A contrast between fish offal’s fertilizer, chemical fertilizer and manure applied to tomato and onion

Abstract

Fertilizer is a critical input for improving production and increasing crop yields. The effect of chemical
fertilizer, fish offal’s fertilizer and manure on marketable yield and other parameter of tomato
(Lycopersicon esculentum) and Adama red onion (Allium cepa) were compared. The experiment was
laid as a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with three treatments; chemical fertilizer (T1), fish
offal’s fertilizer (T2) and manure (T3). Treatments encompassed 0.24 kg diammonium phosphate (DAP)
of chemical fertilizer, 2 kg of ground fish offal’s fertilizer and 10 kg of unfermented (fresh) manure for
tomato. Similarly, 0.12 kg DAP of chemical fertilizer, 1 kg of ground fish offal’s fertilizer and 5 kg of
unfermented manure for Adama red onion. 3 × 4 m plot size was used for tomato and 2 × 3 m plot size
was used for Adama red onion. The results indicated that there is significant difference (p < 0.05) in
tomato height at first harvesting with the maximum height of 80.33 ± 3.97 cm from plot treated with fish
offal’s fertilizer. There is significant difference (p < 0.05) in onion bulb weight. The maximum bulb weight
was 112.51±16.4 g recorded from plot treated with chemical fertilizer. Tomato fertilized with fish offal’s
fertilizer grew better than those fertilized with chemical fertilizer at later stages. Fish offal’s fertilizer
boosted the production at the later age and concluded that it can be used as an alternative to chemical
fertilizer for tomato. The use of fish offal’s fertilizer for different crops, application time and amounts
should be further studied.