Effect of different colour mulches on the growth and yield of tomato under Chhattisgarh region

Abstract

Field experiment was carried out in the experimental field of Horticulture department, IGKV, Raipur (Chhattisgarh) during the year 2003-2006. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with four treatments i.e. 1) Red plastic mulch, 2) Black plastic mulch, 3) White plastic mulch and 4) Surface irrigation without mulch was treated as control (recommended cultivation). The experiment was laid out to assess their importance as mulching component in Tomato cultivation. The study revealed that drip irrigation with red plastic mulch of 25-micron thickness showed superior yield and yield attributing characters as compared to other mulched treatments. The yield of tomato in red plastic mulch, black plastic mulch, white plastic mulch and control plots were 335.75, 324.62 312.18 and 230.72 q/ha respectively. These results showed that the red, black and white plastic mulch increased the yield of tomato by 45.52, 40.06 and 35.30 % respectively over the control. The vegetative growth flowering and quality parameters were best under red-mulched plants as camped to control. Water use efficiency and water savings were found to be highest under red plastic mulch and lowest under non-mulch condition. The net income was recorded higher under red plastic mulch (Rs.85800) and lowest in without plastic mulch (Rs. 38020). Similarly benefit cost ratio was also recorded most economical in red plastic mulch as compared to non-mulch condition.