Rammehar, D.S. Duhan*, V.P.S. Panghal and Hans Raj
Department of Vegetable Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University,
Hisar-125004, Haryana, India
Email: dharamveer.duhan@gmail.com
Received-08.08.2022, Revised-19.08.2022, Accepted-30.08.2022
Abstract: The experiment comprising of five planting time viz., 15th December, 30th December, 15th January, 30th January and 15th February and three mulching materials, i.e., black polyethylene, wheat straw and control, was conducted at Research Farm of the Department of Vegetable Science, CCS H.A.U, Hisar during Rabi season of 2014. The treatments were laid out in split plot design keeping date of sowing in main plot and mulching material in sub-plot with three replications. The seedlings were transplanted at a spacing of 60×45 cm in plots of 3.60×2.70 m size. The observations were recorded on plant height, number of branches per plant, days to 50% flowering, days to first fruit set, days to first harvesting, number of fruits per truss, total number of fruits per plant, number of trusses per plant, average fruit weight, yield per plot and total yield. Plant height and number of branches per plant decreased with the delay in planting. The tallest plant at 60, 90 and at final harvest (75.1, 86.6 and 105.4 cm, respectively) and maximum number of branches per plant (10.5) were recorded when the seedlings were transplanted on 30th December under black polyethylene mulch. The minimum number of days to 50% flowering, days to first fruit set and first picking (20.0, 25.1 and 50.5, respectively) was taken by the crop planted on 15th February under black polyethylene mulch but flowering, fruit set and first picking were significantly late in earlier planted crop. The maximum number of trusses per plant, fruits per truss, fruits per plant, fruit size and fruit yield per plot and per hectare (18.5, 6.5, 43.4, 54.9 g and 35.2 kg and 352.6 q) was recorded under 30th December planted crop in combination of black polyethylene mulch.
Keywords: Planting dates, Mulching, Tomato, Growth characters, Yield
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