Mulching operation favours the suppression of weed seed germination and its growth. Hence, it keeps the weed under control

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at Vegetable block of College of Horticulture, Bagalkote, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkote to study the effect of different levels of irrigation and mulches on growth and yield of tomato. The experiment with 12 treatment combinations was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Main plot constitutes four irrigation levels (I1: 100%, I2: 80%, I3: 60% and I4: 40% cumulative pan evapotranspiration) and subplot comprised of three levels of mulches (M1: Without mulch, M2: Sugarcane mulch and M3: Polythene mulch). Irrigation was given based on cumulative pan evapotranspiration following alternate day irrigation schedule using drip irrigation. The treatment combination receiving drip irrigation at 80 per cent CPE along with polythene mulch (I2M3) was recorded with highest fruit yield per plant (2.74 kg), yield per plot (60.90 kg) and yield per hectare (51.83 t/ha). The same treatment combination was noticed with highest benefit cost ratio of 3.23. Whereas, highest water use efficiency was noticed under individual treatments of drip irrigation (I4) provided at 40 per cent CPE (255.44 kg ha-1mm-1) and under polythene mulch (204.03 kg ha-1mm-1). The highest soil moisture content was observed under the treatment combination with drip irrigation at 100 per cent CPE under polythene mulch (I2M3) at 30 and 60 DAT, whereas, at 90 DAT it was highest under I2M3. However, lowest weed density was noticed under all the four irrigation levels in combination with polythene mulch at all the monthly intervals.