Growth, yield and nutrient uptake of two tomato varieties using some agricultural wastes as nutrient sources on an Alfisol of derived savanna

Purpose Agricultural wastes are by-product of agricultural processing. These wastes could serve as alternative materials for soil amendment and nutrient sources for crop production. A screen house experiment was conducted for two successive seasons (2019 and 2020) to evaluate the performance of charred poultry feather waste and plantain peel as nutrient sources on the growth, yield and nutrient uptake of two varieties (Eva and Nemo-netta) of tomato. Method Four levels each of charred poultry feather waste and plantain peel at 2, 5, 8, and 10 t PF ha(-1), control and 200 kg NPK ha(-1) were used as treatments. The bags were arranged in a completely randomized design. Treatments were replicated four times. Results The application of charred poultry feather waste and plantain peel significantly increased vegetative growth and yield parameters of tomato when compared with the control. Results also showed that combined application of the amendments compete favourably with the application of inorganic fertilizer. Higher values for all the parameters were observed when 5 t PP ha(-1) + 5 t PF ha(-1) was applied though similar values were found on the vegetative parameters with the applications of 2 t PP ha-1 + 8 t PF ha-1, 10 t PP ha(-1), and 10 t PF ha(-1). Yield and micronutrient concentration of Eva was also found to be higher than that of Nemo-netta. Conclusion The effects of 5 t PP ha(-1) + 5 t PF ha(-1) showed clear increase in vegetative, yield and nutrient uptake of Eva variety as compared to Nemo-netta.