International Research Journal of Plant Science

Studies on Different Methods of Nutrient Management and Mulching Practices on Productivity of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculemtum Mill)

Lavesh Kumar Chourasia^* and Shivshankar Singh Department of Horticulture, Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Madhya Pradesh, India
^*Corresponding Author:
Lavesh Kumar Chourasia, Department of Horticulture, Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Madhya Pradesh, India, Email: laveshchourasia@gmail.com

Received: 08-Jul-2021, Manuscript No. IRJPS-23-36084; Editor assigned: 14-Jul-2021, Pre QC No. IRJPS-23-36084 (PQ); Reviewed: 28-Jul-2021, QC No. IRJPS-23-36084; Revised: 12-Jul-2023, Manuscript No. IRJPS-23-36084 (R); Published: 12-Aug-2023, DOI: http:/dx.doi.org/10.14303/irjps.2023.26

Introduction

The exercise of mulching has been utilized to great advantage in the development of horticultural crops (Smolikowski et al., 2001) and has been proven to considerably improve the growing conditions of vegetables. Mulch is any material placed on the soil surface to conserve moisture, maintain favourable soil temperatures around plant roots, prevent erosion and reduce weed growth, which results in better plant growth and development. Mulches can be derived from either organic or inorganic materials (Meyer et al., 1970). Mulching with drip irrigation system is an efficient method of manipulating crop growing environment to increase yield and improve product quality by ameliorating soil temperature, conserving soil moisture, reducing soil erosion, improving soil structure and enhancing organic matter content. Since efficient use of irrigation water is of major importance for sustainable agriculture evelopment, different measures have been introduced to conserve water (Taylor et al., 1995).

Polyethylene mulch is extensively used in the production of fresh 2 market tomatoes. Beneficial responses include earlier production, better fruit, quality and greater total yield. The responses have been credited to enhanced soil warming, more efficient and consistent use of water and fertilizers. Management decisions on mulch color traditionally have been based on mulch effects on soil temperature.

A role of upwardly reflected light on tomato plant development in plastic mulch culture has been established (Rao et al., 2016). Morphological growth of young tomato plants was transformed by subtle changes in the wavelength composition of light reflected from various painted colors of polyethylene surfaces. Nutrient uptake of tomato has also been reported to be affected by light spectral quality. Because tomato plant growth is responsive to subtle changes in the plant light environment, alternative colors of mulch that selectively reflect desired wave lengths of light into the plant canopy may have potential for improving tomato yields under field conditions.

Fruit yield of 45.7 t ha-1 was obtained for tomato with application of recommended dose of fertilizers using polyfeed (19:19:19), MAP (12:60:0) and urea through fertigation, which was 22-27% higher compared to the crop which was provided with ordinary fertilizers through soil application (Prabhakar et al., 1996).

Keeping the above points in opinion, the present study was carried out during the winter season 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 at the Intkhedi Bhopal fruit research station farm, which is dependent on Rajmata Krishi Vishwavidyalaya Gwalior with the later goals.

• Explore the results of different nutrient management methods on tomato productivity and quality.
• Evaluate the result of different mulching practices on the productivity and quality of the tomato.
• Explore the best combinations of nutrient management and mulching methods on tomato productivity and quality.
• Know the economic viability of the chosen treatments.

Materials and Methods

The current experiment was undertaken to inspect the “Studies on different methods of nutrient management and mulching practices on productivity of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculemtum Mill).

The experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. The funds used and the procedures that operate during the course of the experiment are briefly defined as follows:

Experimental site

The experimental farm was carried out at the Intkhedi Bhopal fruit research station, which belongs to Rajmata Krishi Vishwavidyalaya Gwalior (M.P) Treatment details:

(Recommended dose of FYM 15-20 t+fertilizers 180 kg N+100 Kg p+60 kg K/ha)

Factor (A) as nutrient management

F1 farmer practice (FYM @ 5 t/ha+125 kg urea+125 kg DAP/ha)
F2 FYM @10 t/ha+50% R.D.F
F3 100% RDF (100% PK+50% N basal dose 50% N in 20 and 40 DAT by top dressing)
F4 50% RDF (fertigation in 3 split doses at the time of transplanting and 20, 40 DAT)
F5 50% RDF (50% Basal+25% foliar in two split doses at the time of 20 and 40 DAT)

Factor (B) as mulching practices

• M0 open bed without mulch
• M1 rice straw mulch
• M2 soybean straw mulch
• M3 black colour plastic mulch

4-week-old seedlings of tomato hybrid ‘Arka rakshak’ were transplanted into the field. protray was properly watered prior to seedling removal and care was taken to avoid root damage, transplanting was done at evening, light drip irrigation was applied instantly after transplanting.

Results and Discussion

T12M3F3 had a significant effect on plant height taken on 30, 60 and 90 DAT the highest plant height was observed (69.92 cm) subsequently followed by M1F3, M2F3, M0F3 and lowest was found in M0F1 (46.34 cm) number of branches were higher in T12M3F3. Plastic mulch induces the early crop emergence, so it increases the biomass production in the early stages of the crop growth. Black mulching increased number of flowers per cluster and significantly influenced by organic mulch and without mulch. According to mulched tomato plants had more and early flowers than that of unmulched plants. SPAD values were significantly influenced by different mulch treatments (Al-Darby et al., 1987).

The highest fruit weight was recorded under T12M3F3 (588.67 g) followed by significantly influenced by organic and without mulch. Our results showed that the tomato grown over Black mulch had the highest early yield (959.42 q/ha) followed by grown over Organic mulched. The lowest yield was recorded without mulch (480.63 q/ha) (Barry et al., 1995).

Black coloured plastic mulch with full RD of fertilizer significantly had a higher marketable yield compared to without mulch. Marketable yield increased by 99.62% in black mulch followed by organic mulch rice straw (82.82.98%) than soyabean straw (78.47%) (Figure 1 and Table 1) (Traore et al., 2019).

Table 1. Different methods of nutrient management and mulching practices on productivity of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculemtum Mill) (Two years pooled data).

Influence of soil temperature by different types of mulches

The mean daily soil temperature recorded at a depth of 5 cm and 10 cm at 10.00 AM and 2.00 PM. It can be seen that at 10 AM the average soil temperature 5 cm deep is lower compared to 10 cm deep under all types of mulch. At the same time, it has been found that the soil temperature is highest with black plastic mulch than with organic mulch. The result revealed that during the morning the soil temperature increases with increasing depth. The increasing and decreasing trend of the soil temperature under inorganic mulches (black) depends on the daily atmospheric temperature. Hillel et al., 1974). Fallows with a similar trend in the case of rice straw, soybean straw and without mulch. According to data recorded at 2:00 p.m., the average soil temperature at 5 cm depth is higher compared to 10 cm deep under the four types of covers (Lal et al., 1975). The result revealed that in the afternoon the soil temperature decreases with increasing depth (Figure 2).

Economics

The results show that tomato production in general is highly dependent on labor. In other words, tomato production can be described as a labor-intensive commercial enterprise. Among the list of cost items for tomato production technology, labor alone represents more than 80% of the cost of operations; the remaining 20% of the cost is distributed between the costs of fertilizers, seeds, fungicides and bags. The cost structure of the trails indicates that a potential user of mulching technology requires an additional investment of Rs 30,333.33/ha for inorganic (black) mulch and Rs 24,950/ha for organic rice straw mulch and 23533.33 for inorganic mulch of soy straw.

