Effect Of Different Mulching Materials Research Articles

Effect of Mulching as a Weed Management Strategy in Field Production of French Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L) in Western Kenya

There has been a 2% decrease on French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) production in Kenya due to factors such as weeds, pests and diseases and the challenge of controlling them using chemicals that result in high rejection rate or interception in the export market because of chemical residues. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of different mulching materials on the growth and yield of French bean cultivars and to determine the effect of different mulching materials on weed density. Field experiments were carried out at KALRO Kitale, Trans Nzoia county Kenya. Season 1 was carried out during long rains of April and June 2021 and season two during the short rains of August and October 2021. Black polythene and grass mulch were compared with two hand weedings and no weeding in a Randomized Complete Block Design experiment with three replications. Data on growth and yield of French Beans were collected and subjected to ANOVA using GenStat to determine the significant differences between the treatments. The means were separated using Fisher’s Unprotected LSD at 5% significance level. Growth and yield of French Beans was significantly influenced by the treatments (p≤0.05). Plants grown under black polythene and grass mulch had the tallest height and the highest number of leaves and branches as well as number of pods and cumulative pod yield as compared to those that were hand weeded and unweeded. The highest yield of 2138 and 2597 kg/ ha was obtained under black polythene mulch in season 1 and 2 respectively. This was significantly higher than that obtained from grass mulch, hand weeding and unweeding. In conclusion polythene and grass mulch improved growth and yield of French beans and reduced weed density. It is therefore recommended that farmers should adapt mulching as a cultural weed management strategy.

Fertilizer doses and mulching effect to mitigate soil salinity and maximize yield of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) in coastal region of Bangladesh

An experiment was conducted in the rabi season at Patuakhali, Bangladesh to verify the effect of different mulching materials for watermelon production under farmers field condition. The aim of this research was to test the possibility of salinity damage can be reduced by elevating potassium (K) fertilization rate on watermelon yield and nutrient uptake under salt stress condition. Four different fertilizer doses T1 = Soil Test Based (STB), T2 = STB + 50% K, T3 = Integrated Plant Nutrients System (IPNS) approach with 5 tonha-1 cowdung (CD) + 50% K and T4 = Farmers practices with many materials usedP1 = Silver color polythene mulch, P2 = Straw mulch, P3 = No mulch combination. Twenty days old seedling were used in farmers’ field. Other nutrients were also applied following STB method. Fertilizer used as the rates of N117P30K30S25 (T1), N117P30K37S25 (T2), N92P22.5K45S25 with 5 tonha-1cowdung (T3) and N100P40K35S30 (T4). All the plant growth, yield and quality characters were superior in T3 with silver polythene (31.96 tonha-1) while plants without mulch and STB method resulted poor growth and yield of 24.31 tonha-1. The higher rates of K contributed to 7- 27% increased yield over only STB dose for Patuakhali which implies the necessity of higher dose of K in salt affected soil in strengthening yield. With economic point of view, T3 (IPNS with 5 ton/ha cowdung + 50% K and silver polythene mulch) seedling reported the highest net return of 375780 Bd TK and found more economical with highest cost benefit ratio.

Effect of Different Mulching Materials on Leaf Spot Disease of Groundnut

A study was conducted in summer season of 2020 and 2021 to evaluate the effect of different mulching materials on late leaf spot disease of groundnut caused by Phaeoisariopsis personata (Berk. & Curt.) v. Arx at Oilseed Research Program, Sarlahi, Nepal. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 7 treatments viz. rice husk, rice straw, black polythene sheet, Lantana camara, living mulch, sawdust and control in three replications with fertilizer dose 20:40:20 NPK kg per hectare. The disease was scored in 1-9 scale and severity and AUDPC was calculated. In 2020, Lantana camara mulched plot showed significantly the lowest disease severity and the lowest AUDPC value (66.67% and 1556) followed by rice husk (70.37% and 1556) and black plastic (70.37% and 1611) mulched plot. Similarly in 2021, Lantana camara mulched plot showed significantly lowest disease severity and the lowest AUDPC value (62.96% and 1500) followed by rice husk (66.67% and 1574) and black plastic (66.67% and 1574) mulched plot. Significantly the highest pod yield was obtained in rice husk mulched plot (2.35 t/ha in 2020 and 2.07 t/ha in 2021) followed by living mulch treated plot (2.13 t/ha in 2020 and 1.84 t/ha in 2021). The highest disease severity (81.4% same as rice straw and saw dust mulched plot) with highest AUDPC value (1981) was observed in plot with no mulch during 2020 where as in 2021, the highest disease severity (77.78 same as plot with no mulch) with highest AUDPC value (1889) was observed in rice straw mulched plot. This study shows that organic mulches like rice husk could be better option for reducing disease severity with better yield in groundnut.
 Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 11(1): 37-41.

