Leaf Mulch Research Articles

Optimizing Soil Moisture, Mulching, and Spacing for Yield and Water Productivity in Irrigated Elephant Foot Yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius)

Aims: To standardize crop spacing and irrigation requirements under different mulching situation for better yield and water productivity. Study Design: The experiment was designed in RBD with two replications. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at Agronomic Research Station, Kerala Agriculture University (KAU), Chalakudy for three consecutive years from 2016 -17, 2017 – 18 and 2018 – 2019. Methodology: Study conducted with 18 treatments, includes three levels of irrigation, three types of mulching and with two different crop spacing. Observations on weed count and weed dry matter production were also taken to study the effect of different mulches on weed growth. Biometric observations of crop growth and yield were recorded. Results: Observations on biometric characters revealed that both the height and diameter of the crop canopy were significantly influenced by mulching and found to be highest in the plot where leaf was used as the mulching material and the yield of Amorphophallus during 2016 - 2017 showed that corm weight was greatly influenced by irrigation levels, mulching and spacing. Corm yield was lowest in the plot where irrigation frequency was once in three days (21.02 t/ha). Yield in leaf mulched plot was 38.11 t/ha while in plastic mulched and no mulched plots were 23.50 and 19.50 t/ha. Effect of treatments on water productivity and BC ratio showed that leaf mulching of the crop has significant effect. In leaf mulched plot, water productivity in 2016-17 was 2.03 while it was only 1.854 and 0.886 in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Similarly, BC ratio was highest for leaf mulched plot followed by no mulch and plastic mulch plot. Conclusion: The experimental results from 2016 -17, 2017 – 18 and 2018 – 2019, showed that Amorphophallus planted at a spacing of 90 cm x 90 cm, irrigated at a frequency of once in three days along with leaf mulching can increase the yield and water productivity along with effective control of weed population.

Mulching tree leaves improve the growth, yield, and yield components of hybrid maize

The experiment was carried out at the Agroforestry Farm, Department of Agroforestry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh from November 2019 to March 2020 to assess the impact of tree leaf mulching on the growth, yield attributes, and yield of maize. The study used a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications and six treatments. These treatments were: T0=Control (no mulch), T1=Akashmoni (Acacia auriculiformis) tree leaf mulch, T2=Segun (Tectona grandis) tree leaf mulch, T3=Kalo koroi (Albizia lebbeck) tree leaf mulch, T4=Jhau (Casuarina equisetifolia) tree leaf mulch, and T5=Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) tree leaf mulch. The results showed that the Kalo koroi tree leaf mulch (T3) led to the highest values for various parameters such as plant height, number of effective tillers per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf diameter, number of cobs per plant, length, and diameter of cob, the weight of single cob, number of grains per cob, grain weight per cob, 100-grain weight, and grain yield of maize (221.18 cm, 0.93, 17.29, 79.26 cm, 7.30 cm, 4.18, 1.70, 21.11 cm, 6.08 cm, 212.12 g, 453.85 g, 138.91 g, 30.60 g, and 11.81 t/ha). Conversely, the lowest values were obtained in the control (T0) (no mulch), followed by T2 and T1 treatments (209.39 cm, 0.37, 12.5, 72.48 cm, 4.62 cm, 1.50, 15.03 cm, 4.44 cm, 202.19 g, 421.56 g, 111.55 g, 26.46 g, and 8.35 t/ha). Among the various tree leaf mulch treatments, it was found that the Kalo koroi tree leaf mulch performed better for vegetative growth, yield, and yield-contributing attributes in maize compared to the no mulch treatment. Therefore, it was suggested that tree leaf mulches could be a potential alternative to traditional mulches in maize cultivation. Res. Agric. Livest. Fish. Vol. 11, No. 2, August 2024: 205-214

PENGARUH PENGGUNAAN BERBAGAI JENIS MULSA ORGANIK DAN ANORGANIK TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN DAN PRODUKSI BAWANG MERAH (Allium ascalonicum L.) DI DATARAN RENDAH

This research was carried out in Alaulangkara Hamlet, Laerung Village, Majauleng District, Kab. Wajo. This research was conducted from May 2022 to August 2022. This study aimed to determine the effect of various types of organic and inorganic mulch on the growth and production of shallots in the Lowlands (Allium ascalonicum L.). This research was conducted in a randomized block design (RAK) with M0 (control), M1 (banana leaf mulch), M2 (straw mulch), M3 (alang-alang mulch), M4 (plastic mulch), and M5 (sack mulch). ). Each experiment contained six treatments, then repeated three times, so that in total there were 18 research units. The results of this study concluded that the use of black plastic mulch gave the most effect on plant height, number of leaves, number of tillers, weight of tuber beds and weight of tubers per hectare.

