Performance, Some Nutrient Elements and Heavy Metals Accumulation in Tomato under Soil Applied Poultry Manure, NPK and ZnSO4 Fertilizers

• Published in: Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus Vol. 83; no. 4; p. 299
• Main Authors: Aboyeji, Christopher M, Adekiya, Aruna O, Dunsin, Oluwagbenga, Agbaje, Gideon O, Olofintoye, Temidayo. A. J, Olugbemi, Oluwatoyin, Okunlola, Faith O
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Agronomski fakultet Zagreb 09.11.2018
• Subjects: Lycopersicon esculentum; NPK fertilizer; poultry manure; quality; ZnSO4 fertilizer
• ISSN: 1331-7768; 1331-7776

Two field experiments were carried out in 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara state. The aim was to determine the effect of single and integrated application of poultry manure (PM), NPK and ZnSO4 fertilizers on the agronomic performance, yield, some nutrient elements and heavy metal content of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) in the derived savannah ecological zone of Nigeria. Treatments consisted of: 150 kg ha-1 NPK + 15 t ha-1 PM + 5 kgha-1 Zn (T1); 150 kg ha-1 NPK + 15 t ha-1 PM (T2); 15 t ha-1 PM ­­+ 5 kg ha-1 Zn (T3); 30 t ha-1 PM (T4); 150 kg ha-1 NPK +­­ 5 kg ha-1 Zn (T5); 10 kg ha-1 Zn (T6); 300 kg ha-1 NPK (T7) and control (T8). The contribution of integrated application of PM and NPK at lower rates on growth and yield of tomato was high while application of zinc at higher rate (10 kg ha-1) increased the availability of some nutrient elements and heavy metals of tomato fruits though not beyond the permissible limits as established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) to ensure food safety of the consumers. It can therefore be concluded that application of 150 kg ha-1 NPK + 15 t ha-1 PM + 10 Kg ha-1 Zn is beneficial for tomato production in the study area without any threat to human health.