The 2011 ASHS Annual Conference

Three cultivars of tomatoes were grown on plastic and bark mulch during two successive summers to study the impact they have on production.   Plastic mulch has been used on vegetable production for several decades and has shown to increase production.  A comparison of plastic mulch vs. colored wood mulch has yet to be reported in the literature.   ‘Arkansas Traveler’, ‘Better Boy’, and ‘Celebrity’ transplants were placed in the field in May of each year.  Mulch treatments were red plastic, red bark, black bark, non-colored mulch and a control of no mulch.  The bark mulch was applied to a depth of two inches.  The plots were irrigated with drip tape and watered weekly when rainfall was not sufficient.  The study was set up in a randomized complete block with each treatment replicated three times and six plants represented one treatment.   Tomatoes were harvest every two to three days throughout the summer beginning in mid-July and concluded in late September each year. During the first summer, ‘Arkansas Traveler’ tomatoes grown on black bark were significantly different than the other treatments.   ‘Better Boy’ tomatoes grown on red bark and red plastic were significantly different than other treatments.  ‘Celebrity’ tomatoes grown on red bark, non-colored mulch and black bark were significantly different.  The following year black bark was significantly different on each tomato cultivar.