Growth and Yield of Three Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Cultivars as affected by Fermented Plant Juices as Foliar Fertilizers and Biopesticides

Abstract

This study was conducted at the Horticulture Research and Training Institute Experiment Station from February 28 to May 28, 2015 to evaluate the growth and yield of the three tomato cultivars as affected by the application of the different fermented plant juices (FPJs) as foliar fertilizers and biopesticides; determine the interaction between tomato cultivars and fermented plant juices; determine the economics of using the fermented plant juices in tomato production; and determine which fermented plant juice could substitute commercial foliar fertilizers. The three tomato cultivars grown were Bravo, Improved KS Apollo and White Apollo while the different fermented plant juice solutions were Ageratum conyzoides L., Chromolaena odorata L., Lantana camara L. and Helianthus annuus L... All the different fermented plant juice solutions applied have significantly affected the plants vigor; days from transplanting to fruit setting and to first fruit harvest; days from first to final harvest of fruits; total yield (kg/1 m x 2.5 m plot); and the computed marketable yield (t/ha). However, the different fermented plant juice solutions did not significantly affected the plants height (cm) at 30 DAT and at flowering; number of side-shoots per plant at 30 DAT, at flowering and at final fruit harvest; days from transplanting to flowering; number of harvesting of fruits for the duration of the study; insect pest infestation rating of tomato cutworm at 30 DAT and of fruitworm at 60 DAT; disease infection rating of tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) at 30 and at 60 DAT; weight of marketable and non-marketable fruits (kg/1 m x 2.5 m plot); weight of individual fruits (gm/1 m x 2.5 m plot); and the sugar content of tomato fruits (% brix/10 sample fruits per 1 m x 2.5 plot). Further, there was a significant interaction effects obtained between the cultivars grown and the different FPJ solutions applied on the total yield of plants per 1 m x 2.5 m plot. The application of the different fermented plant juice solutions on tomato crop is uneconomic because of the lower return on investments as compared to the use commercial FreeGrow organic foliar fertilizer. However, the different fermented plant juices used were generally as effective as the commercial FreeGrow foliar spray in the improvement of the growth and yield of tomato plants. Hence, they could substitute the use of commercial foliar spray.