ROOT-GALL NEMATODE DISEASE OF TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM) AS AFFECTED BY ORGANIC MANURE/UREA FERTILIZER MIXTURE

Effects of organic manure/urea fertilizer mixtures on root-gall nematode disease on tomato were studied in a 3x4 factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with 4 replications. Urea fertilizer weights of 0.00, 27.8, 55.6, and 83.4kg/ha were separately mixed with fixed weights of 1.25 tons/ha of farmyard manure, municipal waste and pig slurry. Results showed that 27.8kg/ ha of urea fertilizer mixed with farmyard manure caused the tomato roots to be gall-free. The same was true of 83.4kg/ha of urea fertilizer mixed with municipal waste. Pig slurry mixed with 55.6kg/ ha of urea fertilizer caused the tomato plants to be rarely root-galled. Leaf area and number of leaves produced per plant increased as root-gall severity decreased. Significantly (P=0.05) higher number of harvested marketable fruits occurred on gall-free tomato plants treated with urea fertilizer mixed with farmyard manure at 27.8 kg/ha and 1.25 tons/ha respectively.