Presented at the DLSU Research Congress 2014
De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
March 6-8, 2014
Performance of Tomato Plant (Lycopersicon esculentum)
As Affected By Organic Mulching
Bienvenida M. Nisnisan
Lala National High School
Maranding, Lala, Lanao del Norte
nis_bien@[Link]
Abstract: The use of organic mulching in growing crops is one of the safest, least expensive, more practical, yet
equally profitable methods of enhancing the soil condition. This project aimed to provide a natural and effective
way of enriching [Link] also aimed to determine the performance of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plant as
affected by organic mulching. Dried papaya and banana leaves as organic mulches were tested and compared.
Shredded papaya and banana leaves were applied separately on the soil in the pots planted with tomato in four
replicates. Ten days after transplanting, the plant’s initial caudex was measured and it was found out that there
was no significant difference among the setups on this parameter. After the determined mulch application, the
researchers measured the height increases and final caudex of tomato plants. Data showed no significant
differences among the setups based on ANOVA result. However, study showed positive effects because papaya
mulch promoted the tomato plant’s height and final caudex and it was recorded to be the best mulch.
Key Words: Lycopersicon esculentum; organic mulching; performance; and caudex
1. INTRODUCTION be simply placed on soil surface around the plant. In
this method, Acayen, Magdaraog, Matriano and
Rivero concluded that it will not only enhance soil
1.1 Bacground of the Study fertility, conserve moisture and promote aeration but
Enhancing the condition of the soil using will also limit the growth of weeds on the planted
inorganic chemical is becoming expensive and most area (2005).
crop growers could not afford to buy this chemical.
Aside from its high cost, overdependence of this For this research, it aimed to determine
inorganic source of plant nutrients increases the the performance of tomato plant (Lycopersicon
acidity of the soil thus limiting the population of esculentum) as affected by organic mulch. It also
beneficial microorganisms and percentage aimed to compare the effectiveness between dried
assimilability of available nutrients into the soil. papaya leaves and dried banana leaves as organic
This could in turn result to an imbalance of nutrient mulches and finally, to make use of these plant
content in the soil. remains as sources of organic materials that the soil
needs.
To address the problem of the
deteriorating condition of the environment especially This study provides valuable information
soil quality, a natural and safest but equally to crop growers who are practicing organic farming.
profitable method of enriching the quality condition They would be informed of the simple, practical,
of the soil with the least expense is the use of mulch inexpensive, yet effective way of enriching the soil
in plants. Dried leaves of selected plants such as quality using dried papaya and banana leaves as
papaya and banana which can be found locally could organic mulches.
be used as potential mulches. The dried leaves could
1
SEE-IV-033
Presented at the DLSU Research Congress 2014
De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
March 6-8, 2014
The study tested only the performance of ([Link] However, nutrients from
tomato plants using organic mulches in terms of organic material can be released slowly (Webster,
1980).
tomato plant’s height and caudex. Two types of
organic mulches were used and these were dried 2. METHODOLOGY
papaya and banana leaves. However, this study
did not include tests for the presence of The study was conducted in two phases:
nutrients/minerals in the dried leaves and soil.
Phase I – Germination of Tomato Seeds.
1.2 Review of Related Literature
Seeds from a regular-sized ripe tomato were
Tomato plant (Lycopersicon esculentum)
removed, dispersed and allowed to germinate in a
belongs to the Solanaceae family. It is one of the
wooden box containing soil that was previously
most widely grown and commercially important
vegetable crops. There are several varieties of these mixed and shook inside the sack for better mixing.
plants. Their fruits’ size and shape varies; ranging The soil was moistened to hasten germination of
from small currant size to nearly round, 10 cm or seeds.
more in diameter. These plants are propagated from
seeds. They grow best in fertile soil and well-drained Phase II – Transplanting of Tomato
areas. An application of organic materials such as Seedlings. The same process was done to the
dried papaya leaves could also make the plants grow garden soil which was used in transplanting of
fast and retard the growth of weeds around the tomato seedlings as in the process of germinating
plants (Acayen et al., 2004). These organic materials tomato seeds. However, the soil in this step was
which are added to the soil are collectively termed as sieved using fine net to remove coarse materials
organic mulch. Other organic mulches include grass like stones and sticks before it was transferred to
clippings, bark, sawdust, and manure, hay, straw, the clay pots of the same sizes. Each pot has 18 cm
shells, wood chips, shredded newspaper, cardboard,
diameter and 14 cm height. The same amount of
and wool (Hynes, 2006;
garden soil was poured into each pot. The pots were
[Link]
then set aside for mulching.
