Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of rice husk and poultry manure on soil moisture retention and drought tolerance in tomato plants cultivated in Nnewi, Anambra State. The experiment included four treatments: control (no amendment), rice husk (2 t ha-1), poultry manure (2 t ha-1), and a combined application of rice husk and poultry manure. Results showed that the combined treatment significantly improved soil moisture content, maintaining levels of 19.2% in week 1 and 13.0% in week 12, compared to 15.2% and 9.4% in the control. Plants subjected to the combined amendments exhibited less wilting (score of 1.2 versus 3.5 in control) and higher relative water content (78.4% compared to 65.3%). Additionally, this treatment resulted in increased plant height (89.5 cm vs. 75.4 cm) and higher fruit yield (21.7 kg ha-1 vs. 12.3 kg ha-1). The findings suggested that organic amendments, particularly the combination of rice husk and poultry manure, enhance soil water retention, improve drought resilience, and boost tomato productivity in water-limited conditions. These results supported the use of organic waste materials as sustainable strategies for improving tomato cultivation in drought-prone regions.
References
Abiola, S., & Olaleye, T. M. (2021). Organic amendments and soil health: Implications for sustainable crop production. Journal of Soil Science and Environmental Management, 12(3), 45–55.
Adeniyi, A. A., & Olaleye, T. M. (2020). Influence of rice husk ash on soil water retention and crop productivity. Agricultural Sciences, 11(4), 230–238.
Adeniyi, O. O., Adeleke, A. O., & Bello, M. A. (2019). Effects of drought stress on tomato growth and yield. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 14(10), 534–541.
Adesina, A. O., Olaleye, T. M., & Akinrinlola, B. L. (2018). Effect of rice husk ash on soil physical properties and crop productivity. Journal of Agricultural Science, 10(2), 45–54.
Akinbode, O., Olaleye, T. M., & Johnson, P. (2019). Organic amendments and drought tolerance in tomato: Physiological and yield responses. African Journal of Plant Science, 13(4), 123–132.
Eze, J. I., & Nwankwo, C. O. (2017). Impact of poultry manure on soil fertility and crop yield. International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 18(2), 125–131.
Eze, S. C., Nwachukwu, I. D., & Obi, C. (2021). Influence of organic fertilizers on soil properties and vegetable crop yield. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, 31(1), 78–89.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2020). FAOSTAT statistical database.
Ibrahim, M. B., Abubakar, G. A., & Oyun, M. B. (2019). Organic amendments and their effects on soil moisture and crop performance. Nigerian Journal of Agronomy, 31(1), 75–85.
Kumar, R., Singh, S., & Kumar, A. (2017). Soil water retention and crop productivity under organic amendments. Soil and Tillage Research, 165, 68–76.
Ogunlade, I., Akinwumi, S. A., & Olaleye, T. M. (2020). Effect of poultry manure on soil fertility and crop yield. International Journal of Agricultural Research, 15(3), 207–215.
Ojo, T. A., Adebayo, S. O., & Adeleke, M. A. (2016). Organic soil amendments and soil physical properties. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 40(2), 123–134.
Olawuyi, O. J., & Akinbobola, A. O. (2018). Water management challenges in Nigerian agriculture. Water Resources and Management, 32(5), 1553–1564.
Abiola, S., & Olaleye, T. M. (2021). Organic amendments and soil health: Implications for sustainable crop production. Journal of Soil Science and Environmental Management, 12(3), 45–55.
Adeniyi, A. A., & Olaleye, T. M. (2020). Influence of rice husk ash on soil water retention and crop productivity. Agricultural Sciences, 11(4), 230–238.
Adeniyi, O. O., Adeleke, A. O., & Bello, M. A. (2019). Effects of drought stress on tomato growth and yield. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 14(10), 534–541.
Adesina, A. O., Olaleye, T. M., & Akinrinlola, B. L. (2018). Effect of rice husk ash on soil physical properties and crop productivity. Journal of Agricultural Science, 10(2), 45–54.
Akinbode, O., Olaleye, T. M., & Johnson, P. (2019). Organic amendments and drought tolerance in tomato: Physiological and yield responses. African Journal of Plant Science, 13(4), 123–132.
Eze, J. I., & Nwankwo, C. O. (2017). Impact of poultry manure on soil fertility and crop yield. International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 18(2), 125–131.
Eze, S. C., Nwachukwu, I. D., & Obi, C. (2021). Influence of organic fertilizers on soil properties and vegetable crop yield. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, 31(1), 78–89.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2020). FAOSTAT statistical database.
Ibrahim, M. B., Abubakar, G. A., & Oyun, M. B. (2019). Organic amendments and their effects on soil moisture and crop performance. Nigerian Journal of Agronomy, 31(1), 75–85.
Kumar, R., Singh, S., & Kumar, A. (2017). Soil water retention and crop productivity under organic amendments. Soil and Tillage Research, 165, 68–76.
Ogunlade, I., Akinwumi, S. A., & Olaleye, T. M. (2020). Effect of poultry manure on soil fertility and crop yield. International Journal of Agricultural Research, 15(3), 207–215.
Ojo, T. A., Adebayo, S. O., & Adeleke, M. A. (2016). Organic soil amendments and soil physical properties. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 40(2), 123–134.
Olawuyi, O. J., & Akinbobola, A. O. (2018). Water management challenges in Nigerian agriculture. Water Resources and Management, 32(5), 1553–1564.
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