Performance of tree leaf mulch compared with traditional mulch on potato growth, yield, and weed infestation

A field experiment was conducted at the Agroforestry Farm under the Department of Agroforestry at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, from November 2019 to February 2020. The aim was to assess and compare the performance of tree leaf mulching with traditional mulching materials on potato cultivar Diamant growth, yield, and weed dynamics. Diamant. The experiment followed a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications and seven different treatments: T0= Control (no mulch), T1= Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) mulch, T2= Akashmoni (Acacia auriculiformis) tree leaf mulch, T3= Minjiri (Cassia siamea) tree leaf mulch, T4= Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp) tree leaf mulch, T5= Sada koroi (Albizia procera) tree leaf mulch, T6= Kalo koroi (Albizia lebbeck) tree leaf mulch. There were 21 plots (7 treatments with 3 replications), each measuring 1.5 m × 1.5 m. Ten plants from each plot were randomly chosen to collect data on potatoes' vegetative and reproductive characteristics and weed parameters such as the type of weed species and the number of weeds. The results indicated that Akashmoni tree leaf mulch (T2)obtained the highest values for potato growth characteristics, while the control treatment (T0) showed the lowest values. The highest yield of potato tuber (18.66 t/ha) was obtained from treatment T2, while the control treatment (T0) yielded the lowest (14.08 t/ha). Treatment T2had the lowest average number of weed species (2.33), whereas treatment T0had the highest (4.33). Based on these findings, it appears that tree leaf mulch may be a viable alternative to traditional mulches in potato fields, while also helping to reduce weed infestation. Therefore, it is suggested that the tree leaf mulch used in this study could be beneficial for mulching in potato cultivation.

Effect of Date of Sowing and Leaf Mulching on Growth Attributes of Mung Bean under Custard Apple (Annona squamosa L.) Based Agri-Horti System

A field study was carried out to evaluate the effects of date of sowing (24 July, 4 August, 14 August and 24 August) and leaf mulching (0 ton ha-1 and 5 ton ha-1) on growth of mungbean in Factorial Randomized Block Design replicated thrice. The growth attributed as plant height, number of trifoliate leaf/plant number of nodule/plant dry matter accumulation /plant were found significantly higher on 4 August sowing as comparison to other dates of sowing. All the growth attributes found significantly higher with the application of mulch 5 t/ha over o t/ha. The interaction of sowing on 4 August and application of 5 t/ha mulch were found more over other treatments in dry matter /plant and no. of nodule /plant. In nutshell, sowing on 4 August along with the application of 5 ton mulch/ha in mungbean was found good under custard apple based agri-horti system in Vindhyan region.

Short-term effects of tillage and leaf mulch on soil properties and sunflower yield under semi-arid conditions

A study was conducted at the University of Venda Experimental Farm, Limpopo province, South Africa to determine the effects of tillage and mulching on selected soil properties, and yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications during the 2018/19 and 2019/20 cropping seasons. Treatments consisted of conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) and three levels of avocado leaf mulch (0, 6 and 12 t/ha). Bulk density (BD), aggregate stability (AS), infiltration rate (IR), soil water content (SWC) and grain yield were determined. Tillage had no significant effect on BD in either season but influenced SWC and sunflower grain yield. CT recorded a significantly higher AS than MT during 2018/19 cropping season. Tillage × mulch interaction was significant during 2018/19 season with CT at 12 t/ha mulch recording higher AS than the MT. IR was significantly influenced by tillage × mulch interaction in both seasons with MT recording higher IR than the CT during 2018/19. Avocado mulch had no significant effect on sunflower grain yield in either season but influenced SWC in 2019/20 season. It was concluded that avocado mulch could be a relevant component of conservation agriculture but long-term studies are needed to validate the benefits observed in this study.

