Effect of planting date and poultry manure on flower abortion, yield and post-harvest quality of three tomato varieties in Ghana (f1 kaira, pectomech and pectofake)

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July, 2015
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The study aimed at evaluation of different planting dates and levels of poultry manure on flower abortion, yield and fruit quality of three tomato varieties. A factorial experiment with Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications was adopted for the field experiment and Complete Block Design for the laboratory experiment. Planting was done at three different dates with two weeks interval. Four different manure levels and three tomato varieties were used. The addition of poultry manure had significant effect on the growth and yield of the three tomato varieties. There were significant differences (p>0.05) between the varieties tested and the different levels of manure. Yield increased significantly with increase in the application of poultry manure with significant differences (p>0.05) between the manure levels. Addition of poultry manure at 2,4,and 6tons/ha increased tomato yield by 28.04, 38.09 and 61.90% for 2, 4 respectively. Other parameters such as branching, number of fruits per plant, girth diameter, plant height, fruit dry matter content, total soluble solids and fruit firmness increased as the amount of poultry manure applied increased. Planting date had significant effect on the number of fruits, flower abortion, plant height and pest and disease infestations. The early sowing date (March 26 th ) showed higher number of branches compared to the late sowing dates but not significantly different (p>0.05). Planting of tomato on the 26 th of March with 6 tons/ ha of poultry manure resulted in the highest fruit yield/ ha. The yield of the tomato decreased with delay in planting date. The cultivars had significant effect on growth as well as quality. This may be due to differences on growth habit of genotypes. Pectofake, the local variety had the highest fruit weight but lowest means for fruit pericarp thickness, firmness, and total soluble solids. Pectofake recorded the best performance compare to F1 Kaira and Pectomech.
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A thesis submitted to the School of Research And Graduate Studies Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award Of Master of Philosophy Degree Post Harvest Technology, 2015
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