Mulching is an important technique for
promoting plant health because it conserves soil Dried papaya and banana leaves which
moisture and maintains root zone temperature were gathered, shredded, finely cut into pieces and
(Parsons, 2006). In the process also, the roots of placed separately in the containers were subjected
plants can be protected from extreme temperature to 60C oven temperature for 2 hours. A day after
and moisture changes. In addition, it minimizes soil heating the dried leaves, pots for the experimental
erosion and compaction from heavy rains, limits setups were added with 50 grams of dried papaya
growth of weeds near plants. Organic mulch that is leaves. The same amount of dried banana leaves
derived from plant material will decompose was added to the other pots as experimental setups
(Williams, 1997).
also. Pots in the control setup were not added with
Papayas and tomato have the same dried leaves. There were three treatments
preferences for soil pH ranging from 6.0 to 6.5 replicated four times per treatment in this study.
([Link] Soil pH does not only The treatments were laid out with the following
affect cation exchange (a process in which positively treatments: garden soil (control setup), dried
charged minerals are made available to a plant when papaya leaves and dried banana leaves
hydrogen ions in the soil displace mineral ions from (experimental setups). Figure 1 shows all setups
the clay particles) but also influence the chemical after transplanting.
form of all minerals. Thus, the pH of the soil should
be matched with the specific mineral needs of the
plant (Campbell et al., 2004). Dried leaves are
sources of carbon. As an organic matter, it allows for
the best pore space arrangement for air and water
2
SEE-IV-033
Presented at the DLSU Research Congress 2014
De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
March 6-8, 2014
Control (not applied 14.625 0.225 0.400
with mulch)
Mulched with dried 20.875 0.250 0.500
banana leaves
Mulched with dried 29.875 0.275 0.650
(a) (b) (c) papaya leaves
___ _
Figure 1. All setups after transplanting. (a) control setup;
(b) treated with dried banana leaves; (c) treated with
dried papaya leaves. The results were subjected to analysis of
variance (ANOVA) tests (Appendix). Analysis
Three week-old tomato seedlings revealed that plants treated with papaya mulch did
obtained from the wooden box, where germination not significantly differ from the control but was
of tomato seeds had taken place, were transplanted comparable with those plants treated with dried
in clay pots. The setups were transferred in an area banana mulch. The increase in plants’ height in all
where there is enough sunlight. Watering was done soils applied with dried leaves may be due to the
after transplanting and was repeated as needed for nutrients present in those organic materials.
proper growth and development of the plants. Ten However, comparing the two types of mulches, dried
days after transplanting, the initial caudex of the papaya leaves decomposed faster than the dried
tomato plants was measured. After the determined banana leaves. Thus, tomato plants treated with
period of mulch application, the height and final dried papaya leaves obtained nutrients from the soil
faster than those plants with dried banana leaves
caudex of tomato plants and weed density in the
which in turn made the plants grew faster than the
pots were obtained.
others (Acayen et al., 2004). It could also be
attributed to the common pH of both tomato plants
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION and dried papaya leaves. The soil pH should be
matched with the mineral needs of the plants
(Campbell, 2004). In addition, no weeds grew on the
The factor being investigated in this
mulched soil that may compete the tomato plants
present study is the use of organic mulching in
from obtaining nutrients. While there were weeds
growing tomato plants. Materials used as organic
growing on the soil planted with tomato plants in the
mulches were laid on the soil. Two kinds of mulches
control setup, competition in obtaining nutrients
were utilized and these include dried papaya and
from the soil occurred.
