Mulching in agricultural provides a safe yet equally profitable method of enriching and fertilizing the soil planted with crops. Most often-used mulches are of organic composition, such as dry leaves and barks. Unlike synthetic fertilizers and herbicides, these organic mulches pose no or little damage to the soil and crops.
In this study, the effectiveness of dried papaya leaves as organic mulch for tomato was tested. Papaya mulches in different thickness were applied on plots planted with tomato in three replications. After the determined period of mulch application, the researchers application, the researchers measured the height increases of tomato plants ands the weed density in the plots. It was concluded that papaya mulch significantly promoted height increase of tomato plants and inhibited the growth of weeds. The best mulch was 3 inches in thickness.