Weed Control in Tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>) Through Mulch Types in Kakamega County, Kenya

Anthony Simiyu Mabele; Millicent Florence Owuor Ndong’a

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12

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Weed Control in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Through Mulch Types in Kakamega County, Kenya

Anthony Simiyu Mabele, Millicent Florence Owuor Ndong’a

Published in International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences (Volume 5, Issue 5)

Received: 12 August 2019 Accepted: 30 August 2019 Published: 16 September 2019

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Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the third most important vegetable crop after potato (Solanum tuberosum) and onion (Allium cepa). Its production heavily involves the use of synthetic pesticides with detrimental impact on humans, insect pollinators, water sources, soil fertility and environment. This study uses different mulch types to mitigate this problem. Mulching is an agricultural technique that protects the roots of plants from heat and cold by use of inorganic and organic mulch types to cover the soil surface around plants. Tomato production in Kakamega County is below 2%. Weeds are ranked high among the yield reducing factors. This study consists of four mulch treatments of white polyethylene (0.18mm thick), maize stalks (18.0cm thick), grass clippings (18.0cm thick), guava leaves (18.0cm thick) and no mulch as control with three popularly grown tomato varieties. The mulch treatments were arranged as factorial in a completely randomized block design replicated three times in the experimental plots, at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (0°171N, 34°451E). Tomato variety sub-treatments were completely randomized in the plots to minimize non–experimental bias during sampling weeds incidence. The field project was conducted during the short rains and long rains season of 2016-2017. Data obtained was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS software, version 9.3 (SAS Institute lnc.) at p<0.05 confidence level. Least Significance Difference (LSD) was used to separate the means. Mean weed density was significantly highest in control plots (94.51%) and least in mulched plots (11.41%). The tomato plant growth parameters (leaf length, leaf width, stem height and stem width) were significantly higher in mulched than control plots. Mulches provide clean field sanitation, inhibits weed seed germination, promotes plant growth with high crop yields and reduces synthetic pesticides and herbicides application.

Published in	International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences (Volume 5, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12
Page(s)	109-113
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Mulching, Solanum Lycopersicum, Weeds

References

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[3]	Khan, Z. R., Midega, C. A. O., Amudevi, D. M., Hassandi, A., Pickett, V. A. 2008 b. On- farm evaluation of the ‘‘Push-pull’’ technology to the control of Stemborers, (Busseola fusca and Sesemia calamistis) and Striga weed on maize in Western Kenya. Field Crops Res. 10: 224-233.
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[5]	Sigei, K. G., Ngeno, K. H., Kibe, M. A, Mwangi, M. & Mutai, C. M. 2014. Challenges and Strategies to improve Tomato Competitiveness along the tomato Value Chain in Kenya. International Journal of Business and Management. 9 (9): 1833-3850.
[6]	Shashidar, K. R., Bhakar, R. N., Priyadharshins, P. & Chandrakumar, H. L. 2009. Effect of different organic mulches on pH, organic carbon content and microbial status of soil and its influence on leave yield of M-5 Mulberry (Morus indica L.) under rainfed condition. Current Biotica. 2: 404-412.
[7]	George, S., Jatoi, S. A. & Siddiqui, S. U. 2013. Genotypic differences against PEG simulated drought stress in tomato. Pak. J. Bot. 45 (5): 1551-1556.
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[10]	Singh, A. K., Singh, S., Rao, W. A., Bagle, B. G., More, T. A. 2010. Efficiency of organic mulches on soil properties, earthworm population, growth and yield of Aonia cv. NA7 in semi-arid ecosystem. Ind. J. Hort. 67: 124-128.
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[12]	Awiti, A, Walsh, M., Shepherd, K., & Kinyamario, J. 2007. Soil condition classification using infrared spectroscopy. A proposition for assessment of soil condition along a tropical forest–cropland. Cronosequence Geoderma. 143: 73-84.
[13]	Hundal, I. S., Sandhu, K. S., Doljeet, S. & Sandhu, M. S. 2000. Effect of different types of mulching and herbicidal treatments on nutrient uptake in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Haryana Journal of Horticulture Science. 29: 242-244.
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[15]	Morant, A. V., Jorgensen, K., Paquette, S. M., Sanchez-Perez, R., Mollar, B. L., & Bak, S. 2008. Beta-Glucosidases as detonators of plant chemical defence. Phytochem. 69: 1795-1813.
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[17]	Terry, P. J., Mathews, G. A. & Boonman, J. G. 2006. A guide to weed control in East African crops. Kenya Literature Bureau. ISBN 9966-44-677-X.