Effects of different mulching materials on yield and yield components of maize (Zea mays L.)

Two field experiments were conducted during dry season (October, 2019 to March, 2020) at Yezin Agricultural University farm and Sepin research farm, Yamethin, Myanmar to investigate the effect of different mulching materials on yield and yield components of maize. No mulching and six mulching materials (rice straw mulching, rice husk mulching, maize stover mulching, mung bean stover mulching, soybean stover mulching and white plastic polyethylene mulching) were laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCB) with three replications on NK-621 variety. The longest days to 50% tasseling (69.67) at Yezin and (71.67) at Yamethin were obtained in no mulching while the shortest days to 50% tasseling (62.00) at Yezin and (64.33) at Yamethin were observed from rice straw mulching at Yezin and white plastic polyethylene mulching at Yamethin. Number of kernel row-1, rows ear-1, row length, kernels ear-1, thousand grains weight were significantly different among different mulching materials at Yezin. The maximum grain yield (5.72 ton ha-1) and (10.39 ton ha-1) were observed from rice straw mulching at Yezin and Yamethin. According to the results, rice straw mulching resulted in the highest yield and yield components of maize at two locations.

Effects of Different Mulching Materials on Soil Salinity of a Semi-Arid Drip-Irrigated Nectarine Orchard

ABSTRACT The effectiveness of inorganic (plastic) and organic (geotextile and pine bark) mulching materials for soil salinity control as compared to the bare soil was assessed during three years in a semi-arid, drip-irrigated nectarine orchard. The soil solution electrical conductivity (ECss) was measured in 3174 samples regularly extracted with suction cups at two soil depths (20 and 40 cm) and three sampling positions (EM-emitter, EL-emitter line, and TR-tree row) during the 2010–2012 irrigation seasons. Considering all treatments, ECss increased (p < .05) with distance to emitters, both vertically (mean ECss = 4.7 dS m−1 at 20 cm and 6.3 dS m−1 at 40 cm soil depths) and horizontally (mean ECss (20 + 40 cm soil depth) = 2.9 dS m−1 at EM, 4.4 dS m−1 at EL, and 9.1 dS m−1 at TR). The monthly changes in ECss were negatively correlated (p < .01) with the monthly field-wide leaching fraction estimates. Based on the 2010–2012 mean ECss values, the effectiveness for soil salinity control of the examined treatments was (p = .05): plastic (4.2 dS m−1) = pine bark (4.6 dS m−1) < bare soil (5.8 dS m−1) = geotextile (5.9 dS m−1). Overall, due to their lower soil water evaporation rates, the plastic and pine bark materials were best suited for soil salinity control under the prevailing climatic characteristics in the study area.

Mulching as soil moisture conservation to improve physiological traits in maize (Zea mays L.)

Field experiments were conducted at Yezin farm and Sepin research farm, Yamethin, Myanmar to study the effect of different mulching materials on percent reduction of soil moisture content and physiological traits in Yezin and Yamethin. Randomized complete block design (RCB) was used with three replications from October, 2019 to March, 2020. Rice straw mulching (T2), rice husk mulching (T3), maize stover mulching (T4), mung bean stover mulching (T5), soybean stover mulching (T6) and white plastic polyethylene mulching (T7) and no mulching (T1) were tested with NK-621, variety. At Yezin, the minimum percent reduction of soil moisture content (45.89) was obtained from T2 and (76.79, 58.07) was resulted in T7 whereas the maximum percent reduction of soil moisture contents (76.93, 89.00, 83.93) were recorded from T1 at 14 DAI (Days after irrigation). At tasseling stage, the maximum photosynthesis rates (20.45 µmol m-2s-1) and (21.59 µmol m-2s-1) were observed from T2 at Yezin and Yamethin. At two locations, the maximum stomatal conductance (158.36 mmol m-2s-1) and (204.44 mmol m-2s-1) was observed from T2 at maximum growth stage. At maximum growth stage, the maximum SPAD values (33.90) and (53.98) were obtained from T6 at Yezin and T2 at Yamethin. The maximum five ears weight (1830.6 g) was recorded from rice straw mulching whereas the minimum five ears weight (1326.0 g) was resulted from no mulching at Yamethin. According to the results, rice straw mulching resulted in the highest physiological traits of maize, and white plastic polyethylene mulching recorded the minimum percent reduction of soil moisture content at Yezin and maize stover mulching at Yamethin.

