EVALUATION OF THE NUTRITIONAL AND ORGANOLEPTIC QUALITY OF FIELD-GROWN TOMATO IN BURUNDI

This study aims to evaluate the nutritional and organoleptic quality of field-grown tomatoes in Burundi using vermicompost and chemical fertilizers. It was conducted in a completely randomized block design (CRBD) with four blocks and four replicates. The plant material used in this experiment was the “Tengeru 97” variety of tomato. A sample of 128 plants was randomly selected from 192 plants. The mean concentration of vitamin C and the mean concentration of protein were compared to the theoretical mean concentration of 18.92 mg/100g and 12.65 respectively using one-sample Student’s t-test. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Clustering based on Principal Components (HCPC) were applied to continuous variables related to the tasting scores attributed to the piece of tomato. Findings showed that applying vermicompost at an optimal dose of 210 g led to the higher concentration of vitamin C (41.1 mg/100 g). The same treatment achieved the highest tasting score (3.7). Tomatoes grown using chemical fertilizers showed lower mean score (2.1) for these sensory qualities. Cluster analysis showed three groups of individuals. These results highlighted the potential of vermicompost as a sustainable and effective alternative to chemical fertilizers for improving the nutritional and organoleptic qualities of tomatoes, while promoting environmentally-friendly agriculture and preserving human health.