Plant growth, yield, and fruit quality of tomato affected by biodegradable and non-degradable mulches

Agnieszka Sekara, Robert Pokluda, Eugenio Cozzolino, Luisa del Piano, Antonio Cuciniello and Gianluca Caruso
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Agnieszka Sekara: Department of Vegetable and Medicinal Plants, University of Agriculture, Krakow, Poland
Robert Pokluda: Department of Vegetable Growing and Floriculture, Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University, Lednice, Czech Republic
Eugenio Cozzolino: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) - Research Center for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Caserta, Italy
Luisa del Piano: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) - Research Center for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Caserta, Italy
Antonio Cuciniello: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) - Research Center for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Caserta, Italy
Gianluca Caruso: Department of Agricultural Science, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy

Horticultural Science, 2019, vol. 46, issue 3, 138-145

Abstract: Research in southern Italy assessed the effects of biodegradable mulch on fruit yield and quality of two greenhouse tomato cultivars, 'Coronel F1' and 'Kero F1'. Three mulching types (two MaterBi biodegradable black films, MB N2/12 amnd MB N8; black polyethylene film, low-density polyethylene (LDPE)) and not mulched control were compared. 'Coronel F1' showed higher values of fruit yield, total crop biomass and leaf area index (LAI). MB N8 and LDPE films led to the highest fruit yield and growth indexes, whereas not mulched control to the lowest. Fruit dry residue and soluble solids were highest under MB N2/12 and MB N8, titratable acidity was highest under MB N8. Fruits grown under MB N8 and LDPE mulches attained the highest levels of colour components "L" and "b" respectively, and MB N8 the highest fruit firmness. MB N2/12 and MB N8 showed the highest levels of antioxidants and antioxidant activity. Biodegradable polymers improved root growth conditions and fruit quality, showing suitable features for sustainable vegetable production.

Keywords: Solanum lycopersicum L.; biodegradable films; production; antioxidants; waste valorisation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:caa:jnlhor:v:46:y:2019:i:3:id:218-2017-hortsci

DOI: 10.17221/218/2017-HORTSCI

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