Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research
 

Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research 

Vol. 6(7), pp. 380-391. September, 2018.

ISSN: 2360-7874 

 DOI: 10.14662/ARJASRD2018.022

Full Length Research

Evaluation of the foliar application of Humic substances and potassium (liquid fertilizer) on Tomato (Solanumlycopersicum L) production in Ethiopia
 

Israel Bekele¹ and Gebreyes Grumu²

¹Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Melkassa Agricultural Research Center (MARC) Natural Resource Management Research Process. Email: 2012israelb@gmail.com

²Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Natural Resource Management Research Directorate, Head Office Adiss Ababa.

Accepted 21 September 2018

The effectiveness of foliar application of humic substances including 22.5 % total humic and fluvic acid with 7.1 % water soluble potassium oxide (HFA) was evaluated in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) (chali variety) yield at Melkassa, Meki and Merti. Including the zero control eight levels of fertilizer treatments were evaluated in three cropping seasons during 2015-2017. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The product solution was prepared as per factory (ES'SERRA^®) recommendations (2.5 L of the product in1000L of water per hectare with and/or without, half, full doses of inorganic fertilizers applied in bund) and as foliar spray at five different growth stages (before flower initiation and after fruit setting). The result revealed that foliar application of 1.25 and 1.875 L HFA and recommended rate (rr) of NPK (46N, 46P₂O₅ and 51K₂O kg ha^-1) and 2.5L of HFA and half rr of NPK (23N, 23P₂O₅ and 25.5 K₂Okgha^-1) significantly improved the tomato marketable yield by 34.5, 28.7 and 40.5% at Merti, and at Melkassa foliar application of 2.5L of HFA plus half recommended NPK fertilizers boosted the tomato marketable yield by 20%. At Meki the tomato marketable yield was improved by the foliar application of humic substances up to 60% though statistically not significant. The partial budget analysis also indicated that the application of 2.5L of HFA and half rr of NPK (23N, 23P₂O₅ and 30K₂O kgha^-1) gave maximum marginal rate of return 741.1% with highest net benefit at Melkassa. At Merti also this rate gave the maximum marginal rate of return 1587.33% with highest net benefit.

Key words: foliar application, humic and, fluvic acid, band application, marginal rate of return, Ethiopia.

How to cite this article (APA Style): Israel, B., Gebreyes, G. (2018). Evaluation of the foliar application of Humic substances and potassium (liquid fertilizer) on Tomato (Solanumlycopersicum L) production in Ethiopia. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. 6(7): 380-391