Impact of Different Methods of Tillage on the Yield of Tomato (Lycoperiscum Esculentum) in Delta South Ecological Zone, Nigeria

Abstract

The study on impact of different methods of tillage on the yield of tomatoes in Delta south ecological zone, Nigeria was conducted in Delta State Polytechnic research farm Ozoro between March, 2013 and March 2014. The treatments used were zero tillage, raised bed, flat bed and ridge. Each of the treatments was replicated four times in a randomized complete block design. Parameters observed were, survival rate, plant height, number of branches, number of flowers, number of fruits, and weight of fruits. The result from the experiment shows that the height of tomatoes ranged from 68.60 to 83.71cm, numbers of flower ranged between 30 and 67; number of branches ranged from 6 to 11, numbers of fruit ranged from 20-45, weight of fruit ranges from 125 to 140g and all the tomatoes survived in all the treatments. No significant difference exist in the performance of tomatoes planted on zero tillage and raised bed treatments, but significant difference existed between the crops that grown on ridge, flat treatments and raised bed as well as zero tillage, it will therefore recommended that tomatoes should be grown on zero tillage in Ozoro environment to reduce the cost of production.