Effects of abattoir wastewater on the growth of Solanum lycopersicum L. (tomato)

With the growing necessity to use wastewater for irrigation due to water scarcity, farmers face the challenge of using wastewater containing non-profiled nutrients that may be detrimental to crop productivity. The study investigated the effects of water from abattoirs on tomato plant growth and development. Abattoir wastewater (AWW) was obtained from Surulere and Agege abattoirs in Lagos State. The experimental design implemented a randomized complete design (RCD) with three replications. Tomato plants were grown in experimental pots and treated with different amounts of AWW: Tap water (control), 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%. Data on plant height, branch and leaf numbers, fruit yield, stem girth, and root length, were collected at two-week intervals for five months. Data was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the means were separated using the Tukey HSD test at a threshold of 5% (P<0.05). The study revealed that AWW significantly increased tomato growth characteristics and fruit yield at 100% AWW concentration. Thus, AWW may be an alternative source of organic nutrients for vegetable crop irrigation and could assist farmers with the escalating issues of freshwater scarcity and drought challenges worldwide.