Plastic mulch for tomato cost benefit, silver black vs black film, thickness, weed and moisture control.
Is plastic mulch worth it for tomato and which colour film should I use?
MMahesh Choudhari8mo ago · 303 views
4 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓8mo ago
Plastic mulch usually pays off for high value vegetables like tomato because it cuts weeding cost and irrigation, warms or cools the root zone, keeps fruit clean, and often advances and increases yield, especially with drip underneath. Silver on top and black underneath (silver black) is popular for summer and pest prone crops because the silver reflects light to repel aphids and whitefly and keeps soil cooler, while plain black gives strong weed control and is cheaper, suiting cooler seasons. Common film thickness for a season is around 25 to 30 microns; thicker lasts longer. Lay it tight over moist, bedded soil with drip below and make planting holes. Factor in disposal. Confirm specs and any subsidy with your KVK and supplier.
RRavindra Patil Bhosale7mo ago
For my summer tomato the silver black film genuinely cut down the sucking pests in the early weeks because the shiny side confuses the whitefly. In the cooler season I just use plain black to save money since pests are fewer then. So pick the colour by season, not by habit.
SSopan Kale7mo ago
Two things make or break it: lay it tight with no air gaps and run the drip under it before you punch the holes. My first lazy job flapped in the wind and tore, and the loose film cooked the plants underneath on hot days. Done properly it saved me a lot of weeding labour.
DDattatraya Shewale6mo ago
Do not forget the disposal cost and effort at the end. Thin film tears into pieces and is a pain to pull out of the field, and you cannot leave bits in the soil. I now use a slightly thicker film that comes off in one piece and ask the supplier about take back. Plan for the end of season, not just the start.