Abstract
A field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic mulches and tillage practices on growth, yield of cluster bean and soil physical properties. Experiment was comprised of two factors: A (Tillage), B (Mulches). Factor A was assigned to main plot and consisted of two treatments (Minimum tillage and Conventional tillage). Factor B was assigned to sub plot and consisted of four treatments (no mulch, wheat straw mulch, grass clipping mulch and saw dust mulch). The mulching materials were partially incorporated in the field after germination of crop. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement having three replications. Control treatment was kept for comparison. All other agronomic practices were kept standardized and consistent for all the treatments. Data regarding growth and yield components were collected and analyzed statistically by fisher analysis of variance and treatment significance was measured by significant difference test at 5% probability level. The factors, tillage and mulches significantly affected growth, yield, yield parameters and soil physical properties. Maximum plant population (31.7 m2), plant height (159 cm), branches per plant (18.9), cluster per plant (15.88), grains per pod (7.3), 1000-grain weight (34.6 g), grain yield (1.9 t•ha-1), biological yield (9.91 t•ha-1) and harvest index (19.15) was recorded in conventional tillage comparative to minimum tillage. Mulches also affected grain yield, and maximum grain yield was recorded in wheat straw mulch (1.88 t•ha-1) followed by grass clipping mulch (1.81 t•ha-1) and saw dust mulch (1.76 t•ha-1) while minimum grain yield was recorded in control without mulch application (1.67 t•ha-1). Tillage and mulches interactively affect pH, soil organic matter contents, electrical conductivity and soil bulk density. Mulches and minimum tillage improved soil physical properties. Highest BCR was obtained from conventional tillage without mulch and lowest calculated from minimum tillage with saw dust application. The conclusion is that the mulching and conventional tillage improves cluster bean yield about 1%.
Highlights
Guar (Cymopsis tetragnolobus L.) is an important drought and high temperature tolerant export crop of Pakistan
For mulch practices a maximum value of plant height, number of branches, clusters, pods and number of grains per plant, 1000 grain weight, biological yield, grain yield and harvest index was obtained maximum in wheat straw mulch that was statistically at par with grass clipping mulch, application of saw dust mulch increased all these recorded parameters but lower than as compared to wheat straw mulch and grass clipping mulch
Conventional tillage increased plant population due to conservation of more soil moisture and increased availability of moisture for better seed germination. These results are in line with previous conclusions of [3] they recorded higher number of plants in conventional tillage as compared to minimum tillage system
Summary
Guar (Cymopsis tetragnolobus L.) is an important drought and high temperature tolerant export crop of Pakistan. It is leguminous crop of high socio-economic significance and mainly cultivated in Kharif season. In Pakistan, guar is mostly grown on marginal lands in Thar, Kohistan, Nara valley, Thal, Cholistan and Las Bella Hills. In vegetative form, it is mostly used for forage and green manuring but its commercial product is guar gum that is mostly used in medicine, food, beverages, petroleum and for different industrial purpose as viscosifying, stiffener, stabilizer and gelling agent [1]. Guar roots bear nodules where nitrogen fixing bacteria inhabit and involve in biological nitrogen fixation, so guar crop is intercropped or cultivated in rotation for making soil fertile
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