ROWCOVER AND BLACK PLASTIC MULCH EFFECTS ON TOMATO PRODUCTION

Enhancing early crop production and yield by the use of rowcovers has achieved variable results depending on crop grown and climate. The performance of rowcovers, with or without plastic mulches, has not been evaluated in the Mediterranean region. Tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) were grown under floating rowcover, black plastic mulch, mulch plus rowcover, or no protection i.e. control, for studying the effect on yield in terms of earliness, total yield and average fruit size. Early yield was significantly increased by the mulch treatment while the rowcover treatment yielded the least (P<0.05). Total yield was increased by the mulch and mulch plus rowcover treatments, while the rowcover and control treatments yielded the least (P<0.05). Soil temperature at 10 cm depth varied between 1 degrees to 2 degrees C only under the different treatments. Air temperature under the rowcover exceeded 35 to 40 degrees C on many days, hence causing fruit setting problems and resulting in reduced early yield under the rowcover. The results of this study indicate that early production in tomato is enhanced by black plastic mulch, while the rowcover alone can have a negative effect on yield.