Effect of Row Spacing and Weed Management Practices on Growth and Yield Components of Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) in Yola, North-Eastern Nigeria

Field trial was conducted during 2020 and 2021 dry seasons at experimental farm site of the Department of Crop Production and Horticulture, Modibbo Adama University, Yola to study the Effect of row spacing and some weed management practices on growth and yield components of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) in Yola north-eastern Nigeria. The experiment was layout in a split plot arrangement of a Randomize Complete Block Design (RCBD) with (5) treatments Zero weeding (Control), Weedy check (Weeding at 2 and 4 Weeks After Transplanting), Maize straw at 1.0 kg m-1, S-metolachlor at 1.5 kg ha-1 and Pendimethalin at 1.44 kg ha-1) replicated three (3) times. Row spacing of 40x40cm, 60x60cm and 80x80cm was assigned to main plot while the different weed management treatments were assigned to sub-plot. The parameters measured on the crop include tomato plant height, number of branches per tomato plant, number of tomato fruits per plant. And weed parameters measured were number of broadleaf weeds/m2, grasses/m2, sedges/m2, total weed density/m2, weeds dry weight/m2, weed control efficiency (%) and weed index at harvest. The data collected were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test to separate the means at 5% level of probability. The results shows significant differences on plant height of tomato. Weedy check and 40cm row spacing recorded the tallest tomato plant heights of (18.54) at 2 WAT in 2020 while the tallest plant, was recorded at the interaction between weedy check and 60 cm row spacing of (22.58 cm) in 2021. The highest number of branches for the two experimental years of 2020 and 2021, were recorded at the interaction between 40 cm row spacing and weedy check treatment of (7.17) and (11.50), compared with Pendimethalin that recorded the lowest tomato plant heights, number of branches of (1.00) and (2.00) at 4 & 5 WAT. Similarly, the result for weed parameters also indicated that weedy check and 40cm row spacing has the lowest weed density m-2 of (1.84) at 30 days after application in 2020 and (1.77) in 2021 compared to Zero weeding plot and 80cm row spacing that recorded with the highest weed density of (7.04) & (7.16) for both 2020 and 2021 experimental years, also the percentage of weed dry matter. Weedy check also recorded highest weed control efficiency and weed index compared with remaining treatments. Therefore, the finding of this work said “weedy check treatment and 40 cm x 40cm row spacing were the best among weed management practice and row spacing†and are recommended for use as an alternative to the use of herbicide and 60 cm x 60 cm row spacing for effective weed control and maximum yield output of the tomato production in Yola, Nigerian.