Influence of mulching on yield performance and insect incidence on pesticide-free fresh market tomatoes
1993
Gudoy, R.B. | Gabriel, M.L.S. | Alpuerto, V.V. | Alpuerto, E.B. (Mariano Marcos State Univ., Batac, Ilocos Norte (Philippines))
Yield performance and insect pests infestation were determined on three tomato hybrids (035XN, 039XN and 062 XN) and two check varieties (Native and Improved Harbot) under mulched (zero tillage) and unmulched (cultivated) conditions with no pesticide application. Tomatoes planted with mulch significantly had bigger fruit size (41.40 g), more number of fruits per plant (24.73) and marketable fruits harvested (21.96 t/ha) than without mulch. The three hybrids performed better and outyielded the check varieties by 50 percent or more. Number of plants and percentage of fruits damaged by thrips were significantly higher in unmulched than in mulched tomatoes. On the other hand, mulching did not affect fruitworm incidence. Data showed that marketable yields of unmulched (8.49 t/ha) and mulched (21.96 t/ha) tomatoes were highly significant. No significant difference however was observed on the non-marketable yield. Cost and return analysis also showed the profitability of mulching tomatoes planted in zero tillage and its advantages in terms of net income (P36,945.40), flexibility in time of planting and reduction in land preparation cost (P1,900.00)
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