Effect of Black Plastic Mulching on Yield of Tomato

Effect of Black Plastic Mulching on Yield of Tomato

Angana Sarmah¹, Palash Thengal², Arifa M. Begum³, Promod C. Deka⁴ and R.K. Saud⁵

^{* 1, 3} Subject Matter Specialist, Horticulture, Home Science, ² SRF, NICRA, ⁴ Professor & Head, ⁵Associate Director, Directorate of Extension Education, AAU, Jorhat.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sonitpur, Assam Agricultural University, Napam, Tezpur -784028, Assam, India

Abstract

The use of polyethylene mulch has increased dramatically in the last few years because they have many benefits viz., increase in soil temperature especially in early spring, reduced weed problem, moisture conservation and increased crop yields. Field experiments were conducted to maximize total yield of tomato (Lycopersicon  Mill.) using black polyethylene mulch (BPM). Tomato variety Arka Rakshak  having triple disease resistance against tomato leaf curl virus, bacterial wilt and early blight. Unmulched treatments under recommended N:P₂O₅:K₂O dose of 120:200:200 yielded an average of 47.74 tha-1for ‘Arka Rakshak ’ which was significantly higher than the widely cultivated var.‘Rocky’(32.20tha^-1) in the study area. With BPM, highest yield was recorded as 55.3 t/ha in var. Arka Raksha kwhich was significantly higher than cultivar Rocky (37.2 t/ha). A significant increase in yield was recorded over control (no mulch) in both the cultivars.

Keywords: Tomato, Black plastic mulch, Unmulch, Triple disease resistance, Cultivars.