Influence of Effective Microorganisms on Qualities of Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) Grown on Tropical Loam Soil

Abstract

The use of Effective Microorganism (EM) consortium along with compost may overcome the harmful effects caused by chemical fertilizer while improving the nutritional quality of crops. The study aimed to determining the influence of compost inoculated with EM on the nutritional qualities of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) grown in tropical loam soil.  Four sets of treated loamy soils was experimented. The treatments were the compost without EM (C); compost containing effective microorganisms (EM); compost containing effective microorganisms with chicken manure (CEM) and urea as mineral fertilizer (M). Tomatoes were harvested randomly after matured and kept in plastic bag and immediately transferred to the laboratory for analysis of beta-carotene, vitamin C and brix contents.  The results shows that tomatoes planted with EM inoculated compost have relatively higher level of β-Carotene (7.76µg/100g), Brix (4.9%), and vitamin C (77.55mg/100g) compared with those from mineral 4.01µg/100g, 4.8%, and 3.83mg/100g respectively. This is likely reflect the efficiency of organic nature decomposition of EM compost over mineral fertilizers. We may therefore conclude that EM compost can be applied to supersede chemical fertilizer to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly tomatoes agriculture.

Keywords: Beta-carotene, Brix, Compost, Effective microorganisms, Vitamin C.