Mulch Surface Color Affects Yield of Fresh-market Tomatoes

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The influence of polyethylene mulch surface color on the plant light environment and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) production was investigated. White- or silver-painted mulches reflected more total light, and a lower ratio of far-red relative to red light, than mulches painted black or red. Soil temperatures were warmer under the black and red mulches. Mulch color also affected the yield and growth of tomato. Tomato plants grown with red mulch generally had the greatest early marketable yields and produced the least amount of foliage. Plants grown with a white or silver-colored mulch had lower early marketable yields but produced more foliage. These results suggest that mulch surface color can induce changes in the plant microclimate (e.g., spectral balance and quantity of light, root zone temperatures) that can act through natural regulatory systems within the growing plant and affect tomato plant growth and fruit production.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: