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Effect of mulching on crop production under rainfed condition -A review

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Abstract

Mulching is an agricultural and horticultural technique in which the use of organic is involved. This technique is very useful in protecting the roots of the plants from heat, cold. Mulch is used to cover soil surface around the plants to create congenial condition for the growth. This may include temperature moderation, reduce salinity and weed control. It exerts decisive effects on earliness, yield and quality of the crop. Mulching is also applicable to most field crops. However, it is preferred in fruit orchard, flower and vegetable production, nurseries and forest where frequent cultivation is not required for raising the crops. Black plastic mulch is most commonly used in agriculture. Clear plastic mulch is used in some areas due to its increased soil warming characteristics. Research has shown that white or aluminum reflective mulch also repels aphids which spread some virus diseases in vine crops such as squash. So, mulching can be effective change in increasing horticultural crop production in water scarcity regions.

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... Ranjan et al. (2017) stated that organic mulches degrade quickly and are only useful for a short time. Bhardwaj (2013) specified that organic mulches (straw, animal manures, leaf mould, mushroom spent etc) after decomposition helps in adding nutrients into the soil and ultimately improve the growth and yield of crop. They also enhance 361 Pantnagar Journal of Research [Vol. ...
... With respect to dry weed biomass minimum dry weed biomass at 30 DAP (18.60 g m -2 ), 60 DAP (15.60 g m -2 ), 90 DAP (8.45 g m -2 ) and 120 DAP(5.74 g m -2 ) were recorded from the plots mulched with black polythene mulch 50 µ while, maximum dry weed biomass at 30 DAP (81.31 g m -2 ), 60 DAP (62.18 g m -2 ), 90 DAP (28.33 g m -2 ) and 120 DAP (28.53 g m -2 ) were found in T 1 (control). Mulching provides a physical barrier; it reduces the germination and nourishment of many weeds (Bhardwaj, 2013). The high efficacy of black polythene mulch may be due to non-penetration of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). ...
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The present field study was conducted to investigate the influence of diverse mulching materials on soil moisture, weed biomass, and the vegetative and floral attributes of chrysanthemum cultivar Pusa Shwet. Among the various mulch treatments, plants grown in plots covered with black polyethylene exhibited the most favorable outcomes, including the tallest plants (87.37 cm), the maximum number of primary branches per plant (12.13), the highest number of leaves per plant (602.66), the greatest plant spread (44.34 cm), and the largest leaf area (18.17 cm2). Notably, the floral characteristics of these plants also surpassed the others, with the earliest days to bud appearance and flowering(78.60 and 106.13 days, respectively), the maximum flowering duration (41.46 days), the largest flower diameter (7.64 cm), the heaviest individual flower weight (3.00 g), the longest cut spray length (53.11 cm), the highest number of flowers per plant (135.26), and the longest vase life (19.86 days). Similarly, the plots mulched with black polyethylene displayed the lowest fresh and dry weed biomass, while the spent mushroom compost yielded the maximum soil moisture content, closely followed by the black polyethylene mulch. These findings collectively suggest that the application of black polyethylene mulch is an effective strategy for enhancing the vegetative and floral performance of chrysanthemum cultivar Pusa Shwet, while simultaneously reducing weed growth and maintaining optimal soil moisture levels, thereby contributing to the overall improvement of chrysanthemum cultivation. Key words: Chrysanthemum, organic mulch, inorganic mulch, soil moisture, weed biomas
... Symbiotic parameters were significantly better under conservation tillage treatments (Happy Seeder sowing and Straw Chopper + Zero Tillage sowing) than conventional sowing (Virk et al. 2018). Organic mulch increases biological activity (Sarolia and Bhardwaj 2012) and provides a favorable environment for root penetration (Bhardwaj 2013). ...
... Application of mulch up to 10 t ha −1 year −1 increased the organic matter, improved bulk density, porosity and aggregate stability with increasing mulching rates and also reduced runoff, and soil losses and enhanced the water infiltration compared to bare soil, at 5 t ha −1 year −1 mulching rate (Jordan, Zavala, and Gil 2010). The soil under the mulch remains loose and friable, leading to a suitable environment for root penetration (Bhardwaj 2013) and also increases available nitrogen status and organic carbon with mulching/incorporation of crop residue into soybean/wheat (Jeet et al. 2010). ...
