ABSTRACT
The effects of sodium (Na) and potassium (K) application on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum (L.) Mill) were studied in soil culture. The study was a 4 × 4 factorial, arranged into a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated four times. Sodium was applied at 0, 5, 10, and 20 mg Na/kg soil as NaCl and K as KCl at 0, 20, 40, and 80 mg K/kg soil. Records of dry matter yields, water content, mineral nutrient, and number of fruits were taken. The application of 10 to 20 mg Na/kg soil and 80 mg K/kg soil depressed the water contents and the fruit yield. The application of 5 mg Na/kg soil and 40 mg K/kg soil produced the highest number of fruits, indicating a Na and K ratio of 1:8. A Na: K ratio of 0.45 up to 0.60 and 1.44 up to 1.80 for shoot and root, respectively, maintained good shoot water balance, resulted in lower floral abortion, and markedly enhanced the fruit yield. A complimentary relationship between Na and K was observed at Na: K ratios between 1:4 and 1:8.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The assistance of Dr. D. J. Oyedele in the statistical analysis of the data is highly appreciated.
Notes
∗Mean Significantly different from the control treatment at p < 0.05.
∗Mean significantly different from the control treatment at p < 0.05.
∗∗Means significant at 1%.
NSMeans not significant.