Effect of Different Levels of Poultry Manure on Soil Physical Properties, Nutrients Status, Growth and Yield of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

The relative effect of different levels (0, 10, 20, 40, 50 t ha-1) of poultry manure on selected soil physical properties, nutrient status, growth and fruit yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) was studied in field experiments conducted at FECA and FUTA sites, Akure, in Southwest Nigeria. Soil bulk density and temperature reduced with level of poultry manure, while moisture content, height, number of branches, leaf area and taproot length increased. However the 20 t ha-1 poultry manure gave highest value of number and weight of fruits. The mean values of fruit weight recorded for 0, 10, 20, 40 and 50 t ha--1 manure were 17.6, 27.9, 35.6, 24.4 and 23.0 t ha-1, respectively.