Effect of different types of mulches on 'Newton' tomato yields and fruit cracking under plastic greenhouse conditions

Abstract

This study was conducted at Al-Balqa` Applied University research station to investigate the effect of different types of mulches on ‘Newton’ tomato yields and fruit cracking incidence under greenhouse conditions. The experiment consisted of seven treatments (black plastic, tuff gravel, clear plastic, compost, crushed stone, shredded wood, and the control); a randomized complete block design with three replicates was used. Different mulch types showed significant effects on early, medium, late, and total yields/ha of the tomato fruits. Higher early and medium yields were obtained using black and clear plastic. Compost resulted with the highest total yield. Results of this study clearly showed that mulching improves total tomato yields under greenhouse conditions. In addition, larger fruits were obtained by applying mulching. Tomato cracking was also slightly affected by the mulch types used in this study.