Influence of Tillage and Mulching Systems on Soil Water and Tomato Fruit Yield and Quality

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Abstract
Many growers have interests in using mulches, cover crops, and conservation tillage systems in tomato production, but also have concerns about the effect of soil moisture fluctuations on fruit quality. Percent soil moisture and ‘Fabulous’ tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruit production in response to different mulching/tillage systems within wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and winter rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crops were evaluated. Treatments applied following the mowing of the cover crops were: (1) conventional tillage (CT); (2) black polyethylene plastic over conventional tillage (BP); (3) no-tillage with cover crop killed with 1.5% glyphosate one week prior to transplanting (NT); (4) strip-tillage with cover crop killed with a 1.5% glyphosate one week prior to transplanting (ST); (5) no-tillage in which the cover crop was mowed periodically during the growing season [NT-Lm (living mulch)]; and (6) strip-tillage with the cover crop mowed and treated similar to treatment 5 (ST-Lm). Gener...

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