Response of Irrigated Tomato (<i>Lycopersicum lycopersicon</i> Karst) to Boron Fertilizer: 1. Yield and Fruit Quality

Abstract

The effect of six levels (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 kg B ha^-1) of boron on the yield and biochemical properties of two tomato varieties (Roma VF and Dandino) were examined at the Irrigation Research Station, Institute for Agricultural Research, Kadawa, in the Sudan savanna ecological zone of Nigeria for 2 years, 1992/93 and 1993/94, dry seasons. Matured ripe fruits were analysed for biochemical properties such as ascorbic acid, reducing sugars, total soluble solids and titratable acidity. Boron levels significantly (P<0.01) increased yield and yield attributes such as number of fruits and average weight of fruits and improved biochemical properties. In both years, the highest fruit yield and best fruit quality were obtained at 2 kg B ha^-1. The fruit yield recorded at 2 kg B ha^-1 gave increased values of 121 and 72% relative to the control in 1992/93 and 1993/94, respectively. The Dandino variety recorded more ascorbic acid, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, reducing sugars and yield than the variety Roma VF, whereas Roma VF flowered earlier than Dandino. Fruit yield correlated with all the yield attributes and biochemical properties determined for both years.

Key words: Irrigated tomato, boron fertilizer, yield attributes, fruit quality, response.

Nigerian Journal of Soil Research Vol.5 2004: 53-61