Soil Temperature Regulation and Tomato Yield Enhancement Using Black Plastic Mulch in the Garhwal Himalayas

Аннотация

This study investigates the role of black plastic CITATION mulch (BPM) in regulating soil temperature and enhancing tomato yield in the Garhwal Himalayas, a region characterized by diverse climatic conditions and COPYRIGHT © 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms challenging agricultural practices. The use of BPM is of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License. explored as a strategy to optimize soil microclimate by maintaining more consistent soil temperatures, especially during cooler periods. The experiment was conducted in tomato fields at various altitudes in the Garhwal region, with and without BPM application. Results showed that BPM significantly improved soil temperature by 2-4°C compared to uncovered soil, particularly during the night and early morning hours. This temperature regulation led to faster seedling growth, extended growing periods, and higher tomato yield. BPM-treated plots produced significantly higher fruit weight, more tomatoes per plant, and better overall plant health compared to the control. The findings suggest that the adoption of black plastic mulch can be a sustainable solution for improving tomato production in the Garhwal Himalayas, where temperature fluctuations are a major limiting factor for crop growth. Keywords: Black Plastic Mulch, Soil Temperature Regulation, Tomato Yield, Garhwal Himalayas, Agricultural Practices, Microclimate Optimization, Sustainable Farming, Crop Productivity, Soil Temperature Management. Introduction: Behavior Agriculture in the Garhwal Himalayas faces several challenges due to its diverse topography, fluctuating weather conditions, and limited access to modern farming technologies. One of the The American Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture Research 01 https://www.theamericanjournals.com/index.php/tajhfr The American Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture Research major constraints for crop production, especially for The study was conducted in the Garhwal Himalayas, temperature-sensitive crops like tomatoes, is the specifically in a temperate region known for its unique significant variation in soil temperature. Extreme climatic conditions, which include substantial variations temperature fluctuations—particularly the cool in temperature throughout the day and night. The temperatures during the night and early morning experimental site was selected at an altitude of 1,800 hours—can impede seedling growth, delay maturity, meters above sea level, with the soil classified as loamy and ultimately reduce crop yield. Consequently, and rich in organic matter. The research aimed to assess optimizing soil temperature is crucial for improving the effectiveness of black plastic mulch (BPM) in agricultural productivity in this region. regulating soil temperature and enhancing tomato yield under these conditions. A randomized block design Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are an important (RBD) was employed to evaluate the impact of BPM on cash crop in the Garhwal Himalayas, known for their tomato growth, with treatments applied to a total of 10 high nutritional value and market demand. However, plots (5 treatment and 5 control plots). Each plot their growth and yield are highly sensitive to covered an area of 10 m² to accommodate the plants temperature, and the region’s cooler climate can often and ensure consistency in the results. lead to suboptimal crop development. Various soil management practices have been explored to mitigate 2. Soil Temperature Monitoring temperature extremes, with plastic mulching emerging Soil temperature was measured at multiple depths (5 as a promising technique. Among different types of cm, 10 cm, and 15 cm) using digital soil thermometers. mulches, black plastic mulch (BPM) is particularly These measurements were taken daily at specific times: effective in regulating soil temperature by absorbing early morning, midday, and evening, to track the solar radiation and reducing heat loss at night. The use variation in temperature between the mulched and of BPM has been widely studied in other regions, but unmulched plots. The control plots were left uncovered, its potential benefits in the unique climatic conditions while the experimental plots were covered with black of the Garhwal Himalayas remain underexplored. plastic mulch. The BPM was applied after the tomato Black plastic mulch works by creating a favorable seedlings were transplanted, and care was taken to microclimate around the root zone of the plant, where ensure the plastic was securely placed around the root it helps to retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and zone, allowing for optimal soil contact. Temperature maintain more consistent soil temperatures. These data were collected throughout the growing season to effects are especially important in mountainous assess the influence of BPM on soil temperature regions, where temperature fluctuations between day regulation, especially during the cooler nighttime and and night can be drama