Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
8.4
CULTURAL MANAGEMENT
Simple, affordable and accessible technologies like, mulching and the use
of shelters and raised beds help to conserve soil moisture, prevent soil
degradation, and protect vegetables from heavy rains, high temperatures,
and flooding. The use of organic and inorganic mulches is common in
high-value vegetable production systems. These protective coverings help
reduce evaporation, moderate soil temperature, reduce soil runoff and
erosion, protect fruits from direct contact with soil and minimize weed
growth. In addition, the use of organic materials as mulch can help en-
hance soil fertility, structure and other soil properties. Rice straw is abun-
dant in rice-growing areas and generally recommended for summer toma-
to production. Polythene and
Sarkanda
(
Saccharum
spp. and
Canna
spp.)
can also be used as mulching materials. In the areas where temperatures
are high, dark-colored plastic mulch is recommended in combination with
rice straw (AVRDC, 1990). Dark plastic mulch prevents sunlight from
reaching the soil surface and the rice straw insulates the plastic from direct
sunlight thereby preventing the soil temperature rising too high during
the day. During the hot rainy season, vegetables such as tomatoes suffer
from yield losses caused by heavy rains. Simple, clear plastic rain shelters
prevent water logging and rain impact damage on developing fruits, with
consequent improvement in tomato yields (Midmore et al.,
1992). Fruit
cracking and the number of unmarketable fruits are also reduced. Another
form of shelter using shade cloth can be used to reduce temperature stress.
Planting vegetables in raised beds can ameliorate the effects of flooding
during the rainy season (AVRDC, 1979, 1981).
8.4.1 GRAFTING OF VEGETABLES FOR STRESS
MANAGEMENT
Grafting of susceptible plant (scion) on tolerant plant (rootstock) helps to
grow plant successfully under stress condition especially under salt and
drought stress condition. Grafting vegetables originated in East Asia dur-
ing the twentieth century and it has been used primarily to control soil-
borne diseases affecting the production of vegetables such as tomato,
eggplant, and cucurbits. However, it can provide tolerance to soil-related
environmental stresses such as drought, salinity, low soil temperature and
