In today's world, great attention is paid to the cultivation of environmentally friendly products and vegetables. Advanced and improved agro-industrial technologies are being introduced, which make it possible to obtain a rich crop of tomatoes in polycarbonate greenhouses at minimal costs. One of such technologies is mulching - covering the surface of the fertile soil layer with materials of natural or artificial origin. Let's figure out whether to mulch the tomatoes in the greenhouse and how to do it.
Contents
- purpose of mulching tomatoes in a greenhouse and open field
- Features mulching tomatoes
- Materials
- film
- cut grass
- hay( straw)
- Paper( cardboard)
- Sawdust
- Compost
- Unsuitable for mulch materials
purpose of mulching tomatoes in the greenhouse andopen ground
The main objectives of mulching tomatoes grown in a greenhouse, and in open ground are:
- Protecting the greenhouse soil from excessive compaction and formationimpermeable cover;
- Ensuring the natural moisture and temperature of the soil for a long time;
- Reducing the frequency of irrigation and the amount of fresh water used;
- Preventing the development and transfer of pathogens and pests from soil to plants;
- Protection against drying of the upper layer of greenhouse soil as a result of intense solar radiation;
- Improving soil fertility and increasing the overall yield of tomatoes.
Mulching bed of tomatoes with black film Features of mulching of tomatoes
Under conditions of a closed greenhouse space and elevated temperature, the evaporation of moisture is accelerated. High humidity slows the growth and development of tomatoes, creates favorable conditions for the emergence of various diseases. Therefore, the introduction of mulch is most important in the conditions of greenhouse cultivation of vegetables.
Required materials
The most common are the following materials:
- organic( natural): sawdust, hay or straw, freshly cut grass, compost;
- inorganic( artificial): paper and cardboard, film, roofing felt, roofing felt and other types of roll covering materials.
Film
An opaque light stabilized film can be used as a film material. Before laying on the bed, the film is straightened along the entire length and fixed. For planting seeds or seedlings, special holes are made in the film.
Mowed grass
Mown grass for a long time retains the natural soil moisture in the greenhouse, which makes it possible to reduce the amount of watering several times. To protect against insect pests, freshly mown grass is finely ground and left to dry in the sun for several days.
Freshly Mowed Grass Tomatoes Hay( straw)
Mulching with dried grass or straw helps prevent weed germination and provides reliable plant protection from pests. When growing low-growing varieties of tomatoes, hay plays the role of bedding for the fruits lying on it. Fruits always remain dry, clean, therefore they are not susceptible to decay or infection by pathogenic bacteria.
Mulch garden bed of tomatoes with hayThen the paper is crushed and put a layer on the bed, previously moistened in water or a solution of liquid fertilizer( compost). The main disadvantage of paper is the absence of useful substances, therefore, a layer of fertile organic matter is added above the laid layer.
Mulching of beds with paper Sawdust
Mulching with sawdust is considered the most common method.
Layer thickness is assumed to be 10-15 cm. A thinner layer can cause rapid weed germination. Sawdust perfectly keeps the soil moisture, so the soil is always in a natural, moist condition. Sawdust makes it easier to weed and remove weeds. Sawdust perfectly absorb and allow excess water to pass through.
The main disadvantage of sawdust is that they take most of the beneficial trace elements( especially nitrogen) from plants and contribute to soil oxidation.
Sawdust on tomatoes in a greenhouse as a mulch. Compost
Compost mulch is the most excellent type of protection and nutrition of tomatoes in a greenhouse.
The litter structure must be completely rotten, homogeneous, crumbly, odorless, without the inclusion of sawdust and any impurities. Horse manure is best suited as a compost for tomatoes.
The thickness of the layer is assumed to be 20 cm. At the same time, the seedlings and seedlings of greenhouse tomatoes are planted not into the soil, but directly into the compost, to a depth of 1-3 cm.
Tomatoes slightly sprinkled with compost Mulch useable materials
grown in the greenhouse, it is not recommended to use the bark and leaves of coniferous trees , containing specific volatile substances and essential oils that can disrupt the vital activity of beneficial microorganisms. The most correct and effective will be the burning of these components, followed by the use of ash.
Mulching with cloth Also roofing materials containing toxic substances are also considered unsuitable. Not recommended to use pure peat, contributing to the oxidation of the soil.
Thus, a competent choice of the method and material of mulching leads to a significant reduction in the cost of growing tomatoes in the greenhouse. The numerous benefits of using this procedure allow you to get a rich and high-quality harvest of these beautiful and healthy vegetables.
