Dried Papaya Leaves as Organic Mulch for Tomato Plants
Dried Papaya Leaves as Organic Mulch for Tomato Plants Abstract Mulching in agricultural provides a safe yet equally profitable method of enriching and fertilizing the soil planted with crops. Most often-used mulches are of organic composition, such as dry leaves and barks. Unlike synthetic fertilizers and herbicides, these organic mulches pose no or little damage to the soil and crops. In this study, the effectiveness of dried papaya leaves as organic mulch for tomato was tested.
Papaya mulches in different thickness were applied on plots planted with tomato in three replications. After the determined period of mulch application, the researchers application, the researchers measured the height increases of tomato plants and the weed density in the plots. It was concluded that papaya mulch significantly promoted height increase of tomato plants and inhibited the growth of weeds. The best mulch was 3 inches in thickness. Introduction
Usually defined as the use of organic and biodegradable materials to give plants the nutrients they need, organic farming proved to be the safest and most effective method of increasing and sustaining yield. Various methods fall under organic farming, such as composting, green manuring, legume inoculating, and utilizing animal manure as fertilizers. Mulching is a simple process that increases soil fertility and regulating several factors affecting overall plant growth. In this method, a layer of material-the mulch-is placed on soil surface around the plant.
The mulch is used to retard the growth of weeds, protect roots and stems from sudden or extreme temperature changes, reduce soil erosion by wind and water, retard runoff of rainfall, prevent soil pudding by breaking the impact of raindrops, and keep flowers and fruits from being spattered with mud during rainstorms. Hypotheses 1. Treatment 2 (black plastic mulch) was the most effective mulch for growing eggplant in terms of:a. Controlling weedsb. Insect Countc. Number of damaged and undamaged fruits. Weight of damaged and undamaged fruits 2. There was a significant difference among the treatments in terms of:a.
Controlling weedsb. Insect Countc. Number of damaged and undamaged fruits. Weight of damaged and undamaged fruits 3. Treatment 2 (black plastic mulch) was the most effective mulch for growing eggplant in terms of producing undamaged fruits. Significance of the study Nowadays, various processes and methods have been considered inorganic farming such as composting and utilizing animal manure. These methods have been proven in giving excellent growth and development of plants. One of the techniques in organic farming that have been used today is mulching, either dry or wet season.
It is very effective in conserving soil moisture for the plants, prevents growth of weeds, can lessen the use of chemicals like insecticides and pesticides, keep flowers and fruits from being spattered with mud during rainy days, keeps the soil cooler during summer and keeps warmer in rainy season . Numerous recyclable materials are found in our surroundings such as barks, leaves, rice straw, sacks and plastics that can be used for some agricultural purposes like mulching and these materials can be used as an organic fertilizer for plants.
Furthermore, rice straw, sacks and plastics has been proven as mulch for plants. If these materials were used properly, it would be a big benefit to the humanity particularly to the farmers . It is for this reason that, the researchers thought of exploring the comparison between rice straw, black plastic and white old sack as mulch for eggplant in terms of number of weeds ,number of insects, number and weight of fruits. Through this, the farmers will have comprehensive information about the differences between the different mulching materials.
In addition, this study can help the farmers to lessen the use of chemical products and will contribute to the protection of the environment for not using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides which could harm our nature but rather the mulching materials that have a minimal cost and environment friendly. These will also help the country’s aim in harnessing the full potential of its natural resources. Definition of terms Papaya leaves are commonly used as organic mulch for tomato plants as they provide all the nutrients required by the plant, without the need to cover the tomato plant in pesticides.
Tomatoes grow right through from the spring until autumn, and turn in a number of fruit harvests during this period of time. They are incredibly hungry and thirsty plants and require mulch all summer long for their protection. * Organic mulch for tomatoes Organic mulch can be made from any kind of plant or animal matter and papaya leaves are perfect for this. Other things that can be used include bark, pine chips, grass clippings, spent leaves and regular compost. Papaya leaves are ideal and you can prepare them in the same way you’d prepare any kind of mulch for your plants. * How to apply the mulch
Tomatoes will need between 2 and 3 inches of organic mulch surrounding them at all times. This is to ensure that nutrients remain in the soil, and that it remains warm and moist. It is also to discourage the growth of weeds and protect the plant from soil-born diseases and pests. Anyone going about this should lay down a number of layers of papaya leaves over the soil around the tomatoes with a view to achieve the aforementioned depth. Maintaining the plant and mulch Over time, the organic matter (the papaya leaves) will break down and return to the soil, putting nutrients back into the soil for the plant as well.
