Effect of Animal Organic Fertilizers (Cattle and Sheep Manure) on the Growth of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

The use of organic fertilizers is considered one of the important approaches in sustainable agriculture due to their role in improving soil fertility and reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two types of animal organic fertilizers, namely cattle manure and sheep manure, on the growth of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.).

The experiment was conducted using pot culture with three treatments: soil without fertilization (control), soil amended with sheep manure, and soil amended with cattle manure, with four replicates for each treatment. Plant growth was monitored for six weeks, during which several morphological traits were measured, including plant height, number of branches, leaf length, number of flowers, and number of fruits.

The results showed significant differences among the treatments in all studied traits. Plants treated with cattle manure recorded the highest values in most growth parameters, with an average plant height of 27.9 cm compared to 21.3 cm and 16.7 cm in the sheep manure and control treatments, respectively. The application of cattle manure also resulted in a significant increase in the number of branches, flowers, and fruits per plant compared to the other treatments. This improvement is attributed to the role of organic matter in enhancing soil physical and chemical properties, stimulating microbial activity, and increasing nutrient availability for plant uptake. The results indicate that the use of animal organic fertilizers, particularly cattle manure, can effectively improve tomato plant growth and increase its productivity, making it a promising option for enhancing the sustainability of agricultural production and improving soil fertility