Effects of Staking and Row-Spacing on the Yield of Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum Mill.) Cultivar “Roma VF” in the Sokoto Fadama, Nigeria.

Abstract

Field study was conducted at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching and Research Fadama Farm, Sokoto, with the objective of evaluating the effects of staking and spacing on Roma VF cultivar of tomato. Treatments consisted of factorial combinations of four rows spacing (40, 60, 80 and 100 cm) and two staking (staked and unstaked) laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), replicated three times. Results showed significant (p < 0.05) effect of row-spacing on all the parameters measured. Plants with a row-spacing of 100 cm recorded significantly higher mean fruit weight (188 g) and diameter (5.48 cm) than other row spacing. However, total fresh tomato yield was significantly a row-spacing of 40 cm (53.98 t ha-1) than 60 (45.7 t ha-1), 80 (37.1 t ha-1) and 100 cm (32.7 t ha-1). Similarly, staking had significant effect on the fresh yield of tomato cultivar. Higher mean fruit weight and diameter was recorded in with staked (170 g and 4.83 cm, respectively) than those that were not staked (164.2 g and 4.53 cm). Total fresh fruit yield was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in staked (46.8 t ha-1) than unstaked (37.95 t ha-1). From this study, it was concluded that even though the fruit size and the weight was higher in wider spaced rows, the total yield obtained was higher in the close spaced rows. Staking increased the yield of Roma VF cultivar of tomato. Thus under Sokoto condition, farmers can use 40 cm row-spacing (60 cm plant-spacing) to obtain a good yield of Roma VF cultivar. Staking could be practiced to increase the yield of tomato.

Nigerian Journal of Horticultural Science Vol. 10 2005: pp. 94-98