TITLE:
Agronomic Performances of Manure Composts in Simplified Soilless Tomato Cultivation
AUTHORS:
Aké Hermann Thierry Biékré, Seu Jonathan Gogbeu, Guy Joël Olivier Atsin, Serge Hervé Kimou, Koffi Aimé Yao, Bi Tra Tie, Denezon Odette Dogbo
KEYWORDS:
Chemical Fertilizer, Manure Compost, Simplified Soilless Cultivation, Tomato
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment,
Vol.13 No.4,
November
5,
2024
ABSTRACT: Composts are recognised as an important source of nutrients for crops. The study aims to valorise agricultural by-products by composts made from broiler (A), laying hen (B) and bovine (C) manures in soilless tomato cultivation. Treatments consisted of these three composts and controls consisting of coconut fibres fed with a nutrient solution. The system is a randomised Fisher block with three replications. Each elementary plot consisted of nine tomato plants. Chemical parameters of the substrates and agronomic parameters of the plants were recorded from 14 to 49 days after transplanting (DAT). The pH stabilised at around 6.2 after varying from 7.1 to 8.0 in the composts. The high electrical conductivity (5.9 - 6.01 dS/m) was less than 1 dS/m at 49 DAT. Agromorphological parameters were close to the controls. Fruit necrosis was higher in the compost-based substrates (13.75% - 32.22%) than in the controls (