EFFET COMPARE DES FERTILISATIONS ORGANIQUES ET MINERALES SUR LA PRODUCTION ET LA CONSERVATION DE LA TOMATE FRAICHE (Solanum lycopersicumL.) DANS LA PREFECTURE DE LA KOZAH AU TOGO

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a crucial vegetable for human nutrition and an important source of income for farmers. In response to increasing demand, producers increasingly use chemical inputs, raising serious health and environmental concerns. As a perishable fruit, the tomato rapidly deteriorates after ripening, making preservation a major challenge. To promote sustainable production and conservation, a study was conducted at the agriculturalexperimental station of the University of Lome, located atTchitchao, in the Kara region of Togo. The study assessed the effects of four types of fertilizers on agronomic parameters and the shelf life of two tomato varieties - ANAYAand MONA. A randomized block design was employed, with five treatments: SR1 GOLD, poultry manure, compost, NPK, and a control. The results indicate that poultry manure significantly enhances the growth, yield, and conservation of tomatoes compared to the other treatments. The application of 20 t/ha of poultry manure increased production by 86.67% for the MONAvariety and 65.11% for the ANAYAvariety compared to the control. Additionally, the manure extended the shelf life by two weeks for MONA and one week for ANAYA, compared to the NPK treatment, under ambient conditions. Under refrigerated storage, tomatoes treated with poultry manure exhibited the lowest rate of spoilage up to the tenth week, suggesting that poultry manure is a viable alternative for improving both the production and preservation of tomatoes.