Optimizing tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) growth, yield and soil quality with inorganic n and farmyard manure in Sudan Savanna of Nigeria

Field study was carried out in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 dry seasons at the Nigeria Institute of Horticultural Research Sub-station Bagauda, Kano State, of Nigeria to evaluate the impact of integrated nutrient management (INM) on tomato growth, yield and soil properties under irrigated conditions. Treatments consisted of combination of Nitrogen (N) urea + Farmyard manure (FYM) as follows: T1 = Control, T2 = 50% N (60 kg N ha-1) T3 = 100% N (120 kg N ha-1), T4 = 5 t ha-1 FYM, T5 = 10 t ha-1 FYM, T6 = 25% N + 7.5 t ha-1 FYM, T7 = 50% N + 5 t ha-1 FYM, T8 = 75% N + 2.5 t ha-1 FYM and T9 = 100%N +10 t ha FYM. A basal application of 60 kg P2O5 and 60 kg K2O at land preparation in all plots and nitrogen was applied in two splits at 2 and 6 weeks after transplant (WAT) while FYM was applied two weeks before transplanting (on air dry matter basis). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated four (4) times with the experimental plots (basins) measuring 3 × 3 m. Data were collected on some growth and yield parameters, and soil quality attributes after the experiment on each treatment plot. The result revealed that the application of 50% N + 5 t ha-1 of FYM significantly (p<0.05) improved soil organic carbon, total soil N and narrowed the C:N ratio. Crop growth response was significantly influenced by application of 10 t ha-1 FYM + 100% N when compared to control. However, yield and yield components of tomato significantly responded to combined application of 50% N + 5 t ha-1 FYM beyond which addition of N or FYM did not produced any significant increase in yield and yield components. It is concluded that combined application of 50% N + 5 t ha-1 FYM was found adequate for tomato productivity and improvement of soil organic status.