Soil erosion control from trash residues at varying land slopes under simulated rainfall conditions.

Trash mulches are remarkably effective in preventing soil erosion, reducing runoff-sediment transport-erosion, and increasing infiltration. The study was carried out to observe the sediment outflow from sugar cane leaf (trash) mulch treatments at selected land slopes under simulated rainfall conditions using a rainfall simulator of size 10 m × 1.2 m × 0.5 m with the locally available soil material collected from Pantnagar. In the present study, trash mulches with different quantities were selected to observe the effect of mulching on soil loss reduction. The number of mulches was taken as 6, 8 and 10 t/ha, three rainfall intensities viz. 11, 13 and 14.65 cm/h at 0, 2 and 4% land slopes were selected. The rainfall duration was fixed (10 minutes) for every mulch treatment. The total runoff volume varied with mulch rates for constant rainfall input and land slope. The average sediment concentration (SC) and sediment outflow rate (SOR) increased with the increasing land slope. However, SC and outflow decreased with the increasing mulch rate for a fixed land slope and rainfall intensity. The SOR for no mulch-treated land was higher than trash mulch-treated lands. Mathematical relationships were developed for relating SOR, SC, land slope, and rainfall intensity for a particular mulch treatment. It was observed that SOR and average SC values correlated with rainfall intensity and land slope for each mulch treatment. The developed models' correlation coefficients were more than 90%.

Effect of Mulching and Amount of Water on the Yield of Tomato under Furrow Irrigation

Maintaining optimal soil water content through the growing season of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) is required for optimal plant yield and yield components especially in semi arid regions. However, there is limited information on optimum water management practices, or deficit irrigation that would increase tomato crop yield and yield components when irrigation is used. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of mulch and amount of water on the yield of tomato under furrow irrigation system and to assess the potential of deficit irrigation to improve the economic efficiency of tomato production at Pawe Agricultural Research Center, during 2020/2021 cropping season. A factorial combination of four levels of water (namely 50% ETc, 75% ETc, 100% ETc and 125% ETc) combined with three mulch treatments (namely without mulch, dry elephant grass mulch and dry banana leaf mulch) were arranged in randomized complete block design replicated three times. Interaction effects of amount of water and mulching materials significantly affected fruit length, fruit diameter, marketable and total fruit yield. Number of fruits and average of fruit weight were significantly affected by amount of water. Significant difference was also shown among mulch treatments on number of fruits and average fruit weight. The highest net benefit (428, 195.60 birr ha-1) and marginal rate of return (1318%) were obtained from the combination of 75% ETc amount of irrigation and elephant grass mulch. Therefore, application of 75% ETc with grass mulch was found to be economically and agronomically feasible and is recommended for Pawe and its surrounding and other similar agro-ecologies under furrow irrigation system.

Effect of legume leaf mulch and fertilizer on soil quality and rice yield for small scale production

Organic mulching especially of legumes is an important agroecological practice to improve soil health and crop productivity. Besides, it may combat with different stress conditions of hilly soils and may add economic advantage to the small farmers. This paper attempted to study the effect of Flemingia leaf mulch and NPK application on soil's physico-chemical and biological properties, and small-scale rice productivity. Upland rice seeds were sown in polypots filled with garden soils treated with 3 doses (5, 8 and 10 tons/ha) of Flemingia leaf mulch with NPK (6:4:4 ratio) to evaluate their influence on soil enzymes and crop productivity. The incorporation of leaf mulch brought a significant increase in soil pH, Ca, Av P, and Av K, while it resulted in a decrease in Mg. However, no significant change was observed in soil organic carbon and soil moisture by the combined application of mulch and NPK. Application of NPK increased ACP, DHY, and URE. While there was an increase in DHY and URE with an increase dose of mulch, ACP, however, decreased with increase dose of mulch. The combined application of mulch and NPK resulted in all biological parameters except straw yield, however, with an increasing dose of mulch, the economic yield of rice increased.The study recommended the application of legume leaf mulch (10 tons/ha) with NPK (6:4:4) for optimal rice yield and better soil health.