... In plastic mulching, the thickness of mulch film should be in accordance with type and age of crops. Economics suggest that the film thickness should be the minimum possible commensurate with desired life and strength (Sarolia and Bhardwaj, 2012) [3] . At the present, there is lack of information about the thickness of plastic-film mulching with non-flooding conditions. ...
... In plastic mulching, the thickness of mulch film should be in accordance with type and age of crops. Economics suggest that the film thickness should be the minimum possible commensurate with desired life and strength (Sarolia and Bhardwaj, 2012) [3] . At the present, there is lack of information about the thickness of plastic-film mulching with non-flooding conditions. ...
... The beneficial roles of drip irrigation in vegetable production in protected conditions as well as in open field have been well understood in relation to efficient use of water and nutrients by plants and saving of irrigation water rendering less soil moisture in interspaces of crop plants for weed seeds to grow (Dunage et al. 2005, Hakeem andChand 2014). Production system using plastic mulch and drip irrigation commonly referred as plasticulture offers many benefits such as earliness, increased yield and quality, suppressed weed growth, improved irrigation and nutrient efficiency (Ban et al. 2009, Berihun 2011, Hatami et al. 2012, Kumar and Lal 2012, Kwabiah 2004) and soil moisture uniformity in rhizosphere. Plastic mulches have been found to increase soil temperature up to a great extent and therefore, could be more useful particularly in hilly areas where higher soil temperature is desirable for proper activity of root system of crop plants (Annda et al. 2008, Kumar and Lal 2012, Singh and Kamal 2012. ...
... Production system using plastic mulch and drip irrigation commonly referred as plasticulture offers many benefits such as earliness, increased yield and quality, suppressed weed growth, improved irrigation and nutrient efficiency (Ban et al. 2009, Berihun 2011, Hatami et al. 2012, Kumar and Lal 2012, Kwabiah 2004) and soil moisture uniformity in rhizosphere. Plastic mulches have been found to increase soil temperature up to a great extent and therefore, could be more useful particularly in hilly areas where higher soil temperature is desirable for proper activity of root system of crop plants (Annda et al. 2008, Kumar and Lal 2012, Singh and Kamal 2012. In addition to conserving soil moisture, regulating weed population and soil temperature, organic mulches of dried grasses, forest litter or FYM have additional advantage to increase organic matter in the soil (Mishra and Pandey 2009). ...
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Present investigation was conducted in the vegetable research block of Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Ranichauri, Tehri- Garhwal, Uttarakhand during summer seasons 2013 and 2014. The experiments were conducted with Bulam House F1 hybrid of marrow (Cucurbita pepo) under two irrigation systems, drip and basin and by application of three types of mulch materials viz., black polythene (100 μm), white polythene (100μm) and dried grass mulching of 10 cm thickness applied @ 10.0 t/ha alongwith plots having no mulching i.e. bared soil. The experiments were laid out in two factors RBD with five replications. Results indicated that drip irrigation was consistently superior in relation to fruit yield (694.1 q/ha) over traditional system of basin irrigation (594.5 q/ha) in squash or marrow over two years. Mulch application resulted in 44.9-47.2% increase in fruit yield over the unmulched crop. Higher and at par fruit yield was realized by application of dried grass (705.1 q/ha) and black polythene mulches (704.9 q/ha). The interaction two treatment combinations indicated that black and white polythene mulches accompanied with drip irrigation exhibited high and at par fruit yield in marrow (C. pepo) over the years (797.6 q/ha and 788.5 q/ha, respectively) in the temperate hills of Uttarakhand Himalaya
... Mulching is a cultural crop management practice that involves covering the soil surface around plants with organic or inorganic materials that create favorable environment to help prevent growth and establishment of weeds, suppress weeds that have emerged, conserve soil moisture, protect the soil from being eroded and maximize biological activities in the soil thereby improving crop production, fostering plant growth, and reducing water usage [9].Organic mulching materials are those derived from plant and animal matter. They include residues and materials such as straw, hay, grass, compost, sawdust, wood chips and animal manures [10] while inorganic mulches are derived from synthetic materials such as polythene, landscape fabrics and woven polypropylene [11]. Polythene mulch account for the greatest volume of inorganic mulch used in commercial vegetable production and its use is slowly being adopted by small-scale farmers in vegetable production [12]. ...