Effect of mulching materials on soil temperature and horticultural attributes in pear (Pyrus pyrifoila (Burm.) Nakai) under humid subtropical climate of Punjab

ABSTRACT- The effect of mulching materials on soil temperature and horticultural attributes in pear under subtropics of northwestern India was studied for years 2018 and 2019. Different mulches such as paddy straw mulch (PSM), white polythene mulch (WPM) and black polythene mulch (BPM) were applied underneath the canopies of ‘Patharnakh’ pear trees during second week of April. The weedy check (control) and manual weeding plots were kept to compare the relative effects of different mulching materials. The observations on soil temperature were noted at weekly interval while the quality parameters of pear fruit were recorded at harvest. Among the time intervals of soil temperatures, the higher soil temperature was observed with the WPM mulch followed by BPM while the minimum soil temperature was recorded with PSM. The WPM treatment showed soil warming effect from 16th to 28th standard meteorological week (SMW) during both the years of investigation. Different mulches significantly influenced the fruit yield and quality attributes of Patharnakh pear. The maximum fruit weight and fruit yield was observed in PSM, while minimum in control as weedy check. The internal quality of pear fruits in terms of total soluble solids was better in PSM and WPM as compared to fruits from control plants. It can be summarized that the readily available soil moisture and optimum soil temperature conditions during fruit development period improves fruit size particularly under PSM and WPM.&#x0D; Key words: Soil temperature, mulches, management practices, pear, fruit attributes.

Performance of different mulching materials on soil moisture content, weed infestation and growth of maize (Zea mays L.)

Two field experiments were conducted at Yezin farm and Sepin research farm, Yamenthin, Myanmar to investigate the effect of different mulching materials on growth, soil moisture and weed infestation of maize and to identify the most&#x0D; Two field experiments were conducted at Yezin and Sepin research farms, Yamethin, Myanmar to investigate the effect of different mulching materials on growth, soil moisture and weed infestation of maize and to identify the most suitable mulching materials for maize cultivation in the study areas during the dry season (October, 2019 to March, 2020). The experiments used randomized complete block design (RCB) with three replications. No mulching and six mulching materials, including rice straw mulching, rice husk mulching, maize stover mulching, mung bean stover mulching, soybean stover mulching and white plastic polyethylene mulching were tested. NK-621 (120 days) was used as the tested variety. Different mulching materials showed higher plant height and SPAD value than no mulching whereas rice straw mulching was highest at both locations. The highest LAI was achieved from rice straw mulching at Yezin. At Yamethin, the maximum LAI (2.19) was recorded from rice straw mulching at maximum growth stage (MGS), LAI (2.71) observed from maize stover mulching at tasseling stage (TS). The maximum crop growth rate (CGR) (13.31 gm-2day-1) was achieved from rice straw mulching at Yezin and (14.19 gm-2day-1) at Yamethin. Soil moisture content and weed infestation were significantly different among different mulching materials at two locations. White plastic polyethylene mulching and rice straw mulching were observed as the most suitable for soil moisture content and minimal weed infestation. According to the results, rice straw mulching is the best in all parameters among the treatments for Yezin and Yamethin areas.&#x0D; suitable mulching materials for maize cultivation in the study areas during the dry season (October, 2019 to March, 2020). The experiments were assigned by using randomized complete block design (RCB) with three replications. A total of seven treatment; no mulching (T1) and six mulching materials including rice straw mulching (T2), rice husk mulching (T3), maize stover mulching (T4), mung bean stover mulching (T5), soybean stover mulching (T6) and white plastic polyethylene mulching (T7) were tested. The most widely sown variety, NK-621 (120 days) was used as the tested variety. Different mulching materials showed higher plant height and SPAD value than no mulching whereas rice straw mulching (T2) was highest at both locations. At three sampling times, the highest LAI was achieved from rice straw mulching (T2) at Yezin. At Yamenthin, the maximum LAI (2.19) was recorded from rice straw mulching at maximum growth stage (MGS), LAI (2.71) observed from maize stover mulching (T4) at tasseling stage (TS) and LAI (2.00) achieved from white plastic polyethylene mulching (T7) at grain filling stage (GFS). The maximum crop growth rate (CGR) (13.31 gm-2day-1) was achieved from rice straw mulching (T2) at Yezin and (14.19 gm-2day-1) at Yamenthin. Soil moisture content and weed infestation were significantly different among different mulching materials at two locations. White plastic polyethylene mulching and rice straw mulching were observed as the most suitable for soil moisture content and minimal weed infestation. According to the results, rice straw mulching is the best in all parameters among the treatments for Yezin and Yamenthin areas.

