EFFECT OF ORGANIC MULCHES ON SOIL ENVIRONMENT AND YIELD OF TOMATO

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Department of Crop Physiology and Ecology Research Field and Laboratory, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, during the period of October 2011 to April 2012 to find out the effects of organic mulches and varieties of tomato on the soil properties, morpho-physiological characteristics and yield of tomato. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The experiment comprised of two factors such as Variety; Ratan and Roma VF and 5 Organic mulches as control, Paddy straw, Water hyacinth, Ash and Saw dust mulch. Significant variation in plant height at 15, 30, 45 DAT and at final harvest were found among varieties. Ratan showed the highest plant height at 15 DAT (26.42 cm), 30 DAT (37.30 cm), 45 DAT (39.93 cm) and at final harvest (52.46 cm). The highest number of fruits plant’ (44.10) was found in Roma VF and the lowest number of fruits plant’! was recorded in Ratan variety. Among all mulch treatments the maximum yield of tomato (67.38 t ha’') was recorded in M, (Paddy straw) which was statistically similar with M3 (Ash) followed M, (Water hyacinth mulch). The lowest yield of tomato was recorded in control (M, mulch). In different interaction effects of mulch and variety, the highest yield (87.69 tha’! and 84.03 tha”) of tomato was recorded in VM, (Ratan x Paddy straw) and VM; (Ratan x Ash mulch) while the lowest yield of tomato (34.51 t ha’) was recoded in V.M, (Roma VF x no mulch). This result suggests that the application of organic mulch save soil moisture regulate temperature positively and increase yield of tomato. The degree of benefits obtained from different organic mulch were inorder of Paddy Straw > Ash > Water hyacinth > Saw dust.