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Anthony Simiyu Mabele, Millicent Florence Owuor Ndong’a. (2019). Weed Control in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Through Mulch Types in Kakamega County, Kenya. International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences, 5(5), 109-113. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12

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ACS Style

Anthony Simiyu Mabele; Millicent Florence Owuor Ndong’a. Weed Control in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Through Mulch Types in Kakamega County, Kenya. Int. J. Appl. Agric. Sci. 2019, 5(5), 109-113. doi: 10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12

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AMA Style

Anthony Simiyu Mabele, Millicent Florence Owuor Ndong’a. Weed Control in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Through Mulch Types in Kakamega County, Kenya. Int J Appl Agric Sci. 2019;5(5):109-113. doi: 10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12,
  author = {Anthony Simiyu Mabele and Millicent Florence Owuor Ndong’a},
  title = {Weed Control in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Through Mulch Types in Kakamega County, Kenya},
  journal = {International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences},
  volume = {5},
  number = {5},
  pages = {109-113},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijaas.20190505.12},
  abstract = {Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the third most important vegetable crop after potato (Solanum tuberosum) and onion (Allium cepa). Its production heavily involves the use of synthetic pesticides with detrimental impact on humans, insect pollinators, water sources, soil fertility and environment. This study uses different mulch types to mitigate this problem. Mulching is an agricultural technique that protects the roots of plants from heat and cold by use of inorganic and organic mulch types to cover the soil surface around plants. Tomato production in Kakamega County is below 2%. Weeds are ranked high among the yield reducing factors. This study consists of four mulch treatments of white polyethylene (0.18mm thick), maize stalks (18.0cm thick), grass clippings (18.0cm thick), guava leaves (18.0cm thick) and no mulch as control with three popularly grown tomato varieties. The mulch treatments were arranged as factorial in a completely randomized block design replicated three times in the experimental plots, at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (0°171N, 34°451E). Tomato variety sub-treatments were completely randomized in the plots to minimize non–experimental bias during sampling weeds incidence. The field project was conducted during the short rains and long rains season of 2016-2017. Data obtained was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS software, version 9.3 (SAS Institute lnc.) at p<0.05 confidence level. Least Significance Difference (LSD) was used to separate the means. Mean weed density was significantly highest in control plots (94.51%) and least in mulched plots (11.41%). The tomato plant growth parameters (leaf length, leaf width, stem height and stem width) were significantly higher in mulched than control plots. Mulches provide clean field sanitation, inhibits weed seed germination, promotes plant growth with high crop yields and reduces synthetic pesticides and herbicides application.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Weed Control in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Through Mulch Types in Kakamega County, Kenya
AU - Anthony Simiyu Mabele
AU - Millicent Florence Owuor Ndong’a
Y1 - 2019/09/16
PY - 2019
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12
DO - 10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12
T2 - International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences
JF - International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences
JO - International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences
SP - 109
EP - 113
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2469-7885
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12
AB - Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the third most important vegetable crop after potato (Solanum tuberosum) and onion (Allium cepa). Its production heavily involves the use of synthetic pesticides with detrimental impact on humans, insect pollinators, water sources, soil fertility and environment. This study uses different mulch types to mitigate this problem. Mulching is an agricultural technique that protects the roots of plants from heat and cold by use of inorganic and organic mulch types to cover the soil surface around plants. Tomato production in Kakamega County is below 2%. Weeds are ranked high among the yield reducing factors. This study consists of four mulch treatments of white polyethylene (0.18mm thick), maize stalks (18.0cm thick), grass clippings (18.0cm thick), guava leaves (18.0cm thick) and no mulch as control with three popularly grown tomato varieties. The mulch treatments were arranged as factorial in a completely randomized block design replicated three times in the experimental plots, at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (0°171N, 34°451E). Tomato variety sub-treatments were completely randomized in the plots to minimize non–experimental bias during sampling weeds incidence. The field project was conducted during the short rains and long rains season of 2016-2017. Data obtained was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS software, version 9.3 (SAS Institute lnc.) at p<0.05 confidence level. Least Significance Difference (LSD) was used to separate the means. Mean weed density was significantly highest in control plots (94.51%) and least in mulched plots (11.41%). The tomato plant growth parameters (leaf length, leaf width, stem height and stem width) were significantly higher in mulched than control plots. Mulches provide clean field sanitation, inhibits weed seed germination, promotes plant growth with high crop yields and reduces synthetic pesticides and herbicides application.
VL - 5
IS - 5
ER -

