Effect of plant staking and N fertilizer rates on tomato cultivars (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in Fafen center, fafen zone, county 05, Ethiopia.

Abstract

The study was conducted on the effect of plant staking and nitrogen fertilizer rates on tomato cultivars (Roma Vf and local cherry tomatoes) in fafen center, gursum district, fafen zone, SRS, Ethiopia in 2020-22. The experiment was carried on nitrogen fertilizer rates for a factorial combination of four levels of nitrogen (0, 46, 92 and 138 kg N ha-1) and two growing systems (staking and non-staking for Roma vf ) and eight fertilizer rates for local cherry cultivar. The experiment was then laid out in 4 X 4 factorial arrangements using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Each treatment combination was assigned randomly to experimental units within a block. A 1.8 m X 2.2 m (3.96 m2) plot was used for each experimental unit. The blocks were separated by 1 m width whereas the space between each plot within a block was 0.5m. Different levels of N were applied as Urea (46%N). Nitrogen was applied as a single application at the time of early vegetative growth after 6 weeks of planting. The tomato seedling was planted in rows with spacing of 45 cm between rows and 25 cm between plants within a row for Roma vf and 45 cm between rows and 25cm within the rows for cherry tomatoes. In each plot there were four rows and the total numbers of plants in each row was 6. The middle two rows were considered for recording the agronomic data.Water application was based on irrigation mainly furrow irrigation. The data was collected from yield, yield components and related traits consisting of plants’ height yield per plot and weight of the marketable and non-marketable yield. Plant height was measured once after the plants’ vegetative growth.
Yield per plot was measured and converted to mean value and recorded as yield per treatment. Total weight of the marketable and non-marketable yield was determined and recorded and then converted into kilograms per ha. The parameters considered in the experiment were subjected to statistical analysis. ANOVA and correlation analyses were performed for selected parameters using SPSS software. Mean differences was tested following least significant difference (LSD) procedure. There is a significance difference among the treatment, the highest productive fertilizer rate is (250kg/ha and 150kg/ha) of nitrogen fertilizer rate for cherry and Roma vf tomatoes respectively, though 100kg/ha and 200 kg/ha were the 2nd and 3rd highest productive rate among the rate for cherry tomatoes. So 250kg/ha and 150kg/ha of nitrogen fertilizer rate is recommend for cherry and Roma vf tomatoes respectively. In the fafen center, gursum district, SRS, Ethiopia.