Effects of Different Mulching Materials on the Grain Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Maize in the North China Plain

Mulches combined with drip irrigation techniques have been widely applied in China for higher yield and water use efficiency (WUE). To develop an efficient strategy that can improve maize yield and save water in the North China Plain (NCP), we conducted a two-year field experiment, using transparent plastic film mulching (T), black plastic film mulching (B), and straw mulching (S) and non-mulching (N) for spring maize in 2019 and summer maize in 2020, and high drip irrigation amount (H) and low drip irrigation amount (L) were also considered in 2019. We mainly studied the effects of mulches on soil water content, soil temperature, crop growth rate, grain yield, and water use efficiency (WUE). The results indicated that T and B treatment increased soil water content (SWC) and topsoil temperature. The T treatment promoted the growth rate significantly more than N treatment, by 27.7–43.4% at the early stage in two years. The grain yield under TH treatment was significantly (p &lt; 0.05) higher than that of other treatments, by 9.8–17.4% for spring maize in 2019, and significantly (p &lt; 0.05) higher under both TH and BH than under NH, by 8.9% and 4.7% for summer maize in 2020. There was a significant quadratic parabola relationship between ET and grain yield in 2019, and the correlation between SEAT of 0–10 cm soil depth with grain yield or with biomass was positive. These results indicate that the transparent plastic film with high drip irrigation amount treatment (TH) can be recommended for spring maize, and both transparent and black film mulch treatments (TH and BH) can be recommended for summer maize in the NCP.

English

Mulching has been used widely to improve the production capacity of the soil, yield and the quality of wine grapes (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon). However, the ecological mechanisms underlying the mulching materials were not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different mulching materials on soil chemical properties, bacterial community and wine grape quality. Experiments were performed at a grape-yard on the six-year-old wine grape ‘Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet sauvignon. Five kinds of mulching materials include living turfgrass (Grass), living Herba portulacae (Por), inorganic plastic black film (Film), organic chips of wood (Wood), and grape branches (Branch) were applied, while clean tillage (CK) was treated as a control. Soil chemical properties and grape quality indicators were measured. Soil bacterial community diversity was detected using the Illumina Miseq sequencing for the 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 region. Mulching with plastic film, wood chips and Herba portulacae (Por) increased the content of soil organic matter, available N, P and K, total N and P. Film, grass, branch and Por mulching materials improved the content of tannin, anthocyanin, total phenol and titratable acid in grape (p&lt;0.05). Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes were abundant bacteria. Mulching with grape branch and portulacae increased the relative abundance of Gemmatimonadetes and Chloroflexi phylum, Gemmatimonadaceae family, and decreased Micrococcaceae family and Pseudarthrobacter genus. Mulching with living, organic, or inorganic changed chemical properties and grape quality indicators. These changes might be correlated with the altered soil bacterial community diversity and richness. © 2022 Friends Science Publishers

The Effect of Different Mulching Materials on the Performance of Tomatoes in Dhankuta, Nepal

The Effect of Different Mulching Materials on the Performance of Tomatoes in Dhankuta, Nepal

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT MULCHING MATERIALS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus cv. Bhaktapur local), IN GOKULESHWOR, BAITADI

