Effects of transparent polyethylene mulching and different planting densities on tomato grown for processing

Tomato cultivation is steadily increasing in the Sicilian countryside where careful management of clay soils alows successful yields. The crop is estabished in the first week of May an rainfall is adeguate to obtain a sufficient production without irrigation. In these areas a recent development in tomato production for processing is the use of transparent polyethylen mulching. The aim of this study was to verify the effects of transparent PE mulching vs. bare soil and of three different plant densities (0.74, 1.1 or 2.2 plants/m2) on a tomato crop in the Sicilian countryside. Applying PE mulch and planting at a density of 2.2 plants/m2 resulted in the highest yield (58.6 t/ha). The lowest production (15 t/ha) was obtained on bare soil and by planting at a density og 0.74 plants/m2