Effect of Plant Spacing Density and Inter Cropping on the Growth and Wilt Disease of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), Owerri Metropolis, Imo State, Nigeria
E. M. Nwokeji *
Department of Crop Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Tecchnology Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
C. M. Agu
Department of Crop Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Tecchnology Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
G. O. Ihejirika
Department of Crop Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Tecchnology Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
C. Peter-Onoh
Department of Crop Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Tecchnology Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
V. E. Ogwudire
Department of Crop Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Tecchnology Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
S. E. Okere
Department of Crop Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Tecchnology Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This present study was undertaken to assess the effect of plant spacing density and intercropping on the wilt disease of tomato in the year 2015. The study was designed as a 4x4 factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design with four (4) replications. Data on growth parameters and disease incidence on tomato were collected and statistically analyzed by using Genstat version 4 analytical software, while the means were separated for difference using Fisher`s Least Significant Difference Protocol. Spacing significantly (P<0.05) affected the percentage wilt disease incidence in the 8 weeks of transplanting. However intercropping and spacing had no significant (P>0.05) effect in both plant height and number of leaves of tomato. From the study, the lowest plant spacing of 50 x 25, under the crop combination of tomato, groundnut and soybean, increased the tomato wilt to the highest (113.67%). Dense tomato plant population should, therefore, not to be encouraged in mitigating the tomato wilt. On the other hand, sole tomato, with distance of 100 x 75cm, should be given consideration in managing tomato wilt, as it led to the list disease incidence in the last week of the study when the infection got to the climax.
Keywords: Plant spacing, intercropping, growth, wilt disease, tomato