Effect of Black Plastic Mulching on Yield of Tomato

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.