Importance of NPK Foliar Fertilization for Improving Performance of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), Managing Diseases and Leafminer (Tuta absoluta)

Abstract

Aim: To improve tomato performance, manage diseases and leafminer via NPK foliar fertilization as compared to soil fertilization. Methodology: Six treatments (control, soil NPK, Soil+Foliar NPK, Mucuna, Tithonia and Mucuna+Tithonia) were evaluated for their potential to improve tomato performance, manage diseases and leafminer. Results: Tomato disease incidence ranged from 12−100% across treatments that differed (P = .001) significantly, with lowest in Soil+Foliar NPK and highest in control compared to the other treatments (P = .05). A negative correlation occurred between disease incidence and treatments (r = −0.78). Highest tomato blight occurred in control (P = .05) that correlated negatively with treatments (r = −0.79). Highest septoria leaf spot occurred in control (P = .05) that correlated negatively with treatments (r = −0.73). No leafminer was recorded in Soil+Foliar NPK, followed by Mucuna+Tithonia as compared to other treatments (P = .05). Leafminer correlated negatively with treatments (r = −0.88). Tomato disease severity correlated negatively with treatments (r = −0.73) and ranged from 9−93% across treatments that differed (P = .001) significantly. Lowest disease severity occurred in Soil+Foliar NPK with the highest in control compared to other treatments (P = .05). Tomato fruit rot correlated negatively with treatments (r = −0.63) and positively with blight (r = 0.52), ranging from 1-17 across treatments that differed (P = .001) significantly, with highest in control compared to other treatments (P = .05). Tomato yield ranged from 10−20 t ha-1 and differed (P = .001) significantly across treatments, with highest in Soil+Foliar NPK treatment and lowest in control (P = .05). Tomato yield correlated positively with treatments (r = 0.92) and negatively with disease severity (r = −0.68). Conclusion: NPK foliar fertilization demonstrated strong potential to improve tomato performance, manage diseases and leafminer as compared to soil amendments.