Community Shade Tree Leaves: Beneficial Uses for Agriculture

Every autumn an abundance of leaves from various species of shade trees [e.g., oak (Quercus sp.), maple (Acer sp.)] are collected from urban landscapes. In 1988, shade tree leaves were banned from landfills and combustion facilities in New Jersey because it was an unsustainable practice. Composting and mulching leaves and using them as a resource was proposed. The purpose of this review is to summarize studies of mulching and amending soils with shade tree leaves and their potential to benefit agricultural production. Research sponsored by New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station on soils and crops found that land application of shade tree leaves was beneficial for building soil organic matter content, protecting against erosion, and controlling weeds when used as a mulch. In general, crop yields and quality were improved with leaf mulch. Collected shade tree leaves on average have a relatively high carbon-to-nitrogen (N) ratio and the potential to cause a temporary deficiency of soil N availability. However, with good agronomic practices and well-timed N fertilization, crops perform well after shade tree leaves have been applied without increasing the recommended N fertilizer application rate.

Effects of Legumes Tree Leaf Mulch Placement and N-Mineralization on Maize Productivity in a Tropical Rainforest Area

Nutrient depletion in the rainforest area is a land use constraint that needs urgent attention. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of legumes tree leaf mulch placement and N-mineralization on maize productivity in a rain forest area. Three common indigenous nitrogen-fixing leguminous trees (Albizia ferruginea, Albizia zygia and Spondias mombin) were randomly selected around the experimental site. Fifty (50g) of freshly collected leaves from these species were bulked and weighed into 20cm x 25cm litter bags. Three litter bags were placed above-ground and three below-ground (5cm deep) at three replicates per treatment. Maize was planted at a spacing of 90cm x 30cm. Fresh samples of each mulch were applied in a ring form to the three selected plant per plot in above-ground and below-ground (5cm deep) pattern two weeks after planting. The results showed that Albizia ferruginea had the highest percentage nitrogen (5.49%) and Spondias mombin had the lowest (3.49%). The percentage calcium composition of Albizia ferruginea and Albizia zygia was the same order of magnitude (0.22%), while that of Spondias mombin was 0.16%. The decomposition rate of the samples was highest in Spondias mombin with the lowest remaining weight of 2.92g and 3.16g in above and below ground litter bags respectively at week 10. Albizia ferruginea leaf had the highest nitrogen mineralization of 61.59% at above ground placement and Spondias mombin had the lowest of 52.18%. Nitrogen mineralization in the below ground placement was highest in Spondias mombin (67.32%) and lowest in Albizia zygia (40.39%). Generally, the above ground mulch placement decomposed faster than the below ground mulch placement at week 10. Albizia zygia was found to have outstanding performance on the height, girth and yield of maize. It is therefore recommended to poor resource farmers to allow Albizia zygia to thrive in and around their farms so that the leaves could be used as mulch for crop production.

Environmental Contribution of Community Forests For Food Production With Agroforestry Patterns

Application of agroforestry systems in Indonesia through production forest programs in Java. Impact on the use of the production forest land. This research aims to present a variety of positive and negative effects on the use of production forest land for agricultural production in agroforestry systems. Agroforestry activities certainly have both positive and negative impacts on the primary production of forestry, the environment, and the income of communities living around the forest. Positive effects include: Increasing land productivity/value-added, accelerating the growth of primary production, providing short and medium-term income, reducing the risk of forest fires ,Opening up forest fires.Employment opportunities, Improving the environment and biodiversity, reducing global warming, producing dry leaf mulch, and increasing people's income. The negative impact of agroforestry patterns is the tendency of agroforestry farmers to extend the farming time by disrupting primary production

Exploring the optimisation of mulching and irrigation management practices for mango production in a dry hot environment based on the entropy weight method

