Efficacy of Leaf Extract of Drumstick Tree (Moringa Oleifera Lam.) On The Growth of Local Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Abstract

A field study was conducted on the growth of tomato plants with leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera. Different concentrations of the crude extract measured for treatments: A 20%, B 40%, C 60%, D 80%, and E with 100%. In the treatments used, l00ml of distilled water was sprayed at the stem base of the plant labeled F which served as control. Four (4) parameters were determined at each week of the experiment i.e. plant height (PH), number of leaves (NL), number of branches (NB) and number of flowers (NF) at five (5) different times. A corresponding increase appeared in the study area. Treatments D (80g/20ml), C (60g/40m1) B (40g/60ml) and an average plant height, A (20g/80ml). Control was found to have the least of all the growth parameters with an average plant height, leaves number, number of branches and number of flowers of 18.8, 51.0, 9.1 and 1.6. This indicates that, the Moringa leaf extract used significantly increased the growth and yield of tomato plants in all the trials with erect stemming, fresh leaves, regular branching and healthy fruits and regular flowering.