Improving soil fertility and performance of tomato plant using the anaerobic digestate of tithonia diversifolia as Bio-fertilizer

Abstract

Prolonged application of agrochemicals has caused soil dehydration and destruction of plant tissues as well as spillage of excess fertilizers into water bodies. This study was designed to investigate improvement in soil fertility and performance of tomato using bio-fertilizer obtained from the anaerobic digestate of Tithonia diversifolia (Mexican sunflower) shoot. It also compared bio-fertilized, chemical-fertilized and non-fertilized plants. On the bio-fertilizer and soil, microbial analysis was carried out to determine the subsisting microbial diversities. Tomato plants were raised in twenty four pots, each containing containing 10 kg soil. Bio-fertilizer was applied at varying rates of 1000, 800, 600, 400 and 200 ml in three pots each; chemical fertilizer was also applied into three pots as positive control, while three pots served as negative control. A comparison was made across the three treatments with respect to productivity which was measured in plant height, leaf length and number of branches. Potted plants treated with 1000 ml of bio-fertilizer had the highest plant growth rate which was followed by those treated with 800 ml of bio-fertilizer. The plants to which chemical fertilizer was applied showed same increase in plant height and leaf length as the potted plant amended with 400 ml of bio-fertilizer. There was no distinct increase in height of the negative control and yellowing of leaves was observed two weeks after transplanting. The results of this study shows that bio-fertilizer is very effective in enhancing plant growth as it facilitates activities of beneficial microorganism.