Field and post-harvest efficacy of calcium and carbonized rice husk on fungal diseases and shelf-life of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Poor agronomic practices and fungal disease prevalence have been identified as major constraints to tomato production, sometimes resulting to up to 80 % losses in tomato yield; hence making it difficult for local communities to overcome food and nutrition insecurity. Across two cropping campaigns, the efficacy of carbonized rice husk (CRH), calcium (Ca) in Folcrop (Ca-B) and their combinations with the fungicide Mancozeb (Fung), were evaluated on Raja F1 and Cobra F1 26 tomato varieties against blight and fusarium wilt diseases and on fruit shelf-life. Treatments included: no application (control), Ca + Fung, CRH + Fung, Ca + CRH + Fung, Ca + CRH, and fungicide alone. Fungi disease incidence and severity were determined by direct observation. Fruit shelf-life was established through measurements of fruit weight loss, fruit colour changes using an established tomato fruit colour chart and texture changes. Results showed that tomato yields differed significantly (P