Effects of salicylic and benzoic acid on yield and yield components of moisture stressed tomato (<i>solanum lycopersicun</i> l.) at Kadawa Sudan Savannah

Abstract

Salicylic acid and Benzoic acids are antitranpirants usually used to reduce the rate of moisture loss and increase productivity of irrigated crops. To test antitranspiracy of Salicylic and Benzoic acids, field experiments were conducted during the two successive dry Seasons of 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 at the Agricultural Research Station Farm, Kadawa (11̊ 38ʹ 40.3ʺ N,8̊ 25ʹ3.9ʺ E) 498m elevation above sea level. The aim was to study the effects of antitranspirants and moisture stress on crop growth and development stages of tomato. The treatments consisted of two antitranspirants at four different concentrations of 0, 200, 400 and 600 ppm, and three moisture stress stages, vegetative, flowering and fruit setting. Antitranspirants and moisture stresses were assigned to the main plot and concentrations were used as sub–plot treatment. These were replicated three times and laid out in a split-plot design. The gross plot size was 3.6m x 3.0m (10.8m²) consisting of 6 rows of 3m length, while the net plot size was 1.2m 1.8m (2.16 m²) consisting of 2 inner most rows. Data were taken on tomato growth and yield attributes. Data generated were analysed using statistical analytics software (SAS). The results of the study revealed that application of both Antitranspirants enhanced growth and yield components such as fruit diameter, number of fruits plant¹, average fruit weight, marketable fruit yield and total fruit yield of tomato. Significant interactions between and among the factors were also recorded for fruit diameter, number of fruits plant^-1 marketable fruit yield and the total fruit yield. Application of 200 and 400 ppm of of Salicylic acid at fruit setting produced the highest total fruit yield (6.66 tha^-1) which was statistically similar to 600 ppm of Benzoic (6.10 t ha^-1) at flowering while the control had the lowest. Total fruit yield was positively and significantly correlated with number of fruit plant^-1 and average fruit weight. Number of fruits plant^-1 was found to have the highest direct contribution to the yield. Flowering and fruiting stages were found to be the critical growth stages for moisture stress of tomato. Foliar application of 400 ppm of Salicylic acid at fruit setting stage appeared to promote tomato yield in the study area.