Productivity of Tomato as Influenced by Nutrients and Variety grown In Makurdi, Nigeria

The experiment aimed to investigate the effectiveness of hydroponics on the growth and yield of tomatoes in Makurdi, Nigeria. The experiment is laid in a complete randomized design with three replications. The treatments used are organic nutrient source, inorganic nutrients source and control), a varieties used where (Cobra and Ishaseo) the experiment during the 2023 rainy season. During the investigation, some physiological variables, such as growth, plant height and the number of leaves, leaves diameter were measured Plant height (cm), Numbers of leaves, Numbers of branches, Other characteristics like Days to first flowering, Number of flowers, Days to first fruiting, Number of fruits, Fruit length (cm), Fruits weight/fruit (g), Fruits circumference (cm). and overall yield were also recorded. The results of the investigation revealed that tomatoes generally responded to nutrient solution. All the parameter studies have significantly (P ≤ 0.05) responded to the nutrient solutions with inorganic nutrients solutions recorded higher in both growth and yield-related character such, as plant height (37.12cm), the number of leaves(73.14), number of flowers (24.17), number of branches (6.26). On varieties cobra out performed Ishaseo in both growth, yield and yield related characters such as plant height (45.25cm), number of flower (25.20), number of branches (6.26), days to maturity (130.27), number of fruits (52.12), fruit diameter (3.23), fruit length (7.22), fruit weight (36.65) and yield (5.87) t/ha. Based on the results obtained it can be suggested that lettuce farmers use inorganic nutrient solution which is better in both growth and yield characteristics leading to optimum yield in tomatoes cultivation in the study areas.