Plastic mulching has significantly enhanced vegetable production worldwide since the 1950. It is used extensively due to its properties improved soil, plant growth, fruit quality properties and low cost. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of various color plastic mulches (white on black, silver on black and black on silver) and irrigation levels (60, 80 and 100 per cent ETc) on plant growth parameters and weed suppression in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivation at Madurai district, TamilNadu. The experiment was laid out according to factorial randomized block design with three replications. The results observed were soil temperature increased about 2-4 0 C under the colored plastic mulches as compared to control plot(Without mulch). Growth parameters of tomato such as plant height, number of branches per plant and leaf area index and total soluble solids of tomato were significantly influenced by colored plastic mulching and different irrigation levels. The maximum plant height (123.2 cm), maximum number of branches per plant (22.8), highest leaf area index (3.01) and highest chlorophyll (56.58) were recorded under white on black plastic mulch with 80 per cent Etc of drip irrigation when compared to other treatments.

Field investigation was carried out during 2017 at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, to study the effect of colored plastic mulch and drip irrigation regimes on weed dry weight, root length and root spread of tomato. A factorial randomized block design with three colour mulches (white on black, silver on black and black on silver) and three irrigation regimes with control (without mulch) was laid to conduct the field experiment. The highest weed count of 27.3 was found in 100 per cent ETc and the lowest weed count of 21.4 in 60 per cent ETc. Among the mulches minimum weed count (4.9) was found in white on black plastic colour mulch. Plastic mulches were effective in repressing the weed infestation. The maximum root length was observed under treatment 60 per cent ETc without mulch (48.2 cm). The maximum root spread was found in 80 per cent ETc level with white on black colour mulch (41.1cm). The results showed that using colored plastic mulches control the weeds resulting in more root spread of the crop due to less competition for soil moisture and nutrients. Therefore, plastic mulch can be one of the weed control strategy in tomato production.