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Copes with water crisis through mulching for tomato farming
Water is becoming precious with every passing year and agriculture industry gets affected maximum by it’s scarcity. Rainwater harvesting pond and other groundwater recharging techniques does helps but are practically difficult to implement in the small landholdings! Mrs. Saroja, being a full time farmer practices poly mulching technique to fight the water problems. Higher yield, less weeds and negligible disease attack are three main benefits of poly mulching technique.
Mrs. Saroja
Poly mulching technique implies covering the raised vegetable growing beds on the farmland with plastic mulching sheets. First the holes are made on the sheet keeping the plant-plant distance. Then the sheets are laid down on the beds with the help of the machinery. In the holes the saplings/seedlings are transplanted and irrigation is done with drip system.
The water present in the soil gets evaporated but gets trapped in the mulching sheet and condenses on its top surface. The condensed water again turns into tiny droplets and falls back in the soil. It is an old technology but farmers are seldom aware about it!
The mulching sheet used in the process is special mulching paper used for growing vegetables. It comes in different varieties. The cost varies as per the quality. Sheet having one year life costs Rs. 3,000/ 800 meter role. 6months durable sheet costs Rs. 2, 750/roll.
“In this technique it is important to prepare the soil well,” says Mrs. Saroja. She grows paddy, vegetables and millets in her farm located at Deverayanapatna village, Tumkur, Karnataka. “After harvesting paddy in December, we till the soil deeply and mix cow dung plus red soil. Tilling on the farmland is done once again. Then we add vermicompost and make beds for tomato plantation. The beds are 1.5 feet in height and 2 feet wide. Then drips are laid on the beds for irrigation. Once done, the beds are covered with plastic mulching sheets. We cover the two edges of the sheet with soil. If it rains, the plastic will hold tightly.” Once the sheets are set on the beds, the saplings are transplanted in each hole. She grows Samrat variety tomatoes.
Tomato seeds are bought from KVK at Rs. 300/gram. The seeds are given to nursery for developing sapling from seeds. The growing media of the saplings contains trichoderma and vermicompost that boost the plant growth. As tomato is prone to pest, the saplings are treated with KMC as supplied by KVK, Hirandahalli. KMC provides immunity to the plants to fight against diseases. The plant root holds KMC solution that acts as pesticide or insecticide.
In all there are 8,000 saplings transplanted on 65 beds. 25 saplings are accommodated in 30 feet long row. When asked about making holes in mulching sheet she responds, “We use Katthale thorns to make holes. We do 2-2.5inches holes. Usually 3 rolls (800metres)/acre are required for this technique,” she clarifies.
The program of cultivating vegetables using poly mulching technique begins in February last week or beginning of March. Elaborating on irrigation she says, “As the drips are inside the sheet the water directly goes into the plants. Till the saplings are one month old, we water the plants for 10mins/day, after one month water is given for 30mins/day.” The plants start flowering after 20days and harvesting is done after 2.9months from the day of plantation. 7-8 kg tomato is obtained by every plant. It is harvested and sold the same day to get good price. “Before harvesting I ensure to identify the market/dealer to prevent wastage,” she shares.
Challenges faced, “Yes, the sheets being plastic material does gets heated up that leads to sapling mortality. Therefore it is compulsory to transplant slightly old saplings that withstand the heat better,” she asserts and adds, “We are practicing this technique for past four years. It had been more beneficial for our farm than all other techniques. After use the mulching sheets is disposed following the waste minimization rules and regulations.
“As water on our farm was scarce we decided to try this new technique without thinking twice. Initially with lack of knowledge we faced some problems but KVK guided us. The technique has proved largely beneficial to us!” she concludes.
Contact Details:
Mrs. Saroja
W/o Ramachandraiah, Deverayanapatna Village, Main Road, Opp Balaji Shamiyana, Tumkur – 572 103, Karnataka
Phone: +91 9164553148
Water is becoming precious with every passing year and agriculture industry gets affected maximum by it’s scarcity. Rainwater harvesting pond and other groundwater recharging techniques does helps but are practically difficult to implement in the small landholdings! Mrs. Saroja, being a full time farmer practices poly mulching technique to fight the water problems. Higher yield, less weeds and negligible disease attack are three main benefits of poly mulching technique.
Mrs. Saroja
Poly mulching technique implies covering the raised vegetable growing beds on the farmland with plastic mulching sheets. First the holes are made on the sheet keeping the plant-plant distance. Then the sheets are laid down on the beds with the help of the machinery. In the holes the saplings/seedlings are transplanted and irrigation is done with drip system.
The water present in the soil gets evaporated but gets trapped in the mulching sheet and condenses on its top surface. The condensed water again turns into tiny droplets and falls back in the soil. It is an old technology but farmers are seldom aware about it!
The mulching sheet used in the process is special mulching paper used for growing vegetables. It comes in different varieties. The cost varies as per the quality. Sheet having one year life costs Rs. 3,000/ 800 meter role. 6months durable sheet costs Rs. 2, 750/roll.
“In this technique it is important to prepare the soil well,” says Mrs. Saroja. She grows paddy, vegetables and millets in her farm located at Deverayanapatna village, Tumkur, Karnataka. “After harvesting paddy in December, we till the soil deeply and mix cow dung plus red soil. Tilling on the farmland is done once again. Then we add vermicompost and make beds for tomato plantation. The beds are 1.5 feet in height and 2 feet wide. Then drips are laid on the beds for irrigation. Once done, the beds are covered with plastic mulching sheets. We cover the two edges of the sheet with soil. If it rains, the plastic will hold tightly.” Once the sheets are set on the beds, the saplings are transplanted in each hole. She grows Samrat variety tomatoes.
Tomato seeds are bought from KVK at Rs. 300/gram. The seeds are given to nursery for developing sapling from seeds. The growing media of the saplings contains trichoderma and vermicompost that boost the plant growth. As tomato is prone to pest, the saplings are treated with KMC as supplied by KVK, Hirandahalli. KMC provides immunity to the plants to fight against diseases. The plant root holds KMC solution that acts as pesticide or insecticide.
In all there are 8,000 saplings transplanted on 65 beds. 25 saplings are accommodated in 30 feet long row. When asked about making holes in mulching sheet she responds, “We use Katthale thorns to make holes. We do 2-2.5inches holes. Usually 3 rolls (800metres)/acre are required for this technique,” she clarifies.
The program of cultivating vegetables using poly mulching technique begins in February last week or beginning of March. Elaborating on irrigation she says, “As the drips are inside the sheet the water directly goes into the plants. Till the saplings are one month old, we water the plants for 10mins/day, after one month water is given for 30mins/day.” The plants start flowering after 20days and harvesting is done after 2.9months from the day of plantation. 7-8 kg tomato is obtained by every plant. It is harvested and sold the same day to get good price. “Before harvesting I ensure to identify the market/dealer to prevent wastage,” she shares.
Challenges faced, “Yes, the sheets being plastic material does gets heated up that leads to sapling mortality. Therefore it is compulsory to transplant slightly old saplings that withstand the heat better,” she asserts and adds, “We are practicing this technique for past four years. It had been more beneficial for our farm than all other techniques. After use the mulching sheets is disposed following the waste minimization rules and regulations.
“As water on our farm was scarce we decided to try this new technique without thinking twice. Initially with lack of knowledge we faced some problems but KVK guided us. The technique has proved largely beneficial to us!” she concludes.
Contact Details:
Mrs. Saroja
W/o Ramachandraiah, Deverayanapatna Village, Main Road, Opp Balaji Shamiyana, Tumkur – 572 103, Karnataka
Phone: +91 9164553148