Correlation Analysis on Growth and Yield Parameters of Tomato Varieties as Influenced by Pinching, Mineral Fertilizers and Mulching in Three Seasons

Tomato, a vegetable crop of immense importance in the diet and economy of Nigeria requires better agronomic practices for optimum performance. Three trials were conducted in Ogbomoso and Mokwa, between 2012 and 2014 cropping seasons to assess the effect of pinching, mineral fertilizers and mulching on growth and fruit yield of tomato. Correlation analysis was done using statistical SAS package to determine one and two tailed differences among growth and yield parameters. In experiment one, the parameters had positive and negative significant relationship with each other. Fruit weight of tomato had positive significant relationship with total fruit yield with the highest (r=0.95) among other parameters at P≤0.01. In experiment two, the highest degree of association was from fruit length which positively correlated with fruit diameter, fruit weight and total fruit yield obtained from (r=0.76) at P≤0.01. Experiment three recorded the highest degree of association from parameters of fruit weight of tomato which was positive and significantly correlated with total fruit yield (r=0.100) at P≤0.01. Therefore, it can be recommended that for better performance of tomato fruit weight and total fruit yield should be positive and significantly correlated with each other at P≤0.01. Keywords: correlation, tomato, yield, growth, positive, negative DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/13-16-02 Publication date: September 30 th 2023