Growth and Yield Performance of Tomato (Solanumlycopersicum L) in Soil Amended with Rice Husk Biochar in Gombe State (Published)
Rice cultivation in Gombe State, Nigeria results in the production of enormous amount of rice husk (RH) as agricultural waste which can be converted into Rice Husk Biochar (RHB). While the impacts of RHB on plant yield has been widely reported, there is a lack of data regarding its use in pot substrates for greenhouse tomato production in the State highlighting the need of this study. Soil samples and RH were collected in Gombe State, while tomato (PADMA 108 F1) seeds were gotten from the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training in Jos. The RH was subjected to pyrolysis, physicochemical properties of the soil, RH and RHB before and after planting, and greenhouse experiment were done following standard methods. Results of the physiochemical analysis of soil and biocharshowed that higher values (7.8 for pH in H2O, 8.3 for pH in 0.01M CaCl2, 49.6 for Cation Exchange Capacity, among others) were recorded in thebiochar compared with soil, at vegetative stage, plant height was highest in the control (11.68±5.99d), as well as number of leaves (36.9±33.6e), at flowering stage, plant height was highest in the control (26.67±5.51e),number of leaves was highest (116.0±39.6e) (116.0±39.6e) in T5 (50 tons/h), as well as leaf area (21.37±9.64d), while number of flowers was highest (11.89±6.49c) in T4 (40 tons/h), at fruiting and harvesting stage, number of fruits was highest (2.00±1.67a)in T4 (40 tons/h), and correlation analysis showed a strong positive association between growth and yield characteristics; the number of flowers and fruits was influenced by plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, and girt. The study concluded that tomato plant growth and yield can be enhanced by RHB.