Effect of method of stand establishment, pruning, staking and mulching on yield of tomato (lycopersicon esculentum mill. Var. 'money-maker,)

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted between September, 1987 and May, 1988 at the Field Station Vegetable unit, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi, to study the effects of method of stand establishment I pruning, staking and mulching on total and marketable yields of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.var. 'Money-Maker'). The four factors;- stand establishment, pruning, staking and mulching each at two levels were combined factorially and arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. Direct seeding 'Money-maker' significantly increased total and marketable yields in both experiments, but fruit weight was not improved significantly. However, pruning significantly reduced marketable and total yields, trusses and fruits per plant but significantly improved fruit weight. Staking significantly increased total and marketable yields in experiment 2 but did not improve fruit weight. Staking reduced fruit rot. Mulching increased total and marketable yields, fruit weight but the effect was only significant during experiment 2. Mulching reduced percentage unmarketable yield due to fruit rot and cracking. The interaction between mulching and staking was significant during experiment 2 for total yield. Mulching and staking increased total yield more than mulching and not staking. Also, interaction between method of stand establishment and mulching was significant for total yield in experiment 2. Direct seeding and mulching increased total yield more than transplanting and mulching. Interaction between method of stand establishment and staking was significant for marketable yield in experiment 2. Staking and direct seeding significantly increased marketable yield more than transplanting and staking.