Rational application of field-management technology can not only improve mango (Mangifera indica L.) fresh fruit yield and quality but also improve irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE). However, few studies have involved the simultaneous use of mulch and irrigation-management techniques in hot and dry environments to achieve a relatively good level of performance. We used the entropy weight method (EWM) to explore an optimal mulching and irrigation-management technology for mango production in a dry hot environment. Three irrigation levels [FI, 100% mango evapotranspiration (ETC); DI75, 75% ETC; DI50, 50% ETC] were designed with (SM) and without (NM) sugarcane leaf mulching in 2018 and 2019 in a dry hot environment. The results showed that the photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, leaf water-use efficiency, and carboxylation efficiency in the SM treatment were 12.5% to 83.7% higher than those in the NM treatment in both years. Compared with the NM treatment, the SM treatment increased the fresh fruit yield and IWUE by 45.7% and 49.7% in 2018 and by 46.1% and 63.2% in 2019. The solid-to-acid ratio and sugar-to-acid ratio in the SM treatment were 48.5% and 50.4% higher than those in the NM treatment, respectively, but the titratable acid content decreased by 31.3%. Compared with FI, DI75 increased carotenoid content, total soluble solids, solid-to-acid ratio and sugar-to-acid ratio by 8.4%–40.7%, while it reduced titratable acid by 22.8%. Compared with FI, DI50 reduced fresh fruit yield by 24.3% and 21.9% in 2018 and 2019, respectively, while it increased IWUE by 13.6% and 17.7%. The fresh fruit yield of SMDI75 was the highest, which was 1.42 and 1.44 times that of NMFI in both years, respectively. A comprehensive evaluation by EWM also showed that the SMDI50 treatment had the highest comprehensive scores of mango yield, quality and water-use efficiency, which could provide a basis for the scientific management of mango fertiliser in dry and hot areas of China.

Effect of land configurations and Pongamia mulch on soil moisture content and yield of yellow pericarp sorghum during kharif

The present work aims to determine the effect of land configurations and Pongamia pinnata mulch on soil moisture content and yield of yellow sorghum during kharif, 2018-19 on sandy clay loam soils of Hyderabad. The experiment was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. The treatments included land configurations (Flatbed, Ridge and furrow, Broad bed and furrow, Flatbed + Mulch, Ridge and Furrow + Mulch, Broad bed and furrow + Mulch) and yellow sorghum genotypes (PYPS 101, PYPS 102, PYPS 103 and PYPS 104). Mulch used in this investigation was Pongamia leaf mulch applied @ 6 t ha-1 uniformly at 20 DAS. Soil moisture played a vital role in increasing crop yields in the rainfed regions of the semi-arid tropics. During most crop growth stages, the availability of soil water was increased by Broad bed and furrow + mulch, resulting in increased grain yield by 37 % (1701 kg ha-1) of yellow sorghum over flatbed. Ridge and furrow + mulch were found to be the next best treatment, with a grain yield of 1590 kg ha-1. Mulched treatments of flatbed, ridge and furrow and broad bed and furrow increased the grain yield by 20%, 28% and 37%, respectively, compared to flatbed without mulch. The present study will help in recognizing profitable moisture conservation practices and the role of Pongamia mulch in soil moisture conservation and yield maximization of yellow sorghum.

Produção orgânica de quiabo variando coberturas de solo e turnos de rega

<p>The objective of this study was to study the effects of different materials on mulching in combination with irrigation shifts on okra growth and yield. The experiment was carried out in campus II of Paraíba State University, located in Lagoa Seca (PB), it considered four soil mulches (without mulch, banana mulch sheath, bamboo leaf mulch and plastic tarpaulin) and three watering shifts (24, 48 and 72 hours) and used a randomized block design with four replications in a factorial scheme, totalyzing 48 experimental plots, from March to August 2016. Growth variables and production components were evaluated. We had positive effects of soil cover on water saving. The most efficient coverings were white canvas and bamboo leaves, resulting in greater water savings in okra cultivation without harming plant production. It is important to highlight, however, the absence of significant effect related to irrigation shifts on okra development and production, due to the occurrence of rainfall during the period in which the experiment occurred</p>

Phytotoxic Effect of Macerates and Mulches from Cupressus leylandii Leaves on Clover and Cress: Role of Chemical Composition

