Green manures and poultry feather effects on soil characteristics, growth, yield, and mineral contents of tomato

Abstract

Organic amendments are relatively cheap and available source of organic matter for sustaining both the physical and chemical soil characteristics, and crop yield. Therefore, two field experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 to determine the sole and combined effects of Tithonia diversifolia and banana leaves, and poultry feather (PF) on soil characteristics, growth, yield, and mineral contents of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The treatments were: (i). Tithonia leaves alone applied at 10.0 t ha-1, (ii). Banana leaves alone applied at 10.0 t ha-1, (iii). Crushed PF alone applied at 10.0 t ha-1, (iv). PF at 5.0 t ha-1 + banana leaves at 5.0 t ha-1, (v). PF at 5.0 t ha-1 + Tithonia leaves at 5.0 t ha-1, (vi). Tithonia leaves at 5.0 tha-1 + Banana leaves at 5.0 t ha-1, and (vii). Control – no amendment. The seven treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Green manures and PF either sole or combined significantly (p < 0.05) reduced soil bulk density and increased porosity, soil organic matter (SOM), nutrient contents, growth, yield, and mineral contents of tomato crop compared with the control. When manures were combined, PF + Tithonia has the highest value of these parameters. PF + Tithonia increased tomato yield by 20.0, 53.0, 77.0 and 132.5%, respectively compared with feather alone, Tithonia alone, banana alone and the control for year 2017, and by 28.3, 59.2, 73.0, and 237.3%, respectively for year 2018. The increased growth, yield, and mineral contents of tomato under PF + Tithonia was due to improved soil physical and chemical properties and also due to the fact that slowly decaying poultry feather may allow retention of released nutrients from rapidly decomposing Tithonia within the rooting zone, thereby fostering greater efficiency of nutrient release and uptake. Therefore, locally sourced organic material can be used in improving soil and crop productivity especially when they are combined.