Effects of Mela Organics' New Liquid Fertilizer on Tomato Yield in Semi-Arid Areas of Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil organic matter depletion is mainly caused by crop residue removal, and low or no application of organic fertilizers often results in nutrient exhaustion and low crop yields. This challenge requires the evaluation of different organic fertilizer resources to provide new alternative fertilizer products to an Ethiopian production system. Based on this fact, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of mela organic fertilizer as a supplementary fertilizer to improve the yield of tomatoes under irrigation in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia from 2020 to 2021. The experiment consisted of eight treatments (Control, 100% recommended fertilizer, 100% recommended fertilizer + 30 L/ha Mela, 100% recommended fertilizer + 45 L/ha Mela, 75% recommended fertilizer +30 L/ha Mela, 75% recommended fertilizer + 45 L/ha Mela, 50% recommended fertilizer +30 L/ha Mela and 50% recommended fertilizer + 45 L/ha Mela) laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that the highest agronomic yield was obtained by applying the 100% recommended fertilizer + 30 L/ha Mela. However, based on the partial budget analysis, the highest marginal rate of return was obtained from 50% recommended fertilizer + 45 L/ha Mela. Thus, it can be concluded that the application of Mela Organics up to 45 L/ha, integrated with chemical fertilizer applications, can increase tomatoes' economic yields and reduce fertilizer costs.