Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Use of Tree Leaf as Mulch Comparing with Conventional Mulch for Irrigation Water Saving in Tomato Production

Md. Abiar Rahman
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibar Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh.

Hisashi Yahata
Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.

Tofayel Ahamed
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibar Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh.

Makoto Komoda
Japan Wildlife Research Certer, Tokyo, Japan.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Tomato is cultivated during the dry winter season in Bangladesh with scarce rainfall Poor farmers can not afford enough money to apply irrigation a, well as other costly inputs. Conventionally, rice straw is used as mulch to conserve soil water during the crop cultivation of dry season. The availability of rice straw is not sufficient to meet the demand because it is also used as fuel, house making and cattle feed. Nowadays, agro forestry is practiced in many parts of the country and there is an opportunity to use tree leaves as mulch. The study was aimed to examine the effectiveness of tree leaf (Senna Siamea) mulch comparing with the conventional mulch (rice straw) and no mulch for saving irrigation water in tomato cultivation, Irrigation water (IW) (40, 20 and 10 mm) were applied when cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) exceeded 40 mm, thus the irrigation Levels were IW, CPE 1.0, 0.5 and 0.25, respectively. Senna leaf mulch conserved more soil water than straw mulch and no mulch, Number of fruits per plant, fruit length and fruit yield of tomato were the highest in Senna leaf mulch, which did not vary significantly with rice straw mulch but varied significantly with no mulch. Tomato yield obtained from Senna leaf mulch, which did not vary significantly with rice straw mulch but varied significantly with no mulch. Tomato yield obtained from Senna leaf mulch was 4.6 and 13.7% higher than straw mulch and no mulch, respectively. All these parameters increased with irrigation level. Ascorbic acid content of fruit was relatively high in no mulch with lower irrigation level, while obtained from senna leaf β-carotene was increased with irrigation level irrespective of mulches. Weed dry weight was significantly higher in no mulch plot compared to straw and Senna leaf mulch plots. Results indicated that Senna siamea leaf can be used as effective mulch and 590% irrigation water can be saved without significant yield loss for tomato cultivation during the dry season.

Keywords: Senna siatnea leaf, Rice straw, Cumulative pan evaporaiion (CPE), Tomato yield, Fruit quality, Weed infestation

Location: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibar Rahman Agricultural University, Bangladesh.

Start Date: 00-11-2006

End Date: 00-04-2007

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Tomato

Objectives:

To examine the effectiveness of tree leaves (Senna siamea) comparing with rice straw mulch and no mulch at different irrigation levels for tomato cultivation to save irrigation water during the dry season.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted at the research farm of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibar Rahman Agricultural University (24^o09' N, 90^o26' E), Bangladesh during the period from November to April of 2006-2007. The location is situated in the subtropical climatic zone characterized by heavy rainfall during May to September and scanty during rest of the year. During the experiment, total 85 mm rainfall occurred and the air temperature varied between 19.0 and 33.3°C. Soil of the experimental silty clay loam in texture having 1.59 g cm^-3 bulk density. Soil pH, total nitrogen and organic matter content were 6.1, 0.076% and 1.64%, respectively. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications. Three mulches namely Senna siamea leaf, rice straw and no mulch were assigned in the main-plots. Three irrigation levels namely irrigation water (IW)/ cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) 1.0 = 40 mm/40 mm, IW/CPE 0.50 = 20 mm/40 mm and IW/CPE 0.25 = 10 mm/40 mm were imposed in the sub-plots. Senna leaf and rice straw were sun dried on a threshing floor for about five days and spread on the field at the rate of 10 ton ha^-1one week after the seedling transplant. Surface irrigation was applied based on CPE and rainfall. When CPE was equal or exceeded 40 mm, then 40, 20 and 10 mm of irrigation water (IW) were applied to IW/CPE 1.0, IW/CPE 0.50 and IW/CPE 0.25 treatments, respectively. It was heavy rain at 69 days after transplanting (DAT) of seedling and various intensities of rainfall continued until 96 DAT. Therefore, the last irrigation was applied at 63 DAT. Twenty seven unit plots, 3 m X 3 m in size. were separated from each other by one meter. One month old healthy seedlings of tomato (var. Lalima) were transplanted at 60 cm X 60 cm spacing on 26 November 2006 and irrigation (40 mm) was provided to all plots for seedling establishment. Support was given to each plant using bamboo stick to keep the plant straight. Fertilizers such as 160 kg, 60 kg P, 125 kg K and 10 ton of decomposed cow dung per hectare were applied. Full amount of cow dung and P were applied during the final land preparation, while N and K were applied in two equal splits at 15 and 35 DAT. Soil water content at 10-15 cm depth was measured gravimetric method. Five plants were selected randomly from each plot excluding the borders to record the data on number of fruits per plant, fruit width, fruit length and fruit yield of tomato. Harvesting was started on 26 February and completed on 18 March 2007. Ascorbic acid and β-carotene content of fruit were determined, respectively. After the final harvest of tomato, a square meter frame was placed in the centre of each plot to collect weed samples. Weed samples was then oven dried at 70°C for 72 hours. Data were statistically analyzed by IRRISTAT computer software 10 find out statistical significance to the experimental results. The significance of the difference among the means was evaluated by Duncan's multiple range test (DMRT) at 5% level.

Source of Information: Bull. Inst. Trop. Agr., Kyushu Univ., 30: 83-92, 2007

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The result indicated that Senna leaf may be used as effective mulch material and about 50% irrigation water can be saved without significant yield loss of tomato. Again, the performance of Senna siamea leaf as mulch was better than rice straw in terms of soil water conservation, tomato yield and weed suppression.

Knowledge Management: Journal