Effect of plastic mulches on the yield, soil temperature and soil moisture of tomato crop (Solanum lycopersicum)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) at University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur during (December-April) 2015-16, in a split plot design with three replications. This study investigated the combined effects of drip irrigation and mulches on number of branches per plant, soil temperature and soil moisture. The treatments of the study comprised different combinations of three drip irrigation levels (120, 100, 80 and 60 per cent of crop water requirement ET) and three mulches (white on black, silver on black and black). The use of polyethylene mulch in vegetable cultivation has increased in the last 15 years. it prevents direct evaporation of moisture from the soil and thus limits the water losses and soil erosion over the surface. In this manner it plays a positive role in water conservation. Results of the study indicated the maximum number of branches per plant (19.17) were recorded under drip irrigation at 80 per cent ET with white on black plastic colour mulch as compared to other treatments in the experiment. The soil temperature under black plastic colour mulches was higher (3.690C more) and also the soil moisture was higher in plastic coloured mulches compared to control plots.