International Journal of Agriculture and Technology
Open AccessThe Use of Neem Plant (Azadirachta indica) and Victoria regia Lily (Victoria amazonica) Leaves Extract as Organic Fertilizers for Tomato Plant, Solanum lycopersicum
Authors: Jagessar R, Crandon C
Abstract
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are considered as an essential food source internationally and in Guyana. There is a need to use alternative natural organic fertiliser compared to synthetic one, in light of the effect of synthetic fertilizer on the environment. Tomato seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum) were subject to three treatments: synthetic fertiliser, potential natural fertilisers of aqueous extract of Victoria Regia and Neem (Azadirachta indica) and control experiments. Experimental design revolves around a Completely Randomised Block approach. Experiments were conducted over a period of eight weeks. Parameters investigated were plant height, nodal distance, internodal distance, leaf width and leaf length. It was found that the aqueous extract of Victoria Regia was the most effective for plant nodal distance and internodal distance. The synthetic fertiliser was the most effective for seedling height, leaf width and leaf height. However, for parameters where synthetic treatments were more effective, there wasn’t much significance difference compared to the effects induced by the natural fertiliser. For example, in promoting leaf height, synthetic fertiliser induced a growth of 20.15cm, whereas the Victoria Regia and Azadirachta indica induced height of 18.74 and 15.68cm. Thus, the Victoria Regia and Azadirachta indica extracts can be used as an alternative fertiliser for tomatoes.
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