Impact of Different Sources of Organic Fertilizer on Growth and Yield Parameters of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of different organic fertilizer sources on the growth, phenology, and yield parameters of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Njala, Moyamba District, Southern Sierra Leone. The treatments included NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer, goat dung, pig dung, and poultry manure in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Results revealed significant differences in morphological characteristics, with poultry manure enhancing plant height (63.29 cm), stem girth (0.88 cm), leaf number (69.23 leaves), and leaf area (352.94 cm²) compared to other treatments. In terms of phenology, poultry manure also resulted in the earliest flowering (30.14 days) and fruit set (33.05 days), indicating its superior role in promoting rapid reproductive development. Moreover, yield parameters showed that poultry manure produced the highest fresh fruit number (442.21 fruits) and weight (502.04 kg/ha), outperforming goat dung (309.06 fruits; 444.55 kg/ha) and significantly surpassing pig dung (203.13 fruits; 108.69 kg/ha). NPK fertilizer demonstrated moderate effects, producing 353 fruits and 360.13 kg/ha, but did not match the performance of organic fertilizers. These findings underscore the effectiveness of organic manure, particularly poultry manure, in enhancing the growth and yield of tomato plants, suggesting its potential as a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers. This study highlights the importance of integrating organic fertilizers into local agricultural practices to improve food security and promote sustainable farming in Sierra Leone. Therefore, it is recommended that vegetable farmers within Njala Community should incorporate the use of poultry manure and Goat dung at 5t/ha rate into their activities to achieve high yield potential of tomato production