GROWTH AND YIELD OF TOMATO AS INFLUENCED BY SEEDLING AGE & MULCHING

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted in the experimental fanri of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. Dhaka -1207 during November 2006 to April 2007 to find out the effect of seedling age and different mulches on the growth and yield of tomato. The experiment consisted of two factors Factor A: age of seedling such as Si: 30 days, S days and 53: 40 days. Factor B: different mulching such as M 0 : No mulch: M i : Water : Straw. The trial was laid out in Randomized complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. In case olseedling age 52 hyacinth: M 2 : Black polythene and M 3 produced the maximum number of fruits per plant (37.94), weight of individual fruit (77.85 g) and yield (71.69 t/ha). In case of mulching M 2 produced the maximum number of fruits per plant (41.37). weight of individual fruit (84.91 g) and yield (79.17 t/ha). In case of combined effect S2 M2 produced maximum number of fruits per plant (42.78), weight of individual fruit (98.10 g) and yield (88.29 t/ha). It may therefore be concluded that the 35 days age of seedling along with application of black polythene mulching is suitable combination for better growth and yield of tomato.