GROWTH AND YIELD OF LETTUCE MULCHED WITH DIFFERENT COLOR OF PLASTIC MULCH UNDER ORGANIC SYSTEM
*Constantino T. Sudaypan, Casmir S. Ligat and John D. Dolinas Jr.*
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted at the Office of Extension Services Demo Farm, Balili, La rinidad, Benguet from December 2016 to March 2017 to determine the best color of plastic mulching on the growth and yield of lettuce grown organically.
The lettuce, Romaine, mulched with different color of plastic mulch had no significant differences on the number of marketable plants; weight of marketable and non- marketable plants; and total number and weight of plants. The plot mulched with black was the tallest (19.72cm). The plot that was un- mulched had the highest number of non- marketable plants (6.25 pcs). The highest return on investment (ROI) at 152.54% was obtained on plots mulched with silver.
The lettuce, Grand Rapid, mulched with different color of plastic mulch had no significant differences on the number of marketable plants; weight of marketable plants; and total number and weight of plants. The plot mulched with black was the tallest (27.24cm) but statistically comparable with plots mulched with white and silver. The plot mulched with black had the lowest number of non- marketable with a mean of 0.25pcs. Moreover, plots mulched with black produced the lightest weight of marketable plants with 3.75g but statistically comparable with plots mulched with silver. The highest return on investment (ROI) at 201.83% was obtained on plots mulched with black.
The lettuce, iceberg, mulched with different color of plastic mulch had no significant differences on the number of marketable plants; weight of marketable plants and non- marketable; total number and weight of plants; and plant equatorial circumference. The plot mulched with black had the largest polar circumference of 44.2cm. The plot that mulched with white had the lowest number of non- marketable plants with a mean of 1.75 pcs. The highest return on investment (ROI) at 466.82% was obtained on plots mulched with silver.
The lettuce, NRBL2, mulched with different color of plastic mulch had no significant differences on the number of non- marketable plants, weight of marketable plants and non- marketable; and total number and weight of plants. The plot mulched with silver was the tallest with a mean of 21.25cm but statistically comparable with plots mulched with black and white. Plot mulched with white and black had the highest number of marketable (51pcs). The highest return on investment (ROI) at 466.82% was obtained on plots mulched with white.
