Mulch Type Influences Yield of Fall Tomato
Because of environmental concerns relating to the potential for surface runoff from plastic culture, the potential of six cover crops [pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), sorgham (Sorghum bicolor), cowpea (Vigna sinensis), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), soybean (Glycine max), and millet/cowpea combination was compared to a plastic mulch for fall tomato production in 1996. All cover crops were chemically desiccated prior to tomato transplanting. The use of plastic mulch significantly increased early marketable yield; soybean or millet/cowpea mulch significantly reduced the production of large fruit. Total marketable yield of cover crop mulches except millet/cowpea was similar to that of plastic mulch. In 1997, full (0.9-m) and narrow (0.45-m) plastic mulched beds were compared to desiccated millet or sorghum mulches or straw mulch applied at planting. Early marketable yield was greatest for straw mulch. Total marketable yield of straw and both plastic mulch treatments was significantly higher than that for desiccated mulches. Width of the plastic mulched bed did not significantly affect total marketable yield.