Effect of Fresh and Decomposed Cassava Peels Manure on the Growth of Lycopersicum esculentum (Tomatoes) Seedlings

Abstract

The study examined the effect of fresh and decomposed cassava peel manure on the growth of Lycopersicum esculentum seedling. The study was carried out at the Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan. The seeds of Lycopersicum esculentum were sown into a germination box filled with topsoil. Watering was done once daily after germination, thirty three seedlings were carefully selected and then transplanted into a polythene pot filled with 2kg of topsoil that has been mixed with different levels of treatment. The treatments are T1 (control) containing 2.0kg of topsoil only, T2 (15g of fresh cassava peel manure + 2kg of topsoil), T3 (30g of fresh cassava peel manure + 2.0kg of topsoil), T4 (45g of fresh cassava peel manure + 2.0kg of topsoil), T5 (60g of fresh cassava peel manure + 2.0kg of topsoil), T6 (75g of fresh cassava peel manure + 2.0kg of topsoil), T7 (15g of decomposed cassava peel manure + 2.0kg of topsoil), T8 (30g of decomposed cassava peel manure + 2.0kg of topsoil), T9 (45g of decomposed cassava peel manure + 2.0kg of topsoil), T10 (60g of decomposed cassava peel manure + 2.0kg of topsoil) and T11 (75g of decomposed cassava peel manure + 2.0kg of topsoil). The parameters assessed include plant height, number of leaves, and stem diameter. The treatments were replicated three times and were laid out in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD). The data collected were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using Duncan Multiple Test (DMRT). Results revealed that T7 containing (15g of decomposed cassava peel manure + 2.0kg of topsoil gave the best performance in terms of plant height, stem diameter, and the number of leaves with the mean value of 25.04cm, 0.436mm, and 18.92 respectively. From the result obtained, it is therefore recommended and concluded that T7 should be used to raise Lycopersicum esculentum.