I keep hearing mulching helps tomato. Does plastic mulch really help and which colour or type should I use?
Should I use mulching in tomato (tamatar) and which mulch is best?
SSandip Aher7 महीने पहले · 288 व्यू
5 जवाब
🌾Farmer.in Krishi Teamविशेषज्ञ ✓7 महीने पहले
Mulching helps tomato in several ways at once. Plastic mulch conserves soil moisture, controls weeds, keeps fruit off the soil so there is less rot and blemish, and silver or reflective mulch also repels whitefly and aphids which reduces virus spread. Black plastic mulch is widely used for weed control and moisture conservation, while silver on black mulch adds the insect repelling benefit and is popular where leaf curl virus is a problem. Mulch works best combined with drip irrigation laid under the film so water and fertiliser go straight to the root zone. Organic mulch like straw is a low cost option that also conserves moisture and adds organic matter but does not repel insects. Choose based on your main problem, weeds and moisture or also virus, and ask your KVK about mulch and drip subsidy under micro irrigation schemes.
BBhausaheb Wagh6 महीने पहले
I use silver on black mulch in my virus prone block and plain black where weeds and water saving are the only worry. The silver clearly delayed leaf curl for me but it costs more, so I match the type to the field problem instead of using the costly one everywhere.
RRavi Sonawane6 महीने पहले
A practical caution, lay the drip line under the film first and check it is working before you spread the mulch. Once the mulch is down it is a pain to fix a blocked dripper. Also leave the planting holes neat so the stem does not touch the hot film and scald.
DDilip Pawar6 महीने पहले
For a small plot I could not afford plastic, so I used paddy straw mulch. It kept the soil moist, cut weeds and kept the fruit off the mud, and it added organic matter when it broke down. It does not stop whitefly like silver film, but for moisture and weeds it did the job cheaply.
MManisha Aher6 महीने पहले
Ask your KVK or horticulture office about the micro irrigation subsidy before you buy the film and drip. I put in mulch with drip and a neighbour got part of his cost back under the scheme while I had already paid full because I did not check first. The benefit is bigger when you combine mulch with drip anyway.