The experiment titled “Effect of Different Mulching Materials on Growth and Yield of Cucumber” was conducted during March to June 2021 at Gokuleshwor , Baitadi district of Nepal. Cultivar Bhaktapur local was used as principal cultivar for this research. The experiment was done by using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Accordingly, four different mulching material,viz.silver on black polythene mulch, black polythene mulch, rice straw and wheat husk mulch were used as treatment. Each treatment was replicated five times. Un-mulched plot served as control. Results reveals that the application of mulching significiantly influence both growth and yield parameters of cucumber. The broad objectives of this study was to determine the effect of mulching on the growth and yield of cucumber plant. The primary data was obtained through experimental analysis of sample plants of each plot without replacement. Plant height and number of leaves were significantly higher when black polythene mulch was used. Similarly, maximum leaf area was shown in paddy straw mulching at 75 days of transplanting (2318 cm square) . Mulching enhances flower production by 3-4 folds and increases the amount of blooms and fruit per plant. Likewise maximum number of flowers (80.00) and fruit (65.00) were observed in paddy straw mulching. Also highest weight (33.52) and yield (16.76) is seen in paddy straw mulching. And shortest height (977cm) , least number of leaves( 402) and leaf area (1911cm square ) was observed in control at 75 days after transplanting. Due to these mentioned reasons no mulch gave lowest yield per plot. Finding of this experiment thus clearly suggest the benefit of using paddy straw mulch as well as silver and black polythene mulch in cucumber compared to the other common mulching materials.

Effect of Different Mulching Materials on the Growth and Yield of Green Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Nfonta the Western Highlands of Cameroon

Mulching is a common technique used across the world by farmers to especially conserve soil moisture in vegetable production but farmers in Nfonta and the entire western highlands of Cameroon have not practiced the uses of mulching. In this experiment, a randomized complete block designe with 5 treatments and 3 replications was set up to study the effect of elephant grass, saw dust and white plastic as mulching materials on the growth and yield of green bean (Phaseolusvulgaris L.) in Nfonta. Data was collected on plant height; number of leaves per plants, leaf area index and yield of mature pods per plant. Data was analyzed using one way ANOVA from stat graphics centurion xv and means were separation using the Fischer least significant difference (LSD) test at 95% confidence interval. Results showed white plastic, and elephant grass mulches to have significantly (P&amp;lt;0.05) affected the growth and yield of green bean. White plastic mulched plants exhibited the highest growth parameters and subsequently produced the highest yield of 12.00 mature pods per plant with average pod length of 11.97cm and average mature pod weight of 4.22g compared to the other mulch treatments. There were no significant (P&amp;gt;0.05) differences in yield of green bean grown with no mulch (control), saw dust mulch and corn stalk mulch. Corn stalk mulched bean plants produced the lowest yield of 7.83 mature pods per plant with average pod length of 9.17cm and an average mature pod weight of 2.83 which was not much different from that produced by the control. These results call for more investigations to the potentials of white plastic as best mulch material for achieving optimum green beans yield in Nfonta and the entire western highlands of Cameroon.

Influence of different organic mulches on soil hydrothermal and plant growth parameters in potato crop (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Present study was conducted to investigate the effect of different mulching materials on soil hydrothermal environment and plant growth parameters for potato crop at field experimental station of National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur in the humid sub-tropical agro climate of Western Himalayas. The field experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design with four mulching treatments; wheat straw mulch, pine needle mulch, rice straw mulch and no mulch in three replications. An increase in soil moisture retention ranging from 5.14% to 42% was observed depending upon the mulch material and depth of the soil layer in root zone. Mulching also reduced the daily maximum soil temperature up to 3.5ºC with an average temperature reduction of 1-2ºC during the period of tuber formation. Mulching produced beneficial effects on root depth, plant height, leaf area index and tuber yield. Mulching helped to bring about a yield surplus of 1.7-4.4 tonnes ha-1 over unmulched conditions and an increase in water use efficiency which varied from 13.5% in rice straw mulch to 34.9 % inwheat straw mulch.

Effect of Different Types of Mulching on Soil Properties and Tree Growth of Magnolia champaca Planted at the Montane Rainforest in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia

Tropical Montane Cloud Forest (TMCF) is among the most vulnerable habitats to fragmentation, deforestation, and global climate change. A successful restoration program requires a comprehensive understanding of variables influencing seedling efficiency. This study was conducted on Sg. Terla Forest Reserve Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia. In this study, we used a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and measured the Magnolia champaca height, root collar diameter, diameter at breast height, plant survival, root diameter, main root length, lateral root length, root coiling, root direction, and chlorophyll content. The soil samples were taken to study the effect of different mulching materials on soil characteristics. We also measured soil compaction, soil texture, soil colour, soil moisture content, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, total sulphur, available phosphorus, and exchanged potassium. This study indicates that mulching had no significant effect on plant height, diameter breast height, root collar diameter, and chlorophyll content between treatments. Although mulching had a significant effect on root diameter, main root length, and root distributions among treatments while for lateral root length and root:shoot ratio did not show a significant effect among treatments. However, oil palm mulching treatment had a greater effect on plant height, root collar diameter, and diameter at breast height growth, among treatments. Mulching significantly affected soil pH, soil moisture content, total sulphur, and potassium exchange. In contrast, mulching did not significantly affect soil organic carbon, total soil nitrogen, and soil available phosphorus between treatments.

