Lyimo, H. F. ITiluhongelwa, T. D.Maerere, A. P.Njau, P.2017-06-192017-06-191998https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/1650The effect of mUlching and staking on the development of early and late leaf blight of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum (Mill))· caused by Alternaria solani (Ell. & Md.rt.) and Phythophthora injestans (Mont.), respectively, were studied using a randomized complete block design replicatedfour times. Mulching and staking significantly (P = 0.05) reduced the incidence of early and late blights by 5 to 20% and increased fruit yield more t~an two folds compared to unmUlched and unstaked controls. The apparent rate of infection of the two pathogens was also significantly lower (P = 0.05) in mulched and staked tomato than in the controls. Mulching was more effective than staking in suppressing early and late blight diseases in tomato. Mulching and staking when combined significantly (P = 0.05) reduced the incidence of the two diseases' by 20% compared to when the two practices were used separately.enMulchingStakingAlternaria solaniPhytophthora injestansLycopefsicon esculentumArticle