... Black Polythene mulch is highly recommended for use in high value vegetable crops [14] as it controls most weeds and warms the soil, moderates soil temperature and conserves soil moisture enhancing crop maturity and in turn increasing total yields and significantly reducing losses caused by weeds [15]. A good mulch layer can save many hours and cost of laborious weeding and increase crop productivity [16,17,18,10]. 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 the different mulching materials on weed density. ...
Article
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.
... Polythylene mulches are widely used in the cultivation of vegetables. Weed control, temperature moderation, salinity reduction etc. are the desirable effects of plastic mulching It also exerts decisive effects on earliness, yield and quality of the crop (Raina et al.,1999) [2] ; (Bharadwaj, 2013) [3] The present investigation was carried out to evaluate economics analysis of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. Capitata L.) Under different level of fertigation with and with out mulch black film mulch. ...
... Polythylene mulches are widely used in the cultivation of vegetables. Weed control, temperature moderation, salinity reduction etc. are the desirable effects of plastic mulching It also exerts decisive effects on earliness, yield and quality of the crop (Raina et al.,1999) [2] ; (Bharadwaj, 2013) [3] The present investigation was carried out to evaluate economics analysis of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. Capitata L.) Under different level of fertigation with and with out mulch black film mulch. ...
... (Rashidi and Keshavarzpour, 2011) [24] . Mulching effectively control weeds, decreases nutrient leaching and conserves soil moisture by reducing soil evaporation (Kumar and Lal, 2012) [11] , (Lamont, 2005) [12] . Muskmelons grown with polyethylene mulch resulted in high fruit yields and minimize nitrogen leaching. ...
... (Rashidi and Keshavarzpour, 2011) [24] . Mulching effectively control weeds, decreases nutrient leaching and conserves soil moisture by reducing soil evaporation (Kumar and Lal, 2012) [11] , (Lamont, 2005) [12] . Muskmelons grown with polyethylene mulch resulted in high fruit yields and minimize nitrogen leaching. ...
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Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) also known as nutmeg melon or kharbooj is crop of Cucurbitaceae family. Among the cucurbits, muskmelon is known for its unique flavor and taste. Muskmelon is rich in vitamin A and C. It is composed of 90% water and 9% carbohydrates. Monoecious or andro-monoecious vines are existing in muskmelon crop. Muskmelons grows best in well-drained loamy to sandy loamy texture of soil. The optimum temperature for its growth is 20-25 ℃. Muskmelon is a summer crop can be cultivated in kharif and rabi season. In Maharashtra 1.5 x 0.5 m spacing is recommended for higher yield and quality fruits in open field conditions. is 500-800 g/ha seed of F1 hybrids sufficient for one-hectare muskmelon plantation. Flowering, fruit setting and fruit development are the important crop growth stages for irrigation. Different growth regulators are used for sex modification. 250 ppm ethrel is often recommended to increase number of female flowers. Muskmelon grafting techniques helps in managing Fusarium wilt, soil-borne disease. One cotyledon or splice grafting, Hole insertionand approach grafting are the commonly used grafting methods. For off-season muskmelon cultivation farmers were adopting low plastic tunnel technique. Balance supply of nutrients is necessary for higher fruit yield and quality production. Bioferilizers like azospirillum and phosphobacteria are used in integrated nutrient management system. Fruit is generally ready for harvesting 90 to 110 days after sowing, depending on variety and agro-climatic conditions. Full slip and half slip stage are the harvesting stages for muskmelon. The harvested fruits can be stored for 5-10 days at 5 ℃ temperature and 95 percent relative humidity. Powdery mildew, Downy mildew, Fusarium wilt are the important diseases of muskmelon. Aphid, fruit fly attack can significantly reduce the muskmelon yield.
