EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF VARYING LEVELS OF PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM ON YIELD COMPONENTS AND FRUIT YIELD OF TOMATO IN ANYIGBA, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

The trial conducted at the Kogi State University Students’ Research and Demonstration Farm (latitude 7° 30' and longitude 7° 09' E), Anyigba in the Southern Guinea savanna agro ecological zone of Nigeria aimed at evaluating effects of varying levels of phosphorus (0, 60, 120, 180 and 180 kg/ha) and potassium (0, 30, 60, 80, 90 kg/ha) on yield components and fruit yield of tomato with a view to ascertaining the best rate of these nutrients for optimum yield in the study area. The experiment, an RCBD consisted of five fertilizer rates replicated four times. From laboratory results, evidently, the soil of the experimental site was critically limited by various macro nutrients. Data obtained on crop growth parameters (plant height, stem girth, number of leaves and number of branches) showed that except at 2WAT, effect of phosphorus and potassium on growth parameters measured (plant height, stem girth, number of leaves and number of branches) were significant at 4, and 6WAT. Yield components (fruit length, diameter, fruit weight) and fruits yield were also significantly influenced by P and K application, with increasing response as P and K fertilizer increased. The highest responses were observed with the application of 180 kg P/ha+90 kg K/ha. In addition, considering returns on fertilizer inputs, application of 180 kg P/ha+90 kg K/ha besides giving the highest growth and yield responses gave the highest return on fertilizer application (149.77 per cent), thus recommended for the experimental area.