The Use of Different Waste Mulch Materials Against Weeds Which are Problems in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Cultivation

Abstract

Study was carried out in two different locations (L1: Yüzbaşılar village and L2: TUAM (Iğdır University Agricultural Application and Research Center) in 2020 to determine the effect of different waste mulch materials on weed control and tomato yield. In the study, five different mulch materials (tree of heaven, fine sawdust, wood chips, shredded paper and sheep wool) were used. Each plot has weed and weed-free control group. The effects of mulching on weeding, weed dry weight, yield (kg/da), fruit weight (gr) and number of fruit per plant (pieces) were investigated. Three counts were made to determine the weed density in the plots. As a result of the study, a total of 17 weed species belonging to 9 families were determined in the experimental areas. As a result of the counts, it was observed that Sorghum halepense L., Convolvulus arvensis L. and Xanthium strumarium L. weeds emerged the most in the plots where the mulch materials were laid. Depending on the location, the lowest density among the weed density counts was obtained from the paper plots. In the study, the lowest average weed dry weight among the mulch materials was paper (L1: 97.63; L2: 73.12 gr/m2), the highest average was tree of paradise (L1: 191.87; L2: 165.27 gr/m2) plots. As a result of the study, the best results in tomato yield (L1: 6.078.50; L2: 6.807.87 kg/da) and fruit weight (L1: 142.67; L2: 147.35 gr)) were obtained in the use of paper mulch. The highest number of fruits per plant was obtained in the use of wood chips (L1: 45.774.83/ pieces) and tree of heaven leaves (L2: 46.627.41/pieces). The fact that mulch applications give better results than control groups suggests that mulches will be much more beneficial for controlling weeds and improving fruit yield and quality.