Abstract
The use of eco-friendly mulch materials as alternatives to the standard polyethylene (PE) has become increasingly prevalent worldwide. Consequently, a comparison of mulch materials from different origins is necessary to evaluate their feasibility. Several researchers have compared the effects of mulch materials on each crop variable through univariate analysis (ANOVA). However, it is important to focus on the effect of these materials on fruit quality, because this factor decisively influences the acceptance of the final product by consumers and the industrial sector. This study aimed to analyze the information supplied by a randomized complete block experiment combined over two seasons, a principal component analysis (PCA) and a cluster analysis (CA) when studying the effects of mulch materials on the quality of processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). The study focused on the variability in the quality measurements and on the determination of mulch materials with a similar response to them. A comparison of the results from both types of analysis yielded complementary information. ANOVA showed the similarity of certain materials. However, considering the totality of the variables analyzed, the final interpretation was slightly complicated. PCA indicated that the juice color, the fruit firmness and the soluble solid content were the most influential factors in the total variability of a set of 12 juice and fruit variables, and CA allowed us to establish four categories of treatment: plastics (polyethylene - PE, oxo- and biodegradable materials), papers, manual weeding and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) straw. Oxobiodegradable and PE were most closely related based on CA.
Highlights
Several plastic films have been used as mulching in vegetable crops, with polyethylene (PE) being the most widespread
This study aimed to analyze the information supplied by a randomized complete block experiment combined over two seasons, a principal component analysis (PCA) and a cluster analysis (CA) when studying the effects of mulch materials on the quality of processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)
We present the information provided by analysis of variance (ANOVA) in conjunction with that derived from the use of principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) as multivariate techniques, with the aim of modeling the response of processing tomato fruit quality to several mulches of different composition
Summary
Several plastic films have been used as mulching in vegetable crops, with polyethylene (PE) being the most widespread. Fruit quality influences the degree of acceptance of the final product, so some of the aspects relating to external appearance are even more important than the price for the average consumer (Shewfelt, 1990; Gómez et al, 2001). For tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), taste, appearance, color and handling characteristics are crucial for fresh fruits, while color, consistency, soluble solids, acidity, dry matter and juice content are considered for processing tomatoes (Moraru et al, 2004). Another important aspect is the concentration of lycopene, a carotenoid responsible for the red fruit color with strong antioxidant activity, and, beneficial for human nutrition and health (Leoni, 2006)
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