GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF TOMATO SEEDLINGS AS INFLUENCED BY MORINGA LEAF STALK EXTRACT (MLSE) Raymond F. Gabica Jonathan S. Mangmang

GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF TOMATO SEEDLINGS AS INFLUENCED BY MORINGA LEAF STALK EXTRACT (MLSE) Raymond F. Gabica Jonathan S. Mangmang.

Rationale. Tomato Fruit disorder. Blotchy ripening.

Magat et al. (2009) reported that moringa leaf stalk contains higher amount of potassium (K) compared to moringa leaves.

Rationale. N Leaf Leaf Stalk 4.68 1.782 P Leaf Leaf Stalk 0.34 0.28999999999999998 K Leaf Leaf Stalk 1.6160000000000001 2.5099999999999998 Na Leaf Leaf Stalk 5.6000000000000001E-2 6.7000000000000004E-2 Ca Leaf Leaf Stalk 2.3879999999999999 1.252 Mg Leaf Leaf Stalk 0.39600000000000002 0.254.

Rationale. Zn Leaf Leaf Stalk 29.64 48.3 Fe Leaf Leaf Stalk 570.79999999999995 789.2 Cu Leaf Leaf Stalk 13.778 263.99 Mn Leaf Leaf Stalk 36.68 42.48.

Objectives of the Study. To evaluate the potential efficacy of Moringa Leaf Stalk extract as a growth, enhancing supplement for tomato. Evaluate the germination performance of tomato as affected by moringa leaf stalk extract and; Evaluate the influence of different levels of Moringa leaf stalk extract on the seedling growth performance of tomato..

Seed Germination and Seedling Establishment. 1. Germination Percentage (%) 2. Germination Rate (Days) 3. Co-efficient of Germination Velocity (%) 4. Plant height (cm) 5. Shoot biomass (gm.) 6. Root biomass (gm.) 7. Leaf Area (cm²) 8. Nutrient uptake (g/Kg of soil).

Materials and Methods. Experimental Design and Treatment.

Materials and Methods. Experimental Design and Treatment.

Result and Discussion. Table 1 . Germination percentage (0/0), germination rate (days) and co—efficient gerrnination velocity of tornato seeds as influenced by different level of MLSE. 74.81 32.18 85.92 82.96 77.78 79_46 85.93 TREATMENT Soaking Duration A1- No soaking A2— 2 hours A3- 4 hours F _ Test cv (0/0) Level of MLSE 1.2 1.3 F _tes t CVb, 0/0 Distilled water GA3 20/0 MLSE 40/0 MLSE MLSE 80/0 MLSE GERMINATION PERCENTAGE (0/0) 81 -85 83.43 78.15 ns 9.02 ns 14 _ 79 GERMINATION RATE (DAYS) 3.06 2.60 2.97 ns 16.92 3.18 2.6 Oa 2 _ 49a 3.1 9 c 2 -89b 15.51 CO-EFFICIENT OF GERMINATION VELOCITY 33.25 40.10 35_01 ns 33.27 40.51 a 42 — 1 31 -37 c 35.14b 35.34b 1 5.38 Treatment means with cornrnon letters are not significantly different at 50/0 level, LSD- **-highly significant; *-significant; ns-not significant.

Result and Discussion. Table 2. Height (cm) number of leaves and leaf area of tomato seedlings as influenced by the application of MLSE. 12.43 TREATMENT Level of MLSE LO- F _ Test cv (0/0) control Commercial Foliar 20/0 MLSE 4% MLSE 60/0 MLSE 8% MLSE PLANT HEIGHT (cm) 8.73C 12.87b 11 .70b 12.37b 1 8.63a 11 .75b NUMBER OF LEAVES 4.43 5.57 5.13 5.27 5.97 6.50 ns 15.92 LEAF AREA (cm2) 6.45b 1 1 .52 12.20 a I I .55 a I O .65 a 15.01 Treatment means with common letters are not significantly different at 5% level, LSD. **-highly significant; *-significant; ns-not significant.

Result and Discussion. Table 3. Fresh and application TREATMENT Level of MLSE dry shoot of MLSE. FRESH SHOOT WEIGHT O. 900b 1 .620a 1 .600a 1 .560a 1 .660a 1 .320a 13.21 weight (g) of DRY SHOOT WEIGHT 176b O. .421 a 0.335a 0.336a 0.41 8a 0.295ab 8.64 tomato seedlings as influenced by the LO- F _ Test cv (0/0) control Commercial Foliar 2% MLSE 40/0 MLSE 60/0 MLSE 8% MLSE FRESH ROOT WEIGHT 0.28b 0.39ab 0.48a 0.44ab 0.42b 0.39ab 14.84 DRY ROOT WEIGHT 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.02 ns 51 .90 Treatment means with common letters are not significantly different at 5% **-highly significant; *-significant; ns-not significant ROOT TO SHOOT RATIO 0.307 0.244 0.297 0.278 0.248 0.295 ns 51 .90 level, LSD..

Result and Discussion. Table 4. Nutrient uptake of tomato seedlings as influenced by the application of MLSE. TREATMENT Level of MLSE LO- control synthetic 2% MLSE 40/0 MLSE 6% MLSE 8% MLSE F _ Test cv (0/0) TOTAL P (g/KG OF SOIL) O. 7 Ibc 1 .50bc 1 .64bc 2.43 3.1 y 1 .94b 29.49 TOTAL K (g/KG OF SOIL) 19.21d 48.46ab 38.87C 40.3 obc 53.24a 37.1 IC 12.30 (g/KG SOIL) 2.08b 5.63a 4.26a 4.85a 3.81 ab 17.75 (g/KG SOIL) o. 05b O. 12b O. 12b O. 1 oat) 31 .01 ZN (g/KG SOIL) 0.013C 0.037a 0.027b 0.027b 0.034a 0.026b 10.14 Treatment means with common letters are not significantly different at 5% level, LSD. **-highly significant; *-significant; ns-not significant.

Conclusion. The results of the study showed that moringa leaf stalk extract had a significant influence on the germination of tomato seeds in terms of germination rate and coefficient of germination velocity. With regards of tomato seedling establishment, moringa leaf stalk extract significantly influenced all the growth parameters of tomato seedlings, except for the leaf count and dry root weight. Based on the result, the general conclusions are the following: 1. that Moringa leaf stalk extract shows potential as an alternative or supplement to inorganic fertilizer and commercial foliar fertilizer..

Conclusion. 2. At 2% concentration, germination. it has the ability to accelerate of seed 3. At 2% to 6% concentration, it enhances the growth of tomato seedlings. This study demonstrated the promising potential of MLSE as a plant growth stimulant not only for tomatoes but maybe also for other vegetable crops. With this, growers can consider utilizing the waste of moringa as a viable fertilizer supplement for vegetable production..

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