Amy Ouellette* and J. Brent Loy
Department of Plant Biology
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824

Abstract: Trellised 'Mountain Fresh' tomato was grown on raised beds to compare effects of 4 mulch treatments and 3 plant densities on fruit yield and biomass accumulation. The mulch treatments were: (1) standard black (B), (2) Sonoco reflective red (R), (3) black on raised bed with Plastitech reflective white on black between (interrow) beds (BW), and (4) red with interrow white on black (RW). Within‑row plant spacings were the sub‑treatments: (1) 0.30 m (17932 plants/ha), (2) 0.45 m spacing (11954 plants/ha), and (3) 0.60 m (8966 plants/ha). The field experiment conducted at the Woodman Horticulture Experimental Farm, Durham, NH, was a split plot with 4 replications of 12 mulch‑density combinations. On 6 July 1999, 21 July 1999, and 10 August 1999, 3 plants per replication and treatment were harvested, and leaves, stems, reproductive organs, and roots separated for determining biomass accumulation and partitioning. Total and reproductive biomass did not differ significantly among mulch treatments at any of the sampling dates, either on a per plant or per unit area basis. However, on a unit area basis, both parameters increased significantly as space between plants decreased within the row. Fruit was harvested twice a week, beginning 5 August and continuing for 6 weeks. Yields per unit area increased linearly and fruit size decreased linearly with increasing plant density. Neither early nor total yields of marketable fruit differed significantly between black and red mulch treatments. At close spacing (0.30 m/plant), total yields with the BW mulch treatment averaged 27.5 % higher than that of the other 3 mulch treatments. Cumulative tomato yields over time resembled a sigmoid growth curve, and yield enhancement with the BW treatment was apparent by the sixth harvest. Total yield per unit area with the BW mulch treatment and 0.30 m spacing (151 MTons/ha) was 54% higher than fruit yield obtained with the standard system of black mulch and 0.45 m spacing (98 MTons/ha), without a significant reduction in fruit size.

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