Effect of polyethylene plastic mulch on yield and fruit quality parameters of tomato

Abstract

The greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of black polyethylene (PE) plastic mulch on yield and some quality parameters of tomato. In the study, black PE mulch material was laid on raised beds and bare soil (not mulched) was used as control. Mulch did not affect plant height, fruit shape index, chroma and hue angle, firmness, soluble solids content, titratable acidity. Black PE plastic mulch had a positive influence on yield. Significantly higher stem diameter and yield were obtained from the black PE mulch application (17.23 mm and 18.78 kg da-1, respectively) compared to the control (15.30 mm and 16.75 kg da-1, respectively). On the other hand, vitamin C was higher in control (41.13 mg 100 g-1) than in the black PE mulch application