| dc.description.abstract | Two experiments were conducted between September, 1987
and May, 1988 at the Field Station Vegetable unit, Faculty
of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and veterinary
Sciences, University of Nairobi, to study the effects of
method of stand establishment I pruning, staking and
mulching on total and marketable yields of tomato
(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.var. 'Money-Maker'). The four
factors;- stand establishment, pruning, staking and
mulching each at two levels were combined factorially and
arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with
three replicates.
Direct seeding 'Money-maker' significantly increased
total and marketable yields in both experiments, but fruit
weight was not improved significantly. However, pruning
significantly reduced marketable and total yields, trusses
and fruits per plant but significantly improved fruit
weight.
Staking significantly increased total and marketable
yields in experiment 2 but did not improve fruit weight.
Staking reduced fruit rot. Mulching increased total and
marketable yields, fruit weight but the effect was only
significant during experiment 2. Mulching reduced
percentage unmarketable yield due to fruit rot and
cracking.
The interaction between mulching and staking was
significant during experiment 2 for total yield. Mulching
and staking increased total yield more than mulching and
not staking. Also, interaction between method of stand
establishment and mulching was significant for total yield
in experiment 2. Direct seeding and mulching increased
total yield more than transplanting and mulching.
Interaction between method of stand establishment and
staking was significant for marketable yield in experiment
2. Staking and direct seeding significantly increased
marketable yield more than transplanting and staking. | en |