... This may be because mulching reduces the soil's upper 20 to 30 cm temperature fluctuations. As a result, the planting bed's soil temperature rises, which is beneficial for the plant's base to grow (Sarolia and Bhardwaj, 2012;Bhardwaj et al., 2011;Bijalwan et al., 2022 andShilpa et al., 2022). Maximum curd length was noted in T 2 and minimum in T 5. Wider curd was recorded in red polythene mulch plots (T 2 ), which was statistically at par with black polythene mulched plots (T 1 ) and narrow curd was recorded in nonmulched plots (T 5 ). ...
Article
Background: Cauliflower, cultivated for its curd, an immature inflorescence, is a temperature-sensitive crop. Due to its need for very specific weather patterns for both the transition from vegetative to curd initiation phase and the growth of curd, this crop is highly susceptible to climate change. Due to the plant’s sensitivity to environmental conditions, an experiment was conducted in the mid-hills of the western Himalayas during the rabi season of 2020/21 to assess the impacts of different plastic mulching on yield and its yield-attributing features under polycarbonate. Methods: The experiment included three separate runs and was set up in a randomized block design. Cauliflowers of the ‘’Amazing’’ type were subjected to five different treatments (T1: black polythene mulch, T2: red polythene mulch, T3: silver polythene mulch, T4: yellow polythene mulch and T5: control). Result: Red polythene mulch was the most efficient method of enhancing yield and yield-related traits.
... Kumar et al. (2016) reported that application of mulch recorded higher maize yield as compare to no mulch treatment. Bhardwaj (2013) also reported beneficial effects of mulch on earliness, yield and quality of the crop. Rajput et al. (2014) was recorded highest grain yield with the application of paddy straw mulching and followed by green weed mulch and dust mulch. ...
Article
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A mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of an area of soil. Mulches are used for various reasons in agriculture but water conservation and erosion control are the most important objectives particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Other reasons for use of mulching include soil temperature modification, weed control, soil conservation and after decomposition of organic mulch add plant nutrients, improvement in soil structure, increase crop quality and yield. Conservation of soil moisture by application of mulches becomes essential for profitable cultivation of the crop under rainfed condition of semi-arid ecosystem. In spite of no assured irrigation in these regions, the moisture conservation technique is not in practice. Mulches not only conserve soil moisture but also impart manifold beneficial effects, like suppression of extreme fluctuation of soil temperature and reduction of water loss through evaporation, resulting in more stored soil moisture, maintenance of soil fertility, suppression of weed growth, improvement in growth and yield. The requirement of water through mulch can further be reduced by using locally available organic materials as mulches which not only save irrigation water but also conserves soil moisture.
... Since in Meghalaya, use of inorganic fertilizers are restricted, therefore, organic nutrition from the locally available cheap sources like FYM, composts, poultry and pig manures will substantially help to get optimum productivity while maintaining soil health sustainability in the long run. Weed biomasses (in-situ) as mulching with organic sources also improves the soil physical health (water retention and transmission vs. evaporation losses), supplying plant nutrients on decomposition, improving soil biological activities through beneficial microbes and enzymes and thus, have the potential to increase the yield while helping in overcoming severe form of abiotic stresses (Bhardwaj, 2013). Different researchers have recorded the highest marketable yield of cabbage (Sarker et al., 2003), cauliflower , carrot (Mazed et al. 2015), radish (Zeid et al., 2015), pea ___________________ *Corresponding author: hammylliende@gmail.com ...