Effect of Nitrogen Levels on Spring Maize in Relation to Mulching Materials in Central Inner Tarai of Nepal

The effect of different mulching materials and varying nitrogen fertilizer levels on growth, yield attributes, and yield of open-pollinated maize variety aiming at yield improvement was studied in inner Terai of Nepal through a field experimentation in 2019. The treatments included were the combinations of three mulching materials, (a) plastic mulch, (b) straw mulch, and (c) no mulching; and four nitrogen levels (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha-1) arranged in a split-plot design with four replications. Data on growth, yield attributes, and yield were taken and analyzed by using R Studio. The higher (p&lt;0.05) heat use efficiency was recorded under plastic mulch and the higher levels of nitrogen application. The number of kernels per cob and thousand kernel weight were higher (p&lt;0.05) in mulch treatments and higher nitrogen levels. Both the barrenness and sterility percentage were higher (p&lt;0.05) for the 0 kg N ha-1 and reduced (p&lt;0.05) by the nitrogen application of ≥100 kg ha-1. Increased tasseling-silking interval increased (p&lt;0.05) the sterility and grain filling duration and increased (p&lt;0.05) the grain yield. Due to the better yield attributes, the grain yield of mulch applied treatments and application of ≥100 kg N ha-1 were higher (p&lt;0.05) than the no mulch and ≤50 kg N ha-1, respectively. The yield was hampered more by barrenness than by sterility. The effect of nitrogen levels on grain yield followed the quadratic relationship; 104 kg and 129-130 kg N ha-1, respectively for no mulch and mulching treatments which are estimated as economic levels of nitrogen fertilizers for open-pollinated spring maize under the central inner Terai environment.

Effect of Different Mulching Materials on Growth and Yield of Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.)

A field experiment was conducted at Bhauratar in Bahudarmai Municipality of Parsa district of Nepal during spring-summer season started from February to May 2018 to assess the effectiveness of different organic and inorganic mulches in modulating the soil environment, growth, performance and yield of okra. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 5 treatments as follows: (1) Control, (2) Black plastic mulch, (3) Rice straw, (4) Saw dust and (5) Transparent White plastic mulch. Each treatment was replicated four times. Seed germination was significantly differed with the type of mulching material used. The highest seed germination percentage (82.00) was recorded from white plastic mulch plot and the lowest germination percentage (63.75) was recorded from control plot. The highest plant height was recorded from white plastic mulch at 30, 45, 60 and 75 DAS than that of other treatments. The highest number of picking (15.5) was recorded from black plastic mulch followed by white plastic mulch (14.25). The maximum fruit length (12.18 cm) was obtained from black plastic mulch and lowest (10.84 cm) was recorded from rice straw mulch. The highest productivity (29.86 Mt/ha) was recorded from black plastic mulch followed by white plastic mulch (25.03 Mt/ha). These findings suggest that plastic mulch causes positive effects on the growth and yield of Okra and maximum yield was obtained from black plastic mulch.

Responses of soil moisture and photosynthetic characteristics to mulching materials and ridge-to-furrow ratios in rapeseed fields in southwest dryland of China

