and resilient approach to climate change.
A promising solution emerges with the alfalfa-tomato association.
Alfalfa, as a nitrogen-fixing plant, plays a crucial role in enriching soils, improving their structure, and imparting resilience to drought.
The main objective is to assess the impact of alfalfa cultivation on the agronomic parameters of tomatoes.
Specific objectives include evaluating the impact of alfalfa on the phenological parameters of tomatoes and assessing its impact on tomato yield.
The study, conducted at the Environmental Center for Research and Training in Agroecology (CERFA) in Sandiara, uses an experimental method with two approaches: tomato cultivation in association with alfalfa and a single tomato crop (control). For the association crop, a complete randomized block design includes five treatments: T1 = tomato cultivation with NPK input, T2 = tomato cultivation without NPK input, T3 = alfalfa year 1, T4 = alfalfa year 2, and T5 = alfalfa year 3. For the single tomato crop cultivation, two treatments include Te0 = control tomato without NPK input and Te1 = control tomato with NPK input, each repeated four times.
Evaluated agronomic parameters include height, number of leaves, clusters and fruit weight.
The alfalfa-tomato association significantly impacts the phenological parameters of tomatoes.
Treatment T1 associated with alfalfa achieved significantly greater height (35.1 cm) compared with T2, Te0, and Te1 (30.9, 30.4, and 30.3 cm, respectively). Similarly, the effects on the number of leaves and clusters were significant.
Treatments T1 and T2 with alfalfa recorded the highest values compared with Te0 and Te1. However, the average tomato yield per treatment was higher in the tomato plots with alfalfa (T1 and T2): 4.5 and 3.6 t ha‑1, than in the pure crop (Te0): 0.7 t ha‑1, and (Te1): 1.9 t ha‑1. The alfalfa-tomato association promotes the growth of tomato plants in challenging climatic conditions.
This sustainable alternative could effectively address current challenges in tomato production in Senegal, providing an ecological and resilient approach to climate change.
Publication
Authors
K. Diarra, S. Sylla, M. Mbaye, B. Diarra, B. Labou, M. Diatte, E. Tendeng, I.A. Ndiaye, S.O. Seydi, A. Baldé, P. Diop, S.O. Sene
Keywords
Senegal, associated cultivation, soil fertility management, climate change adaptation, Medicago sativa, Solanum lycopersicum
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