ASSESMENT OF DIFFERENT PLASTIC COLORED MULCHES AS A CONTROL MEASURE AGAINST INSECT PEST IN PECHAY(brassica chinesis L.)

Plastic mulch modifies the soil and air temperatures, There are also benefits of protection from the wind and in some instances rain, insects, disease and vertebrate pests. This study was conducted at the experimental area of the College of Agriculture Fatima Campus, General Santos City from January 23 to March 3, 2020 to determine the effect of different plastic colored mulches as a control measure against insect pests of pechay. The experiment was carried out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with five treatments replicated four times. The treatments were as follows: Tl, Control in which no mulch was installed; T2, Black mulch was installed; TI, Red mulch was installed; T4, Blue mulch was installed; and TS, Yellow mulch was installed. The study revealed a not significant diffirence among all the treatments based on the data gathered. However, based on numaical values alone, red plastic mulch can potentially control insect pest because plants grown under this treatment had lower percentage ofinfestation and number of da,11aged leaves. Plastic mulch regardless of the color minimally contributed to the growth of pechay because plants grown under any of the treatments did not manifest better production of leaves, wider leaf area nor better root growth than control treatment Also, every colored plastic mulch gave different effects on yield since some heated plants bigger stand, taller height and greater number of leaves than the control but these differences were not significant. It rs suggested to explore the use of red [lastic mulch to reduce insect pest infestat!on and repel most of the insect pest around the area by conducting related studies under controlled environment.