ISHS Acta Horticulturae 779: International Symposium on Growing Media
EFFECT OF ORGANIC MULCHES ON THE GROWTH OF TOMATO PLANTS AND QUALITY OF FRUITS IN ORGANIC CULTIVATION |
| Authors: | I. Bender, M. Raudseping, S. Vabrit |
| Keywords: | cracking, length of roots, soil-root sample, unheated greenhouse, vegetative growth |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.779.42 |
| Abstract:
Organic mulch covers are easily available and cheap in Estonia. Therefore, investigations into their suitability for tomato cultivation in organic conditions were carried out. The trial was set up in unheated plastic greenhouse in the soil. The influence of mulches made of tree leaves, red clover green mass and grass green mass on plant growth height and fruit cracking was studied. The mulches were spread one month after the planting of tomatoes in a 10 cm thick layer. The treatment without mulch cover was used as control. The height of the plants was measured once a week and a total of five times before harvesting. To find relationship between treatment and root parameters, soil samples were taken from depth of 0–10 cm and 11–20 cm. From the trial data, it can be concluded that the share of cracked fruits was significantly (P=0.05) lower only in red clover treatment of one variety among five. Grass mulch caused significantly negative effect on cracking of 4 varieties probably because of lower covering ability of this material. There were bigger differences between varieties than mulch treatments in the height of tomato plants. In all the mulch treatments the roots located more in upper soil layers compared with control. Differences in root parameters were discovered depending on the mulch type. | |
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