Growth and yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) as influenced by inter-row spacing at Sokoto-Rima Valley, Nigeria

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 dry seasons at the Fadama Teaching and Research Farm of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (latitude 13°9 and longitude 5°13’; 300 m above sea level) to study the effects of inter-row spacing on the growth and yield of two tomato cultivars (Roma VF and UC 82B). Treatments consisted of four inter-row spaces (40, 60, 80 and 100 cm) and two cultivars of tomato (Roma VF and UC 82B) laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times. The two cultivars showed marked significant response in leaf area index, days to 50% flowering and dry stover weight, which were more pronounced in Roma VF cultivar than UC 82B cultivar. Results also revealed that increase in economic yield per hectare of tomato was recorded in the closer inter-row spacing (40cm) of tomato in both years. It could be concluded that closest inter-row space of (40 cm) increased the economic yield of tomato under irrigation in the study area.