ISSN (Online): 3108-1584
Research Paper
Volume 2, Issue 2 - September 2026
This study examined the comparative effects of NPK fertilizer and poultry droppings on the growth and yield performance of dry season tomato production at the Teaching and Research Farm of Federal College of Education, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. The experiment was conducted during the 2025/2026 dry season farming period using tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) as the test crop. The study adopted a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three treatments replicated four times. The treatments consisted of poultry droppings at 10 t/ha, NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer at 300 kg/ha, and a control without fertilizer application. Data collected included plant height, number of leaves, stem girth, number of flowers, and number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, and total yield. Data obtained were analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), while treatment means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% probability level. Results revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) among the treatments. Poultry droppings significantly enhanced vegetative growth parameters such as plant height, stem girth, and leaf production due to gradual nutrient release and improved soil structure. NPK fertilizer produced early flowering and fruiting, leading to increased fruit numbers and marketable yield compared to the control. However, poultry droppings recorded the highest overall fruit weight and sustained yield performance. The control treatment produced the lowest growth and yield values throughout the experiment. The findings indicate that integrated organic nutrient management through poultry manure can effectively improve tomato productivity and soil fertility under dry season conditions in the Southern Guinea Savanna ecology of Nigeria. The study recommends increased utilization of poultry droppings either solely or in combination with moderate inorganic fertilizer rates for sustainable tomato production in Kogi State and similar agro-ecological zones.
Tomato production, Poultry droppings, NPK fertilizer, Dry season farming, Growth performance
Abdullahi Musa A'ihi, "Comparative Effects of NPK fertilizer and poultry droppings on the growth and yield efficiencies of tomatoes in the Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria: A case study of Federal College of Education Okene, Kogi State Nigeria ", Cosmo Research & Science International Journal, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 148-168, Sep. 2026.
Abdullahi Musa A'ihi (2026). Comparative Effects of NPK fertilizer and poultry droppings on the growth and yield efficiencies of tomatoes in the Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria: A case study of Federal College of Education Okene, Kogi State Nigeria . Cosmo Research & Science International Journal, 2(2), 148-168.
Abdullahi Musa A'ihi. "Comparative Effects of NPK fertilizer and poultry droppings on the growth and yield efficiencies of tomatoes in the Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria: A case study of Federal College of Education Okene, Kogi State Nigeria ." Cosmo Research & Science International Journal, vol. 2, no. 2, September 2026, pp. 148-168.
@article{CRSIJ26000365,
author = {Abdullahi Musa A'ihi},
title = {Comparative Effects of NPK fertilizer and poultry droppings on the growth and yield efficiencies of tomatoes in the Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria: A case study of Federal College of Education Okene, Kogi State Nigeria },
journal = {Cosmo Research and Science International Journal},
year = {2026},
volume = {2},
number = {2},
pages = {148-168},
issn = {3108-1584},
url = {https://cosmorsij.com/published/CRSIJ26000365.pdf},
abstract = {This study examined the comparative effects of NPK fertilizer and poultry droppings on the growth and yield performance of dry season tomato production at the Teaching and Research Farm of Federal College of Education, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. The experiment was conducted during the 2025/2026 dry season farming period using tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) as the test crop. The study adopted a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three treatments replicated four times. The treatments consisted of poultry droppings at 10 t/ha, NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer at 300 kg/ha, and a control without fertilizer application. Data collected included plant height, number of leaves, stem girth, number of flowers, and number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, and total yield. Data obtained were analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), while treatment means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% probability level. Results revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) among the treatments. Poultry droppings significantly enhanced vegetative growth parameters such as plant height, stem girth, and leaf production due to gradual nutrient release and improved soil structure. NPK fertilizer produced early flowering and fruiting, leading to increased fruit numbers and marketable yield compared to the control. However, poultry droppings recorded the highest overall fruit weight and sustained yield performance. The control treatment produced the lowest growth and yield values throughout the experiment. The findings indicate that integrated organic nutrient management through poultry manure can effectively improve tomato productivity and soil fertility under dry season conditions in the Southern Guinea Savanna ecology of Nigeria. The study recommends increased utilization of poultry droppings either solely or in combination with moderate inorganic fertilizer rates for sustainable tomato production in Kogi State and similar agro-ecological zones.},
keywords = {Tomato production, Poultry droppings, NPK fertilizer, Dry season farming, Growth performance},
month = {September}
}