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Blending of improve practices with farmer's practice of cultivation of vegetable crops for enhancing sub-optimal productivity was undertaken in a participatory approach in farmer's field covering villages viz., Mawmih, Mawlaiteng, Lawmei and surrounding of East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya. Treatments comprised of mulching with weed biomass, organic manure and combined application of mulching and organic manure, were imposed to find out if there is any improvement on crop productivity as compared to farmer's practices. Results indicated that adoption of such feasible improved intervention increased the productivity by 25.38-25.53 % (cabbage), 33.44-37.85 % (cauliflower), 14.43-16.00 % (French Bean), 6.32-9.81 % (Pea), 13.91-16.03 % (radish) and 30.41-36.22 % (Carrot) as compared to farmer's practice in these difficult terrains of Meghalaya.
... It is also reported that grafted brinjal plastic mulch also gives a higher yield (9) . To produce quality vegetables and also for earliness with better yield use of plastic mulch is a good option (10,11) . Mulching with crop residue like organic mulching is reported to be one of the best options for more yields in crop production likes groundnut and cassava (12,13) . ...
Article
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The utilization of organic fertilizers is currently on the rise to sustain higher food quality while minimizing environmental pollution. Mulching with organic materials maintains soil physical conditions, crucial for realizing a crop’s genetic yield potential even when all other requirements are met. Hence, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of mustard oil cake (MOC), poultry manure (PM) and vermicompost (V) alone and in combination with mulching (Mu) on growth and yield parameters of Tomato. Significant increases were (p ≤ 0.05) observed in plant height, leaf number, leaf area, stem girth, root length and root girth of tomato plants compared to the control (T1), where no fertilizers were applied. At 90 days after transplantation (DAT), the T9 (V8Mu0) treatment resulted in the highest plant height (142 cm) and the longest root length (25 cm) while the maximum quantity of fresh weight (154.63 g plant-1) for tomato plant was obtained from the treatment T6, which received vermicompost at 4 t ha-1 with mulching. Application of poultry manure at the rate of 8 t ha-1 without mulching (T8) resulted in a significant higher number (14 fruits plant-1) of green tomatoes. Fresh weight of green tomatoes were varied significantly (p ≤ 0.05) among the treatments with the maximum fresh weight obtained from the T₉ (128.97 g plant-1) and the minimum from T₁ (12.73 g plant-1) treatments. Nitrogen, P, K, Ca, Mg and S of green tomatoes varied significantly among the treatments. The utmost P, K, S, Ca and Mg contents (0.72, 6.26, 0.23, 0.54 and 0.31 g kg-1, respectively) of green tomatoes were recorded in the treatment T₆ (V₄Mu). Hence, the utilization of organic fertilizers, either alone or in conjunction with mulching, markedly enhanced the growth and yield of the tested vegetable, offering viable strategies for enhancing the yield potential. Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 33(2): 53-65, 2024 (July)
... Mulching plays a crucial role in enhancing water efficiency (Rashidi and Keshavarzpour, 2011). It effectively manages weed growth, reduces nutrient leaching, and preserves soil moisture by mitigating soil evaporation (Kumar and Lal, 2012;Lamont, 2005). ...
... Grafted brinjals with a 25μ plastic mulch thickness have been found to yield higher produce (Rajasekar et al., 2017). Plastic mulch has been shown to enhance fruit to mature earlier, and higher quality of vegetable crops (Raina et al., 1999;Bharadwaj, 2013). ...
Article
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Brinjal; a valuable vegetable, is susceptible to weeds and moisture stress that can hinder growth and yield. Mulching might be a good option to control weeds and moisture to enhance growth and yield. So, an experiment was conducted with five treatments viz. black silver coated mulch (BSCM; 100 gauge), black polythene mulch (BPM; 300 gauge), straw mulch (8 t ha-1), corrugated fiber box mulch (CFBM), and an unmulch group replicated for four times in randomized complete block design at Horticulture Research Station, Pokhara in 2022. Results revealed that BSCM showed the highest marketable yield (23.78 t ha-1) which was statistically similar to straw mulch (20.44 t ha-1) and BPM (19.64 t ha-1) and the lowest (12.1 t ha-1) was observed in the unmulch (12.1 t ha-1). Plant height (134.1 cm), primary root length (40.95 cm), and secondary root numbers (23.25) were observed significantly higher in BPM which was statistically similar (p>0.05) with BSCM and straw mulch. The number of branches (7.325), the fruit length (23.2 cm), and fruit diameter (2.5 cm) were found higher in BSCM. Findings suggested that applying different types of mulching materials can effectively enhance the growth and yield of brinjal.
