Low soil fertility is a challenge that affects tomato production among farmers in Nsukka, Southeast Nigeria. To overcome this challenge, a greenhouse study at the Department of Soil Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka evaluated the residual effects of black soldier fly larvae waste (BSFLW) application on soil chemical properties and tomato performance. The experiment was arranged in a complete randomised design. The treatments, BSFLW10 (BSFLW applied at 10 t ha-1), BSFLW20 (20 ha-1), BSFLW30 (30 ha-1), 400 kg ha-1NPK 15:15:15 and Control, were replicated five times. The test soil (0-15cm) was dried, sieved and weighed 5 kg into potting bags. Afterwards, tomato seedlings were transplanted into the treated pots. Results show that BSFLW-treated pots had 2-15.5%, 23-39%, 14.7-58.8% and 33.7-44.8% higher soil pH, total N, available phosphorus and organic carbon than the control pot, respectively. Treatments application significantly (p ≤0.05) enhanced tomato growth and yield. The treated soil had 37.4-55.6%, 49.7-73.9%, and 53.4-65.1% higher number of leaves and fruits, and fruit weight than the control, respectively. The BSFLW application has promising effects on soil properties and tomato performance. Further field studies are needed to evaluate the effects of BSFLW application on soil properties and tomato performance before r recommend appropriate application rate to farmers.

The study examined the effect of weed control practices and different fertilizer sources for the optimum growth and yield of bell pepper. The study was conducted at the teaching farm of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The sample for the study were weed control practices comprising black polyethylene mulch, un-weeded plot, and manual weeding with hoe at 2-week intervals and different fertilizer types comprising cow dung, pig dung, and poultry manure at 20 t/ha, respectively; NPK fertilizer at 150 kg/ha; and no fertilizer (control). There were 15 treatment combinations arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times. The study revealed that the plots mulched with black polyethylene and poultry manure recorded a significantly higher number of leaves per plant (82.0), plant height (16.47 cm), a lower number of broadleaved weeds (1.45/0.5m2), grasses (1.50/0.5 m2), and sedges (0.70/0.5m2), weed dry weight (0.81 g), and higher weed control efficiency (86.48%). It concluded that applying black polyethylene mulch with the application of NPK or poultry manure provided positive results for growth as well as weed control and therefore should be recommended to the extension agents and farmers for efficient and profitable production of bell pepper.