Impacts of Hydroponic Stratagem on Growth and Yield Performance Factors in Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Food insecurity in Nigeria is exacerbated by seasonal shifts, high labor demands, and environmental degradation. To address these challenges and close the supply-demand gap for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), this study evaluated a robust, easy-to-operate hydroponic system for year-round cultivation. Two tomato varieties (UC and Ruma) were grown using two systems: a soilless hydroponic setup and a traditional soil-filled potted control under identical environmental conditions. Morphological and reproductive parameters were evaluated using ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests (p < 0.05). Results revealed that while soil-grown plants achieved significantly taller plant heights (Ruma Soil: 35.90 ± 0.13 cm), the hydroponic system dramatically enhanced vegetative and reproductive outcomes. The UC Hydroponic treatment yielded the highest mean number of leaves (32.65 ± 1.10), branches (11.09 ± 0.35), leaf size (13.89 ± 0.28 cm²), and stem girth (1.56 ± 0.03 cm), significantly outperforming all other groups (p < 0.001). Crucially, UC Hydroponics also recorded the highest reproductive metrics, including flower count (8.62 ± 1.08), fruit yield (12.78 ± 2.19), and fruit size (5.41 ± 0.49 cm). Both hydroponic treatments produced larger fruit sizes than their soil-based counterparts. These findings demonstrate that managed soilless cultivation optimizes vegetative growth and significantly enhances fruit traits. Consequently, this system offers a viable path toward year-round agricultural production, economic diversification, and food security in ecologically compromised regions.