... Print ISSN : 1974ISSN : -1712 Online ISSN : 2230-732X etc. are efficient in reduction of nitrates leaching, improve soil physical properties, prevent erosion, supply organic matter, regulate temperature and water retention, improve nitrogen balance, take part in nutrient cycle as well as increase the biological activity (Muhammad et al. 2009;Sarolia and Bhardwaj 2012). The effective use of polyethylene and organic mulches was evaluated for improving the growth, yield and quality of the Coorg mandarin (Mustaffa 1989), Assam lemon (Nath and Sharma 1993), Nagpur mandarin (Shirgure et al. 2003) and acid lime (Shirgure 2012). ...
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An experiment was conducted to study the effects of mulching on acid lime during 2014-2015 in Randomized Block Design with 9 treatments and 3 replications. The highest increase on plant height (6.63 %), canopy spread in E-W (9.90 %) and N-S (7.60 %) direction was recorded by polythene mulch with black side facing upward (T 8). The treatment also had a significant influence on yield and yield attributing parameters where T 8 recorded the highest number of fruits per plant (163.0), fruit weight (50.22 g) and fruit yield per plant (7.81 kg) while dry grasses mulch (T 2) recorded highest number of fruits per branch (7.50) and fruit retention (44.71 %). With respect to quality parameters of fruit, T 8 recorded highest total sugar (0.40 %) and reducing sugar (0.61 %) while significant increase on titratable acidity (6.93 %) and ascorbic acid content (33.46 mg/100g) was observed in T 2. Among soil parameters, maximum moisture content (36.06 %) was observed in T 8 while maximum organic carbon (3.11 %), available nitrogen (428.47 kg/ha), phosphorus (45.17 kg/ha) and potassium (575.06 kg/ha) content were recorded by saw dust mulch (T 7). The treatment recorded highest microbial population of bacteria (83.45 × 10 5) in paddy straw mulch (T 4) and fungi (119.34 × 10 5) in rice husk mulch (T 5). The study revealed that T 8 was the most effective with respect to plant growth, fruit yield and quality while T 4 also proves to be the best ideal treatment for improving soil health in acid lime. Highlights m Polythene mulch with black side facing upward is the most effective for improving plant growth, fruit yield and quality m Paddy straw mulch proves to be the best ideal treatment for improving soil health
... Grafted brinjals with a 25μ plastic mulch thickness have been found to yield higher produce (Rajasekar et al., 2017). Plastic mulch has been shown to enhance fruit to mature earlier, and higher quality of vegetable crops (Raina et al., 1999;Bharadwaj, 2013). ...
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Grapes primarily belongs to mediterranean climate but overtime due to successful vine management practices, its cultivation has been extended to sub-tropics and tropics. In Nepal, grape cultivation has been started about 8 decades ago, and the demands of this crop has been increasing every year. However, the critical challenge of heavy rainfall coinciding with the berry harvest period has limited the production window, necessitating innovative solutions. This study explores the potential of grape cultivation in Nepal by assessing significance of hydrogen cyanamide (HC) application to ensure early and uniform budburst and therefore fruit maturity before monsoon. Winter pruning and HC application at 2-5% concentration has been found effective in preponing budburst and maturity in some grapes varieties ‘Steuben’ and ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ in Nepal, but the results depend on date and dose of HC application in particular variety and specific growing condition. Application of HC at 2% concentration has resulted in earlier budburst by about 3 weeks in var. Cabernet Sauvignon in Dhading, Nepal. Also, the earlier treatment of HC and pruning in comparison to normal time of pruning (December 15 to January 15) has resulted in earlier and higher budburst and observed fruitfulness in varieties like ‘Steuben’ and ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ in warm temperate belt of Nepal. Thus, the study concludes the prepone of natural budburst is a must need practice for successful viticulture in terai and mid-hills of Nepal. It also emphasizes the need of more research to optimize the application of HC and ensure its efficacy in advancing budburst and maturity specific to variety and locality. Overall, the findings aim to inspire growers, enhance commercial viability, and contribute valuable insights to the viticulture sector in Nepal. Key words: Budburst, Dormancy, Grapevine, Hydrogen cyanamide, Pre-pone
... The loose, friable soil beneath the mulch continues to provide a favourable environment for root penetration. The addition of organic matter to the organic mulches increases the soil's nutrient content while also preserving the soil's moisture (Bhardwaj, 2013). ...