In order to deal with the frequent seasonal drought and improve water use efficiency and crop photosynthetic efficiency in drylands of southwest China, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different mulching materials (common white film, common black film, biodegradable film and no film) and ridge-to-furrow ratios (40 cm:40 cm and 40 cm:80 cm) on soil water storage, as well as photosynthetic characteristics, fluorescence parameters and chlorophyll relative content (SPAD) of rapeseed, with the flat planting as the control. The results showed that the average soil water storage under different mulching materials followed the order: ridge with common black film (BR) ≈ ridge with common white film (WR) ≈ ridge with biodegradable film (BDR) ＞ ridge with no film (NR) ＞ flat planting (FP). Meanwhile, ridge-to-furrow ratios did not affect soil water storage. The net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and fluorescence para-meters (Fm, Fv, Fv/Fm, Fv/Fo, qP and qN) of rapeseed under ridge-furrow with film mulching was higher than those under flat planting. Compared with control, SPAD value was improved by 6.1%, 8.6%, 8.5% and 3.6% under WR, BR, BDR and NR, while instantaneous water use efficiency (IWUE) was increased by 18.3%, 11.4%, 16.3% and 10.4% under those treatments, respectively. Rapeseed yield under BR, WR and BDR was significantly higher than that in control, while NR did not increase yield. The treatment of ridge with common black film + 40 cm:40 cm as ridge-to-furrow ratio could gain the highest economic benefit. Ridge-furrow planting of rainfall harvesting could improve soil moisture, increase crop photosynthetic capacity, and raise yield and economic income in rapeseed fields in drylands of southwest China.

Effect of Different Mulching Materials on Some Growth Parameters of Maize (Zea maysL) and Soil Physicochemical Properties.

Effects of different mulching materials on some growth parameters of maize and its influence on soil physicochemical properties were studied under Igbariamagro-ecology, during the rainy season of May to August 2019. The four types of mulches were laid out in a randomized complete Block design (RCBD), with four treatments and four replications. The four mulching treatments are Black polythene, while polythene, elephant grass, and no mulch, 5t/ha of cow dung manure was added to 18 experimental plots as Blank treatments. The growth, agronomic parameters, and soil physicochemical properties were monitored. Results indicated that elephant grass mulch significantly (P&lt;0.5) increased the number of leaves, plant height, and stem girth when compared with other treatments. The treatments generally increased total porosity compared with the control. Bulk density and dispersion ratio significantly decreased in all treatments. There was a significant increase in aeration porosity. Field capacity and plant available water were significantly increased (p = 0.05). Buffer capacity, cation exchange capacity, and electrical conductivity were significantly increased with the application of treatments (p = 0.05). Particularly striking was the effect of Elephant grass mulch treatment on soil electrical conductivity which induced a 78.4±4.1 increase compared with the control 22.1±1.0. There was no significant increase in soluble cation. Therefore, elephant grass mulch could be applied alternatively in inorganic mulch and inorganic fertilizer for improved maize production.

The Efficacy of Different Mulching Materials in Influencing Growth, Yield, Soil and Quality Parameters of Ginger Cultivated in Low Country Intermediate Zone (IL1) of Sri Lanka

Even though mulching is a well-known fact among cultivators they are seemingly unaware of its contribution to growth and yield of Ginger and its ability to cope with temperature and water stress. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at the Intercropping and Betel Research Station, Narammala to investigate the effect of different mulching materials on growth, yield, quality parameters of Ginger and the soil parameters in the Low country intermediate zone (IL1) of Sri Lanka. The study was also extended to find out the best mulching material for Ginger under certain field conditions. The findings are expected to contribute to eliminate the uncertainty faced by farmers when selecting suitable mulch for Ginger. The mulches tested were straw, gliricidia leaves, coconut leaves, coir dust and polythene. A control treatment was used without the use of mulch. Experiment was carried out as a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Plant and soil parameters were measured at monthly intervals. All the treatments showed better performances than the control treatment which did not use mulch. The maximum number of sprouted plants was obtained in plots mulched with gliricidia. Further, the significantly highest plant height and number of pseudostems per clump were observed in gliricidia mulched plants. Fresh weight and dry weight of rhizomes too followed the similar pattern of measured growth parameters. Plots that did not used mulch recorded the lowest growth rate and yield of Ginger. Soil moisture conservation was significantly higher in the treatments with mulch than the control treatment. Polythene mulch was more effective for conserving of soil moisture than other mulches. However, all the soil parameters significantly contributed to the highest yield of Ginger in Gliricidia mulch treatment. The pungency level of Ginger was significantly higher in the control treatment. In this study gliricidia mulch positively contributed to increase the yield of Ginger (43.66% per hectare) more than the average yield denoted by DEA. Keeping the above facts in view, gliricidia proved to be the best mulch for Ginger cultivation in the low country intermediate zone (IL1) of Sri Lanka. Therefore, the results of this study will help the farmers to use the correct mulch to get significantly higher yield.