Effect of FYM and black plastic mulching in sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica L.)

Abstract

By virtue of small crop duration, cucurbits like sponge gourd, pumpkin, cucumber, bitter gourd and bottle gourd as well as many other vegetable crops like cowpea, okra, brinjal, tomato, root and leafy crops are gaining popularity as cash crop in Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. The sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica L.) is an important crop of this region grown twice in a year e.g. during summer and rainy seasons. For summer crop, early sowing i.e. in the month of January is practiced avoiding exposure of crop to excessive day temperature (45 0C or above) and acute water scarcity. With certain management practices like trailing the vines on trellis and proper weed management, rainy season crop can be grown successfully with comparatively higher yield. In addition to high infestation of weeds in rainy season crop, compaction of rhizospheric soil due to heavy rains is another problem which results in poor growth and yellowing of vines. Low soil organic matter is inherent problem of invariably all the districts of Bundelkhand region and high clay accompanied with low organic content collectively lead to compactness in soil