ABSTRACT
A field experiment was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, to determine the effect of urea fertilizers and soil properties on the growth and fresh fruit yield of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). Prior to planting, N:P:K:Mg fertilizer was applied at a rate of 300 kgha-1 as a basal dressing to boost soil fertility. The treatments applied were urea fertilizer at three different levels: 0 kgha-1 , 50 kgha-1 , and 100 kgha -1 . The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated four times. Various plant parameters such as plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, and leaf area were measured. The study examined soil properties before and after planting. The results of the soil analysis before planting indicated the soil was strongly acidic (pH 5.32) with high organic carbon (18.50g/kg), low total organic nitrogen (0.90g/kg), low potassium (0.10cmol/kg) levels, moderate calcium content (0.60cmol/kg), and high levels of magnesium (0.95cmol/kg) and sulfur (35.86 mg/kg). After planting and harvesting, pH levels became extremely acidic across the treatment plots, with values of 4.19, 4.29, and 4.46. Total organic carbon ranged from moderate to high (11.47, 11.77, and 14.41g/kg), and total nitrogen (0.574, 0.589, and 0.721g/kg) remained low. High available phosphorus (31.4, 58.2, and 734.3mg/kg) was recorded with low potassium (0.06, 0.07, and 0.172cmol/kg) levels. Calcium (0.500, 0.500, and 0.525cmol/kg) was moderate, magnesium was low with values of 0.200, 0.225, and 0.300cmol/kg, while sulfur (19.34, 70.40, and 104.4mg/kg) remained high.
