Effect of planting methods, plastic mulches and training systems on soil temperature, soil moisture and tomato yield under open field conditions

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to study the performance of tomato (var. Solan Lalima) crop under open field conditions with two different planting methods, three types of mulch treatments and two types of training systems. This experiment was conducted at Vegetable Research Farm of DR YSP, UHF, Nauni, Solan during the period from March to September, 2017-18 and similarly for the period from March to September, 2018-19. The highest soil temperature was recorded under black mulch followed by silver/black polythene mulch and no mulch plot treatments during the standard meteorological week (March to September). It was found to be higher by about 1 to 10oC as compared to no mulch plot. Soil moisture was found to be higher in those treatments where silver/black mulch was used as compared to black mulch plot under the open field conditions. But there was no definite pattern observed under mulched or no mulched conditions. Highest yield (140.71 kg/plot) was obtained under the raised bed planting system, black mulch and two stem training system and the corresponding value being 136.16 kg/plot for raised bed planting method, silver/black mulch and two stem training system.