INTEGRATION OF ROW SPACING, MULCHING AND HERBICIDES ON WEED MANAGEMENT IN TOMATO

A field experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of The University of Agriculture, Peshawar during the year 2012 to determine the impact of row spacing and weed management strategies on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). The local variety 'Roma' was sown in a randomized complete block (RCB) design with split plot arrangements, having four replications. The main plots were row spacings while subplots of the experiment comprised of ten treatments including five mulches viz., white and black polyethylene, wheat straw, newspaper and saw dust, three herbicide treatments (fenoxapro-p-pethyl, pendimethalin and s-metolachlor), hand weeding and a weedy check. The data were recorded on weed density m(-2), fresh and dry weed biomass, number of branches plant(-1), and fruit yield (kg ha(-1)). All these parameters were significantly affected by row spacing and weed management treatments. Increase in weed population was observed with increasing in row spacing. The competitiveness of tomato with weeds can be enhanced by using black plastic as mulch. In light of the results, the row spacing of 60 cm is the optimum one for tomato plants, as the fruit yields decreased at 40 cm and 80 cm row spacing.