The highest net return (2, 94,043.33 Rs/ha) were recorded in black mulch with full RD of nutrient management. In case of organic Rice straw mulch with full RD of nutrient management net return (2, 63,687.13 Rs/ha) were obtained, in case of organic Soyabean straw mulch with full RD of nutrient management net return (2.54,283.3 Rs/ha) were obtained. The lowest net return (84, 917.17 Rs/ha) was obtained in without mulch and farmer practice of nutrient management (Table 2) (Martin et al., 1995) (Lopes et al., 1993).

Table 2. Economic analysis influenced by different methods of nutrient management and mulching practices on productivity of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculemtum Mill) (Two years pooled data).

Conclusion

The results of this study showed the significant effect of inorganic mulch during the growing season. Inorganic mulch reduces evaporation of water from the soil and improves the availability of water from the soil. The use of inorganic mulches produced a more vigorous plant, more flowers and fruits, an earlier and higher yield and a higher soil temperature compared to organic and non-mulched mulch. Commercial performance was also higher with the use of inorganic mulch. The increase in black mulch yield was likely associated with moisture conservation, an improved microclimate both below and above the soil surface, light reflection and great weed control. The mulch facilitates the retention of soil moisture and improves the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil. Mulch suppresses weed growth, protects top fertile soil from erosion and minimizes variation in soil temperature. Mulch blocks light stimulation, reducing seed germination in weeds after mulch application similarly, 100% RDF from nutrient application is also higher in all parameters compared with 50% RDF and farmer practice.

References

1. Smolikowski B, Puig H, Roose E (2001). Influence of soil protection techniques on runoff, erosion and plant production on semi-arid hillsides of Cabo Verde. Agri Ecosys Envir. 87: 67-80.

   [Crossref] [Google Scholar]

2. Meyer LD, Wischmeier WH, Foster GR (1970). Mulch rates required for erosion control on steep slopes. Soil Sci Soc Am J. 34: 928-931.

   [Crossref] [Google Scholar]

3. Taylor HD, Bastos RKX, Pearson HW, Mara DD (1995). Drip irrigation with waste stabilisation pond effluents: Solving the problem of emitter fouling. Water Sci Technol. 31: 417-424.

   [Crossref] [Google Scholar]

4. Rao KVR, Gangwar S, Bajpai A, Chourasia L, Soni K (2016). Effect of different mulches on the growth, yield and economics of tomato (Lycoperscion esculentum). Bhartiya Krishi Anushandhan Patrik 

   [Google Scholar]

5. Prabhakar M, Hebbar SS (1996). Performance of some solanaceous and cucurbitaceous vegetables under micro irrigation system. India Semi Micro Irrig Tech. 74-77.
6. Al-Darby AM, Lowery B, Daniel TC (1987). Corn leaf water potential and water use efficiency under three conservation tillage systems. Soil Tillage Res. 9: 241-254.

   [Crossref] [Google Scholar]

7. Barry O (1995). Assessment of erosion control in rainfed agricultural areas in Cape Verde. An innovative project, PRODAP. Agric Dev. Int. Res. J. Plant. Sci.
8. Traore K, Birhanu ZB (2019). Soil erosion control and moisture conservation using contour ridge tillage in Bougouni and Koutiala, Southern Mali. J Environ Protect. 10: 1333-1360.

   [Google Scholar] 

9. Hillel D, de Backer LW (1974). Water and soil: Physical principles and processes Leuven Belgium: Vander. 75-85.

   [Google Scholar]

10. Lal R (1975). Role of mulching techniques in tropical soil and water management. IITA Tech Bulletin. 

    [Google Scholar]

11. Martin P (1995). Ader doutchi maggia (Niger): Notes on the history of erosion control strategies. Bulletin  Erosion Network. 15: 266-271.

    [Google Scholar]

12. Lopes VL, Meyer J (1993). Watershed management program on Santiago Island, Cape Verde. Environ Manag. 17: 51-57.

    [Crossref] [Google Scholar]

Citation: Chourasia LK, et al. (2023). Studies on Different Methods of Nutrient Management and Mulching Practices on Productivity of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculemtum Mill). IRJPS. 14: 026.