EFFECTS OF CASHEW (ANACARDIUMOCCIDENTALEL) LEAF AS SOIL AMENDMENT ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF TOMATO (SOLANUMLYCOPERSICUM) INFECTED WITH FUSARIUMOXYSPORUMFSPLYCOPERSICI

Abstract

Tomato is a vegetable crop that is affected by Fusarium wilt disease caused by Fusariumoxysporumfsplycopersici. The present study investigated the effects of cashew leaf as soil amendment on growth and yield of tomato infected with Fusariumoxysporumfsplycopersici. The pot plants were grown on soil mixed with dried cashew leaf powder and biochar produced from dried cashew powder at 10g and 30g respectively while the unamended soil serves as control. The growth performance was determined by plant height, stem girth and number of leaves while the yield was determined as total weight per treatment. The control plants had the lowest plant height, stem girth, number of leaves which was significantly different (p from plants grown on soil amended with dried cashew leaf powder and biochar. The study showed that biochar produced from cashew leaf powder as soil amendment promotes the growth and yield of Fusarium wilt of tomato plants than dried cashew leaf. Application of biochar produced from cashew leaf can be useful in Integrated Pest Management.