Yield Response to Type of Mulch and Time of Mulch Application in Organic Production of Tomato(SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.)

Summary

Mulching in organic agriculture is important for a variety of roles it performs. Mexican weeping pine (Pinus patula Schelde. ex Schltdl and Cham) and wild lemon grass (Cymbopogon spp.) were used as mulch to evaluate the effect of type of mulch, time of applying mulch and influence of seasons on yield of organically produced tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Lushoto district, north-eastern Tanzania. The experiment followed a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatments were pine mulch applied 3 days after transplanting, pine mulch applied 3 weeks after transplanting, grass mulch applied 3 days after transplanting, grass mulch applied 3 weeks after transplanting, weeded and unweeded (control). Yield data were taken at harvesting. Data analysis was done by using Genstat Statistical Package. Results showed that the time of mulch application at an interval of three days and three weeks from transplanting did not have an influence on yield but yields of tomato were significantly higher in mulched than in unmulched treatments. Tomato yields recorded in season 1 (wet and cold) were higher at both sites than yields recorded in season 2 (dry and warm).This study reveals that the type of mulch used and the time of application affect tomato yield only positively.