The use of plant secondary metabolites is an attractive strategy to control weeds. In this work, cypress (Cupressus leylandii) leaves were collected and tested as aqueous macerates or mulches for their ability to control seed germination and seedling growth of Trifolium repens and Lepidium sativum. Leaves were collected on trees facing the north (S) or facing the sun (L). The rate of seed germination measured on sand was drastically slowed down by the cypress leaves after 8 d of maceration, reaching inhibition of >85% compared to the control at 7 d post-imbibition (dpi). Analysis of macerates by UHPLC-MS revealed the presence of organic acids, phenols, and sugars in amounts increasing with maceration time and the phytotoxic effect. A 5 cm layer of cypress leaf mulch also significantly reduced (p < 0.001) the rate of seedling appearance of Lepidium sativum measured on potting soil compared to the control. Mulches prepared using L leaves were more efficient than those prepared with S leaves (p = 0.0029). Analysis of ethanolic extracts of leaves by mass spectrometry (MS) coupled to liquid (UHPLC) or gas chromatography (GC) showed the presence of a variety of monoterpenes, monoterpenoids, and diterpenoids with a labdane backbone. They were all more concentrated in mulches prepared with L leaves than those prepared with S leaves, in particular diterpenoids, which were about 10-fold more concentrated. However, the identification of phytotoxic components needs further research. It is concluded that due to their phytotoxic properties, Cupressus leylandii leaves could be used as mulch or macerate for target treatment of weedy areas.

Compost and Black Polyethylene Mulches Improve Spring Production of Romaine Lettuce in Southern New England

Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is the most popular leafy vegetable in the United States. Organic and synthetic mulch materials are applied by farmers to reduce their weeding expenditures, manage soil temperatures, and increase the yield and quality of their crops. This study examined the impacts of using black polyethylene, compost, and shredded leaves as surface mulches in spring open field romaine lettuce by using data regarding the soil temperature, lettuce growth, and yield parameters. Mulch treatments were compared to determine effects on soil temperature, lettuce growth rates, leaf area index (LAI), yield, and plant size. Experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2019. Soil temperatures were slightly (but significantly) warmer in 2019, the plants grew more rapidly, and LAI, yield, and plant size were all significantly greater than they were in 2017. Mean soil temperatures were 18.0 and 18.9 °C in black polyethylene mulched plots, 17.7 and 18.5 °C in compost, 17.5 and 17.0 °C in bare ground, and 16.9 and 17.3 °C in shredded leaf plots in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Changes in canopy size presented a similar trend over the growing season for all treatments; shredded leaf and bare ground treatments on all measuring dates had the smallest canopy size, and compost and black polyethylene mulches had the largest canopy sizes. Black polyethylene and compost mulches had the highest LAI and yields in both years. In 2017, the bare ground treatment was similar to black polyethylene and compost mulch treatments for both parameters, and all three treatments were significantly greater than the shredded leaf mulch treatment. In 2019, the bare ground treatment was similar to the shredded leaf mulch treatment and significantly lower than the black polyethylene and compost mulch treatments. In 2017, black polyethylene and compost mulches had LAI of 7.67 and 7.37 and yields of 6.38 and 6.68 kg·m−2, respectively. Bare ground had an LAI of 7.16 and yielded 5.94 kg·m−2. Shredded leaf mulch plots had the lowest LAI (5.94) and yield (4.96 kg·m−2). In 2019, the bare ground treatment had an LAI of 7.5 and yielded 7.6 kg·m−2. Black polyethylene and compost mulches increased LAI by 1.7. Yield increased by 2.8 kg·m−2 with black polyethylene mulch and by 2.4 kg·m−2 with compost mulch. Shredded leaf mulch produced LAI and yield similar to but slightly lower than bare ground. Dry weight, plant height, and head diameter in bare ground and shredded leaf mulch treatments were significantly smaller than in black polyethylene and compost mulch treatments. The cultivar rank order was consistent across treatments in both years; ‘Ridgeline’ grew significantly faster than ‘Coastal Star’, and plants were significantly larger at harvest. Black polyethylene suppresses weeds and increases soil temperatures, thereby enhancing yields of spring-to-summer romaine lettuce under southern New England conditions. Compost mulch has similar effects on yields. Shredded leaf mulch is effective at suppressing weeds but decreases soil temperatures and yields.

Pengaruh Jenis Mulsa dan Dosis Bokashi Terhadap Pertumbuhan Cabai Rawit (Capsicum frutescens L.)

