The effect of mulching and staking on the development of early and late blights of tomato

Abstract

The effect of mulching and staking on the development of early and late leaf blight of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum (Mill)) caused by Alternaria solani (Ell. & Md.rt.) and Phythophthora injestans (Mont.), respectively, were studied using a randomized complete block design replicated four times. Mulching and staking significantly (P = 0.05) reduced the incidence of early and late blights by 5 to 20% and increased fruit yield more than two folds compared to unmulched and unstaked controls. The apparent rate of infection of the two pathogens was also significantly lower (P = 0.05) in mulched and staked tomato than in the controls. Mulching was more effective than staking in suppressing early and late blight diseases in tomato. Mulching and staking when combined significantly (P = 0.05) reduced the incidence of the two diseases by 20% compared to when the two practices were used separately.

Keywords: Mulching, staking, Alternaria solani, Phytophthora injestans, Lycopefsicon esculentum

Tanzania J. Agric. Sc.(1998) Vol.1 No.2, 167-172