Transplanting time and mulching impact on yield and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. Hisar Arun

Abstract

The experiment comprising of five transplanting time viz., 15th December, 30th December, 15th January, 30th January and 15th February and three mulching materials, i.e. black polyethylene, wheat straw and control, was conducted at Research Farm, Department of Vegetable Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during Rabi season of 2014. The transplanting times showed significant effect on all the parameters. Mulching materials also showed significant effect on all the traits except TSS and acidity. The minimum intensity (6.8 and 12.0) and dry weight (8.2 and 17.2 g) of weeds at 45 and 60 days after transplanting were recorded when the crop was planted on 15th December under black polyethylene mulch, respectively. The TSS in tomato fruit were estimated significantly higher (5.7%) when the transplanting was done on 15th December but mulching had no significant effect on TSS. Ascorbic acid content decreased significantly with delayed transplanting. The maximum ascorbic acid content and titratable acidity was estimated 27.6 mg/100 g and 0.48%, respectively when the tomato seedlings were transplanted on 15th December under black polyethylene mulch. It can be concluded that the crop planted on 30th December under black polyethylene mulch had less weeds’ population and produced better yield and quality of tomato with benefit to cost ratio Rs 3.12