IMPACT OF ORGANIC AND NPK FERTILIZER COMBINATIONS ON TOMATO GROWTH PARAMETERS

Аннотация

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a widely cultivated crop globally, known for its nutritional value and economic significance. Enhancing tomato growth and yield through effective fertilizer management is crucial for sustainable agricultural production. This study investigated the impact of organic and NPK fertilizer combinations on various growth parameters of tomato plants, aiming to optimize fertilizer use efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. The experiment was conducted at The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Technology, Saki, Oyo State, Nigeria. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates was employed. The treatments included: (1) Control (no fertilizer), (2) Organic fertilizer alone, (3) NPK fertilizer alone, (4) Combination of organic and NPK fertilizers in different ratios. Key growth parameters assessed included plant height, leaf area index, number of leaves per plant, stem girth, and yield attributes such as fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, and fruit quality parameters (e.g., size, color, and firmness). Soil nutrient status and nutrient uptake efficiency were also evaluated to understand the fertilizer effects on plant nutrition. Results indicated that the combined application of organic and NPK fertilizers significantly influenced tomato growth parameters compared to individual fertilizer treatments and the control. Plants treated with a balanced combination of organic and NPK fertilizers showed enhanced growth vigor, evidenced by taller plants, increased leaf area, and thicker stems. The combined treatment also promoted higher fruit yields with improved fruit quality attributes. Furthermore, soil nutrient analysis revealed that integrated fertilizer application improved soil fertility over the experimental period, indicating sustainable nutrient management practices. Nutrient uptake efficiency was higher in Volume 04 Issue 08-2024 11 American Journal Of Agriculture And Horticulture Innovations (ISSN – 2771-2559) VOLUME 04 ISSUE 08 Pages: 11-20 OCLC – 1290679216 Publisher: Oscar Publishing Services Servi plants treated with combined fertilizers, highlighting the synergistic effects of organic matter and mineral nutrients on plant nutrition. Optimizing tomato production through integrated organic and NPK fertilizer applications offers a sustainable approach to improve growth parameters and enhance yield quality. The findings underscore the importance of balanced nutrient management strategies in achieving optimal crop productivity while maintaining environmental sustainability in agricultural systems. KEYWORDS Tomato, Organic fertilizer, NPK fertilizer, Growth parameters, Yield, Soil fertility, Crop nutrition, Sustainable agriculture, Nutrient management, Agricultural technology.