Effect of Mulching on the Growth and Yield of Tomato in Sokoto State

Tomato production in the dry sub-humid zone of North West Nigeria faces severe moisture stress constraints, and mulching offers a low-cost moisture conservation strategy accessible to smallholder farmers in Sokoto State. This study investigated the effect of different mulching materials on the growth and yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) at the Sokoto State Teaching Farm, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, North West Nigeria. A field experiment was conducted during the 2023 dry season using a randomised complete block design with five treatments: no mulch, black polythene mulch, transparent polythene mulch, rice straw mulch, and sawdust mulch, each replicated three times. UC 82 tomato variety was transplanted and data collected on plant height, leaf area index, number of fruits per plant, individual fruit weight, and total yield. Results showed that black polythene mulch produced the highest tomato yield (24.7 tonnes per hectare) and significantly suppressed weed emergence compared with the unmulched control (14.3 t ha-1). Rice straw mulch produced the second highest yield (21.3 t ha-1) and is locally available and affordable. Transparent polythene mulch did not significantly outperform the control in yield despite reducing soil moisture loss, attributed to increased soil temperature inhibiting root function. The study concludes that black polythene and rice straw mulches are the most effective soil water conservation strategies for dry season tomato production in Sokoto State and recommends their incorporation into extension advisory messages for the region.

Keywords: mulching, tomato, moisture conservation, dry season production, Sokoto State