ISHS Acta Horticulturae 487: VI International Symposium on Processing Tomato & Workshop on Irrigation & Fertigation of Processing Tomato
THE EFFECT OF MULCH AND ROW COVERS ON YIELD OF PROCESS TOMATOES |
| Authors: | H.Y. Pan, K.J. Fisher, M.A. Nichols |
| Abstract:
In a factorial study with black plastic mulch and with row covers black plastic mulch with fertigation gave improved heavier total and factory grade yields compared with no mulch, using a simulated once over harvest. There was no significant effect of row covers, probably due to the late transplanting of the crop. There was no difference in the optimum time to harvest (116 days after transplanting) for any of the treatments. The yield of factory grade fruit followed a normal distribution curve with date of harvest, and showed that advancing or delaying the harvest date by as little as a week significantly reduced yield. The yields of factory grade tomatoes at the optimum harvest date were black plastic mulch 79 t/ha, and no mulch 51 t/ha. It is suggested that the higher soil and air, temperatures of the mulch treatment early in the season and the improved water and nutrient availability provided by fertigation were important factors in this yield improvement. | |
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