Somaye Rafie - Yasuj Univrrsity, Faculty Of Agriculture Science, Agriculture and Physiology
Hamid Reza Mohammadoust Chamanbad - Department, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Faculty of Agriculture
Ali Asghari - Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Universitty Street, postal, Iran

over crops are an important component of crop production management in sustainable agriculture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the tomato yield when grown under different live mulches and their planting date. Therefore, in 2013, effect of planting date (One month before tomatoes transplanting, at the same time as transplanting and one month after tomatoes transplanting) of three types live mulch (winter rye, red clover, winter canola and a control without live mulch) on tomato yield were evaluated at the Zarghan city 65 km from Shiraz, Iran, in a split plot experiment laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that live mulches increased tomato yield in weedy and weed free plots 60.42 and 35.0% respectively. Among the live mulches, number of fruits plants-1 and the highest tomato yield obtained where red clover grown as live mulch and this yield was significantly greater than the yield produced from control and winter rye treated plots. The winter rye live mulch treatment was a poor treatment as it had negative effect on tomato yield. The results suggest that red clover live mulch will provide a good combination with tomato, and can plays an important role in improving soil fertility, weed control, and ultimately increase tomato yield.

Non-chemical weed management, Soil fertility, Sustainable production, Vegetable crops