Effect of Organic and Inorganic Mulching Materials on Tomato Growth and Development in Western Kenya
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Date
2021
Authors
Musito, J. Wafula
Mutoro, Kenneth
Onyango-Gweyi, Joseph
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academia Letters
Abstract
Tomatoes fall among the most widely eaten vegetables with good nutritive value and
a wide array of advantages. Yields have been increasing worldwide because of better cultivars and more intensive use of modern technology, but in Kenya there has been a slow
progression. Based on the above analysis manipulation of growing environment has the
potential to improve tomato yield. Therefore, the current study was conducted to generate
more information on the influence of manipulation of root microclimate using inorganic
and organic mulching materials on two tomato varieties growth. The site was in Bungoma County at Mabanga Agricultural Training Centre for two seasons of 2014 and 2015.
The field experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in
split-plot arrangement, replicated four times. The two tomato varieties include Cal J
(determinate) and Tylka F1 (semi-determinate) grown on seed beds mulched with different mulching materials. These were black polyethylene film, transparent polyethylene film, sugarcane trash and no mulch (control). Data collected on growth parameters
were subjected to ANOVA using GenStat statistical package, and means separated using
Fischer’s Projected LSD at 95% confidence level. Results showed that mulching significantly (P≤0.05) influenced the number of branches and height of the two tomato varieties
in both seasons. The white polythene mulch produced the highest number of branches
per plant (10) as well as trusses (30) in Cal-J variety. The same treatment and variety produced the tallest plants at 143.7 cm while the shortest plants were in the control treatment
of variety Tylka F1.
Description
A research article published in Academia Letters
Keywords
Cultivars, Growth and development, Mulching, Root microclimate, Tomato
Citation
Wafula, M.J., Mutoro, K., Onyango-Gweyi, J. (2021). Effect of organic and inorganic mulching materials on tomato growth and development in Western Kenya. Academia Letters, Article 1131. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL1131.