This research is about the effect of mulch type and bokashi dose on the growth of chili. This study aims to determine: (1) the effect of mulch type on the growth of chili, (2) the effect of bokashi dose on the growth of chili, (3) the effect of the interaction of mulch type and bokashi dose on the growth of chili. This research used factorial design consisting of 2 factors. The first factor is the type of mulch which consists of 3 types of mulch namely black silver plastic mulch, rice straw mulch and dry leaf mulch. The second factor is the dose of bokashi which consists of 6 levels, namely: Po = without giving bokashi (control), P1 = giving 0.4 kg bokashi, P2 = giving 0.8 kg bokashi, P3 = giving 1.2 kg of bokashi, P4 = giving 1.6 kg of bokashi and P5 = giving 2.0 kg of bokashi. Growth parameters measured were stem height, leaf blade length, leaf blade width and wet weight of chili stems. Data analysis was performed by analysis of variance. The results showed that: (1) mulch type significantly affected stem height, stem wet weight, leaf blade length and leaf blade width, silver black plastic mulch gave better results than other mulches, (2) The dose of organic fertilizer significantly affected height stem, stem wet weight and leaf blade length but not significantly affect leaf blade width, (3) interaction of mulch type and bokashi dose did not significantly affect stem height, stem weight, stem length, leaf blade length and leaf blade width

The Use of Reflective Mulch in Soybean-Oil Palm Intercropping System

Demand for soybean is increasing nowadays as it provides a high nutrition food at affordable price. To fulfill the demand, an intercropping system of soybean-oil palm may increase the production of soybean. However, shading by the oil palm canopy would reduce the amount of radiation reaching the soil surface. Theoritically, application of reflective mulches may increase the amount of solar radiation intercepted by the shaded plants, hence it gives a positive effect for plant growth. The study aimed to analyze the effect of an increased radiation transmission with reflective mulch on the growth and development of soybean under an intercropping system with 4-year olds oil palm. The experiments were carried out on PT. Perkebunan Nusantara VIII located in Cimarga District, Lebak Regency, from March to June 2018. There were three treatments based on mulch application, namely soil without mulch (R0), soil with black silver plastic mulch (R1), and soil with dry palm oil leaf mulch (R2). The results showed that a canopy of 4-year-olds oil palm transmitted around 42% of an incoming radiation. The use of mulch as radiation reflector has a positive effect on an increased interception of solar radiation and potential productivity. Under R1 and R2 treatments, intercepted radiation was 25% and 15% larger than that of R0. In addition, mulch increased radiation use efficiency (RUE) by 2.3 times under R1 (1.6 g/MJ) and 1.7 times under R2 (1.2 g/MJ). The potency of productivity also increased (1.48 and 1.42 times higher under R1 and R2, respectively). The finding confirmed that mulch application did not affect the plant development in any treatment. Furthermore, we suggest that an intercropping system of soybean and 4-year-olds oil palm may be applied to increase the soybean production in Indonesia.

Effects of Different Types and Dosage of Green Mulch on Yield and Quality of Aloe vera L. on Coastal Sandy Soil

A complete content of chemical substance from Aloe vera leaf makes this plant has many functions such as the ingredient of functional food for health, cosmetics, and herbal medicines. This research was aimed to determine the yield and quality of Aloe vera L. on various types and rates of green mulch in coastal sandy soil. The research was conducted in coastal sandy soil of Poncosari Srandakan, Bantul, Yogyakarta and done in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) of two factors with three replications. The first factor was four types of green mulch (shrimp evergreen, cashew, acasia and gliricidia). The second factor was various rate of green mulch consisted of three levels rates of leave mulch (5.0, 10.0, and 15.0 tons ha-1). Soil without mulching was used as a control treatment. The variables observed were yield at the first harvest time and leaf content quality which includes water, protein, fat, carbohydrate, ash, fiber, and mineral (Ca, Fe and Zn). The results showed that there was interaction between types and rates of leave mulch in all variables observed. Gliricidia leaf mulch gave the best effect with optimum rate about of 10 ton ha-1. The effectiveness of green mulch abilities on improving the observed variables from higher order to low was gliricidia, acasia, cashew and shrimp-type evergreen with the rate range between 10 up to 15 tons ha-1.