Effect of combination of bio-pesticide and fertilizer treatment in the management of tomato wilt in an endemic soil

Abstract

Tomato wilt pathogen is a major constraint to tomato production in Nigeria and to increase production wilt problem must be effectively controlled. An experiment with 5 varieties, 4 fertilizer types and 3 bio-pesticides (in a 5 varieties x 4 fertilizer types x 3 bio-pesticide types) was conducted in split-split plot design in a wilt endemic soil at National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) Ibadan. The parameters measured were plant height (cm), number of branches, stem girth (cm), number of wilted plants and yield (t/ha). The results showed that while varietal factor effect was very significant for number of branches, plant height and number of wilted plant, the bio-pesticide effect was very significant for plant height and number of wilted plant and fertilizer effect was significant with reference to wilted plant. The interaction effects (bio-pesticide *fertilizer, bio-pesticide *variety and bio-pesticide *fertilizer *variety) caused significant variation in the values of the growth parameters measured. In the third order interaction where bio-insecticide and bio-fertilizer were applied Castle bar variety and Peto variety recorded better fruit yield with 5.27ton/ha and 5.15ton/ha respectively than where fungicide and any of the fertilizers were applied.