Comparative Growth Analysis and Fruit Quality of Two Varieties of Tomato under Hand Weeding and Pendimethalin Herbicide

• Published in: Journal of Agriculture Science Vol. 12; no. 3; pp. 149 - 161
• Main Authors: Olayinka, B U, Esan, O O, Anwo, I O, Etejere, E O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-09-2017
• ISSN: 1391-9318; 1391-9318
• DOI: 10.4038/jas.v12i3.8262

Tomato is an important vegetable crop having high nutritional value. Different agronomical practices have been used to increase its quality. Hence, field experiments were carried out to evaluate the influence of five weed control methods (Pendimethalin at 4 lha-1, Pendimethalin at 4 lha-1 + one hand weeding at 6 WAT, two hand weeding at 3 and 6 WAT, weed free and weedy check) on the biological productivity and nutritional compositions of two varieties of tomato (Roma V.F. and Tropimech). The weed control methods were arranged following randomized complete block (RCB) design in split-plot arrangement. The results showed that out of the fourteen weed species encountered six weed species: Euphorbia heterophylla, Tridax procumbens, Phyllantus amarus, Tithonia diversifolia, Gomphrena celosioides and Ageratum conyzoides were found to be preponderant. Pendimethalin at 4lha-1 + one hand weeding at 6 WAT and two hand weeding at 3 and 6 WAT showed better weed reduction (53-68%), when compared to sole application of Pendimethalin at 4lha-1 (32-41%). The weed free check  was the most effective in controlling weeds (96-99%). Growth attributes such as plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, and above-ground dry weight, relative growth rate and net assimilation rate, the number of fruit per plant and harvest index were significantly enhanced in all the weed control methods compared to the weedy check. Higher values of the afore mentioned growth attributes were significantly higher under Pendimethalin at 4 lha-1 + one hand weeding at 6 WAT when compared to other weed control treatments. The biochemical constituents such as vitamin C, lycopene and β-carotene and all the proximate composition except fibre were significantly higher in sole Pendimethalin at 4lha-1 and Pendimethalin at 4lha-1 + one hand weeding 6 WAT than other weed control methods. Growth and yield were higher in variety Roma V.F. than Tropimech, while biochemical constituents were found to be higher in Tropimech than Roma V.F. Pendimetalin at 4lha-1 + one hand weeding 6 WAT was found to be effective in weed suppression with positive influence on the biological productivity and nutritional compositions of the two studied varieties.