Mulch and Irrigation Effects on Tomato Performance and Weed Infestation

for determining the effects of irrigation and mulch on the performance of tomato. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications where mulch materials (Senna leaf, rice straw and no-mulch) were assigned in main plots, while five irrigation levels (IW/CEP 1.0, IW/CEP 0.75, IW/CEP 0.50, IW/CEP 0.25, and IW/CEP 0.0) were distributed in subplots. Senna leaf mulch gave 4.64 % and 25.02% higher tomato yield than rice straw and no mulch treatment, respectively. IW/CPE 1.0 produced 5.64 %, 13.40 %, 33.04 %, and 87.65 % more yield compared to IW/CPE 0.75, 0.50, 0.25 and no irrigation levels, respectively. Senna leaf mulch with IW/CPE 1.0 level of irrigation produced the highest (58.54 t ha -1 ) yield, which did not vary significantly with rice straw with IW/CPE 1.0 (56.89 t ha -1 ) and Senna leaf mulch with IW/CPE 0.75 (56.73 t ha -1 ). Reducing sugar, total sugar and ascorbic acid were increased with the decreasing irrigation levels, but carotene increased with increasing irrigation levels. Weed was suppressed significantly under mulch materials than no mulch treatment. Therefore, Senna leaf could be used as potential mulch material for soil moisture conservation, higher tomato yield and weed suppression. About 26 % irrigation water could be saved without significant yield loss if Senna leaf is used as mulch.