Effect of ecofriendly weed management practices on growth parameters and yield of organic tomato

Abstract

A two-year field study (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) evaluated ecofriendly weed management practices in organic tomato against a chemical control standard. Nine treatments, including mulching, stale seedbed preparation, intercropping, and tamarind leaf extract application, were tested alongside metribuzin 70% WP @ 0.525 kg a.i ha⁻¹ PE fb hand weeding and an unweeded control. Plant height was not significantly affected, although rice straw mulch (T4), live mulch with dhaincha (T1), and intercropping (T6) consistently produced taller plants. The number of primary branches was significantly highest with poly mulch + intra-row HW (T3) in both years, followed by rice straw mulch (T4). Yield was greater under chemical control (23.43–24.43 t ha⁻¹), but poly mulch (T3, 18.07–21.34 t ha⁻¹) and rice straw mulch (T4, 16.57–19.04 t ha⁻¹) were the most productive organic treatments. The unweeded control recorded the lowest yields (2.17–2.48 t ha⁻¹). Results demonstrate that poly and straw mulch offer viable, high-performing alternatives to chemical weed control in organic tomato.