This means that your plant obtains organic nutrients as well as organic protection from the elements. Any gardener will need to monitor the layer of mulch and ensure that it is replenished sufficiently throughout the summer. Review of Related Literature Mulch is a layer of material, preferably organic material that is placed on the soil surface to conserve moisture, hold down weeds, and ultimately improve soil structure and fertility. There is more to mulch than meets the eye. Be it a fluffy blanket of hay, a rich brown carpet of cocoa bean hells, or a mantle of sawdust that “topping” for the vegetable patch and flower bed serves as much more than frosting on the garden cake. Mulch Acts. It performs in several wondrous ways. It fills a role as protector of the topsoil conserver of moisture, guardian against weather extremes and comfortable, bruise-saving cushioned under repining procedure. It prevents weed growth while enriching the soil and all but eliminates a lot of those time-consuming, back aching jobs like plowing and cultivating always. Materials and Methodology
Dried papaya leaves make an ideal organic mulch, providing warmth and nutrition to the tomato plant below, while also helping to prevent the growth of unwanted weeds and proliferation of diseases, as well as protecting them from soil borne pests. All that is needed for papaya mulch is the dried leaves of the papaya tree. Unfortunately, papaya grows in a tropical climate so many not be so easy to come by, although the Internet is an incredible resource for obtaining the unobtainable. If you are geographically fortunate to have a tree growing near you then simply harvest it of its leaves and then dry them out.
There are three ways this can be done: 1. Pat dry any moisture on the papaya leaves, hang them up and leave to air in a dark and dry place. This could take several weeks depending on the climate. 2. Place the leaves on a baking tray and heat at around 225 degrees Fahrenheit, monitoring them closely until the moisture has evaporated but before they become brittle or burn. 3. Alternatively zap them in the microwave on a low heat until dry. Once dry apply the mulch at roughly around two to three inches thick on the soil bed and around the base of the tomato plants. For best results, he mulch should be replenished during the summer once the previous mulch has decomposed. The effect of papaya leaves as mulch is that they bring the soil’s pH level to a more neutral range which is the preference of most plants. To make mulch for tomato plants from dried papaya leaves, you’ll need a mulch lawn mower and a wood chipping device. By beginning your mulch pile in the autumn months, and continually adding wood chips and mulched, dried papaya leaves, you’ll soon be ready to add the pile to the earth around your tomato plants (in late spring or early summer).
The best mulches, such as mulch created with dried papaya leaves, are used to add height and width to tomato plants. The nutrients and chemical composition of dried papaya leaves makes these leaves very effective fertilizers for tomato plants. Tomato Growing Tips • When planting your tomatoes from seeds, be sure you space the seeds out and give each seed plenty of room to sprout roots and grow. The best tomato growers give each seedling a few inches of space before planting the next seed. If you don’t have much soil to grow your tomatoes in, consider planting less seeds, but taking excellent care of the seedlings that are already in place.
To get the best results, seeds need plenty of room to branch out and lay down roots. • Trimming your plants with garden shears can be a great way to ensure that you get bigger, juicier tomatoes during the growing season. In general, removing leaves from the bottom portion of the tomato plant is the best gardening strategy. It’s fine to leave the top leaves as they are when tending to your tomato plants. Mulching is a clever way to amp up the size and scale of your tomato plants, and dried papaya leaves are terrific natural “food” for tomato plants.
If you’re examining ways to improve your yield of tomato plants this year, be sure to think about creating a mulch pile filled with shredded papaya leaves and wood chips. Discussion of results Based on the data the researchers have gathered, we can see how the set-ups with dried papaya leaf mulch had a higher growth rate than those without. After the allotted time for the experiment, all the plants from the mulch set-up grew at least 7cm higher with the highest growing 8cm higher. On the other hand the set-ups without mulch only grew at least 5cm taller with the highest growing only 7cmtaller.
Set-ups Set-up Parts| Before Mulch Exposure| After One Week| Tomato plant| Light Green leafs | Dark Green leafs, taller| Dried Papaya Leaf Mulch| Damp| Dry, bad smell| Summary All plants are still healthy because of the color of their leaves. By week 3, the average height of the A plants is 4. 462 cm (2. 44 cm more than initial average height). The average height of the B plants by week 3 is 5. 990 cm (3. 804 cm more than initial average height). Conclusion The researchers therefore conclude that using dried papaya leaves as mulch for tomato plant helps tremendously in its growth rate.
Dried papaya leaves have nutrients that help nurture the soil so that it will be more favorable conditions for the growth of tomato plants. Also the researchers found out that dried papaya leaves are basic and therefore help make the soil in which tomato plants grow more neutral. This is important because studies have shown that neutral pH levels of soil are the most favorable conditions for a tomato plant to grow in. Recommendations 1. All plants could be at the same initial height at the start of the experiment to have more consistent data and to see the growth with more precision. . Based on our further research, testing dried papaya leafs as insect repellants would be a more effective topic than testing its characteristic as alkaline mulch. 3. There could have been a set-up in which a commercial fertilizer was used to be able to compare the mulch’s attributes to fertilizers used by farmers all around the country. 4. The set-ups could have been observed for at least two more weeks to check if the growth rate for both set-ups would have remained constant or changed over time.