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Author Information

Anthony Simiyu Mabele

Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences (SONAS), Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), Kakamega, Kenya
Millicent Florence Owuor Ndong’a

Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences (SONAS), Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), Kakamega, Kenya

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Anthony Simiyu Mabele, Millicent Florence Owuor Ndong’a. (2019). Weed Control in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Through Mulch Types in Kakamega County, Kenya. International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences, 5(5), 109-113. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12

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ACS Style

Anthony Simiyu Mabele; Millicent Florence Owuor Ndong’a. Weed Control in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Through Mulch Types in Kakamega County, Kenya. Int. J. Appl. Agric. Sci. 2019, 5(5), 109-113. doi: 10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12

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AMA Style

Anthony Simiyu Mabele, Millicent Florence Owuor Ndong’a. Weed Control in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Through Mulch Types in Kakamega County, Kenya. Int J Appl Agric Sci. 2019;5(5):109-113. doi: 10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12,
  author = {Anthony Simiyu Mabele and Millicent Florence Owuor Ndong’a},
  title = {Weed Control in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Through Mulch Types in Kakamega County, Kenya},
  journal = {International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences},
  volume = {5},
  number = {5},
  pages = {109-113},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaas.20190505.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijaas.20190505.12},
  abstract = {Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the third most important vegetable crop after potato (Solanum tuberosum) and onion (Allium cepa). Its production heavily involves the use of synthetic pesticides with detrimental impact on humans, insect pollinators, water sources, soil fertility and environment. This study uses different mulch types to mitigate this problem. Mulching is an agricultural technique that protects the roots of plants from heat and cold by use of inorganic and organic mulch types to cover the soil surface around plants. Tomato production in Kakamega County is below 2%. Weeds are ranked high among the yield reducing factors. This study consists of four mulch treatments of white polyethylene (0.18mm thick), maize stalks (18.0cm thick), grass clippings (18.0cm thick), guava leaves (18.0cm thick) and no mulch as control with three popularly grown tomato varieties. The mulch treatments were arranged as factorial in a completely randomized block design replicated three times in the experimental plots, at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (0°171N, 34°451E). Tomato variety sub-treatments were completely randomized in the plots to minimize non–experimental bias during sampling weeds incidence. The field project was conducted during the short rains and long rains season of 2016-2017. Data obtained was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS software, version 9.3 (SAS Institute lnc.) at p<0.05 confidence level. Least Significance Difference (LSD) was used to separate the means. Mean weed density was significantly highest in control plots (94.51%) and least in mulched plots (11.41%). The tomato plant growth parameters (leaf length, leaf width, stem height and stem width) were significantly higher in mulched than control plots. Mulches provide clean field sanitation, inhibits weed seed germination, promotes plant growth with high crop yields and reduces synthetic pesticides and herbicides application.},
 year = {2019}
}

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