Effect of Different Rates of Organic Manure (Cow Dung) on the Growth of Solanum Lycopersicum L.

The application of different rates of organic manure (cow dung) on the growth of Solanum lycopersicum L. grown for six weeks in polyethene bags was carried out in this study. The treatments were done in triplicates which include 30kg of soil uniformly mixed with 5kg, 10kg, 15kg, and 20kg of cow dung manure and control without (cow dung) manure. Each treatment was replicated three times. The data collected were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance and mean separation by Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Solanum lycopersicum with the rate of 20kg/ha increased the percentage germination (2.66±2.8), height of plant from (7.66±1.040) in week 1 to (63.26±7.166) in week 6, leaf area from (2.14±1.540) in week 1 to (71.04±7.005) in week 6, stem girth from (1.60±0.264) in week 1 to (4.23±0.251) in week 6 and the number of branches from (3.00±1.000) in week 1 to (14.33±4.041) in week 6 respectively. The control (0kg/ha) gave the lowest in percentage germination (0.60±0.100%), in height, from (5.06±0.702) in week 1 to (14.50±3.968) in week 6, leaf area from (0.87±0.280) in week 1 to (7.18±4.447) in week 6, in stem girth from (0.50±0.100) in week 1 to (2.43±0.251) in week 6 and lowest in number of branches from (0.00±0.00) in week 1 to (6.00±1.000) in week 6 respectively. Thus, this study alluded that cow dung can be used to enhance the growth, productivity and yield of tomato in low nutrient soil in the rate of 20kg/ha which showed a significant increase in growth and yield of tomato.