Effect of Mulching Materials on Weed Control in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mioo.) Planting

Abstract

The experiments were to compare vrious mulching materials of weed control in tomato, planting at Nong Khai Horticultural Experiment Centre, Nong Khai province during 2001 to 2002. The RCB was used with 4 replications, and 7 treatments namely mulching materials with straw, dry cogon grass, grey and black plastic, compared to herbicides: oxadiaon at 160 g ai/rai and metribuzin at 70 g ai/rai, hoe weeding 2 times at 15 and 45 dats after planting and untreated check. The results showed that broadleaved weeds were more dominant than other weeds particularly Melochia corcholifolia L. in the first year and Commelina diffusa Burm.f. for the second year than other types of weeds. Weed weight was significant among treatments. The mulching material with straw and dry cogon grass promoted tomato plant growth in term of height which was higher than hoe weeding and untreated check. Yields were harvested 5 times by starting at 100 days after planting onward. The treatments of mulching materials with strw and dry cogon grss gave higher tomato yields and better benefit than any other treatments.