banana leaves. The effectiveness of these leaves was
compared based on the plants’ height and caudex. The application of different mulches did
not significantly influence the diameter of the caudex
Study showed that plants treated with
10 days after transplanting (Figure 2). However, the
dried papaya leaves were tallest with a mean of
widest diameter of the caudex was obtained from
29.875 cm, and the shortest were those in the control
plants treated with dried papaya leaves with a mean
setup with a mean of 14.625 cm (Table 1).
of 0.275 cm followed by plants treated with dried
banana leaves with a mean of 0.250 cm. The smallest
Table 1. Summary of tomato plants’ heights and
caudex was obtained from control plants with a mean
caudex in the three treatments (Mean).
of 0.225 cm. This observation may be attributed to
_______________________________________________
the slow release of nutrients from the organic
TREATMENT AGRONOMIC PARAMETERS
material (Webster, 1980).
Height Initial Final
(cm) caudex caudex
diameter diameter
(cm) (cm)
_________________________________________________
3
SEE-IV-033
Presented at the DLSU Research Congress 2014
De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
March 6-8, 2014
(a)
(a) (b)
(b)
(c)
Figure 2. All setups 10 days after transplanting. (a)
control setup; (b) treated with dried banana leaves;
(c) treated with dried papaya leaves.
(c)
In terms of the final caudex of the tomato
Figure 3. All setups after a determined mulch
plants, data showed that there was no significant
application. (a) control setup; (b) treated with dried
effect on the average final diameter of the caudex as
banana leaves; (c) treated with dried papaya leaves.
affected by the application of dried leaves. However,
it can be noted that plants treated with dried papaya
leaves recorded the widest caudex diameter (0.650 4. CONCLUSIONS
cm) while the smallest caudex diameter (0.400 cm)
was obtained from plants without dried leaves. The The study was conducted to determine the
increase in final diameter in the plants treated with performance of tomato plants as affected by organic
dried papaya leaves may be due to the nutrients mulching. In addition, effectiveness of dried papaya
present in the dried leaves of papaya. Figure 3 shows and banana leaves on tomato plants’ growth was also
the setups after a determined mulch application. compared. Data showed that application of different
dried leaves did not significantly affect the plants’
height. However, tomato plants treated with dried
papaya leaves were the tallest followed by those
treated with dried banana leaves and the shortest
were those without organic mulch. There was also no
significant difference among the setups in terms of
initial and final caudex. But, the widest was recorded
in the plants treated with dried papaya leaves.
5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The researchers are thankful to Mrs.
Belen T. Bastillada, Mrs. Eduvigis G. Gandionco, and
4
SEE-IV-033
Presented at the DLSU Research Congress 2014
De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
March 6-8, 2014
Mrs. Florencia O. Tomimbang, for the administrative
support extended for the completion of the study;
Municipal Mayor Bertrand M. Lumaque, Dr. Pala for
funding assistance; and parents for moral support.
Special gratitude is conveyed to Dr. Bienvenida M.
Nisnisan for organizing the research paper; Mr.
Fabian Jeffrey C. Barrientos for editing the
manuscript prior to submission; all teachers in the
Science Department for scrutinizing the research
study; and above all, to the Almighty Father for
giving the researchers endurance in conducting the
study.
6. REFERENCES (use APA style for citations)
Acayen M. T., L.G. Magdaraog, L.G. Matriano, and
L.M. Rivero. Dried Papaya Leaves as
Organic Mulch for Tomato Plants.
Abstract. Philippine Science High School
Bicol Region Campus. Source: Bato Balani
for Science and Technology Vol. 24 NO. 1
SY 2004-2005. Incooperation with DOST.
Campbell, N. A. and J.B. Reece. 2004. The role of
soil in plant nutrition. Biology: Sixth
Edition. ISBN 981-247-108-1: 773 p.
Hynes, Erin. "Organic Farming." Microsoft®
Encarta® 2007 [CD]. Redmond, WA:
Microsoft Corporation, 2006.
Parsons, Jerry M. 2006. Growing tomatoes and
peppers. Texas A and M University in
College Station.
Webster, C.C. and Wilson, P.N. 1980. Agriculture
in the tropics. 2nd edition.
5
SEE-IV-033