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Mulching Techniques in Horticulture
... mycelial growth [18,21]. White mulches maintain lower soil temperatures than clear and black mulches [26][27][28]; our study confirmed that the average soil temperature of white mulch was 1.4 °C lower than that of black mulch. Moreover, maintaining soil moisture under white mulch has proven to be more successful than overhead irrigation [21]. ...
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Truffles, belonging to the genus Tuber, are ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi that form underground ascocarps and primarily establish symbiosis with oaks and hazels. The cultivation of Tuber spp. involves transplanting inoculated seedlings that have formed ectomycorrhiza with Tuber species, with mulching being effective for truffle cultivation. In this study, we investigated the effects of mulching on the mycelial growth of four Tuber species (T. himalayense, T. koreanum, T. melanosporum, and T. borchii) in the Korean natural environment, highlighting the potential for Korea as a truffle cultivation site. We developed and tested species-specific primers for quantifying the soil mycelial biomass of Tuber spp. by qRT-PCR, determined the superior mulch color for mycelial growth, and identified the Tuber species exhibiting the highest growth rate in the Korean field environment. Our results demonstrated that white mulch significantly enhanced mycelial growth in Tuber species than black mulch, likely owing to its ability to maintain low soil temperatures, control weeds, and improve host plant growth. Among the Tuber species, T. himalayense showed the greatest growth potential in the Korean natural environment. Additionally, a significant and positive correlation was observed between the mycelial biomass of Tuber species and the growth of inoculated seedlings, as measured by the total stem length and the number of leaves, thereby indicating the importance of symbiosis between ECM fungi and host plants. This study provides valuable insights into truffle cultivation in Korea and highlights the potential of using white mulch to promote mycelial growth, thereby contributing essential data for understanding the appropriate environmental conditions for Tuber spp. cultivation in Korea. Further study is needed to assess the long-term impact of mulching and to explore the effectiveness of other mulching materials.
... Higher sorptivity, cumulative infiltration amount, steady state infiltrability were observed under mulch than no mulch (Table 1). While surface sealing and crusting can increase under no-mulch resulting in reduction in water infiltration and increased runoff (Le Bissonnais and Arrouays, 1997;Bhardwaj and Sarolia, 2012), the tendency for improved burrowing action of soil organisms and organic matter under mulch (Agbede et al., 2013) can explain the greater infiltration recorded under this practice. Also, mulch effectively controls soil surface characteristics (Scopel et al., 2005) by reducing unproductive loss of soil water and structural characteristics by improving aggregation and infiltration (Flerchinger et al., 2003). ...
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Effective soil management is crucial to sustainable crop production in the Anthropocene characterized by intensive and mechanized agrarian activities. This study analyzed integrated measures involving one-time conventional or mechanical tillage followed by no tillage and cereal-legume rotation in the context of conservation agriculture. The aim was to improve the hydro-physical properties of a sandy loam soil located in the semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana. Twelve treatments arranged in factorial viz. (a) two levels of tillage (continuous conventional tillage of ploughing and harrowing, and one-time conventional to no tillage), (b) three levels of cropping sequence (maize monoculture, cowpea monoculture and cowpea-maize rotation) and (c) two levels of crop residue management (no mulch and mulch) were evaluated. Soil aggregate size distribution and stability, penetration resistance and some hydraulic properties, namely, saturated hydraulic conductivity, infiltration rate and sorptivity, were measured. Interaction between onetime conventional tillage and maize-cowpea rotation increased soil aggregate stability by 34%, with greater proportions in the macro aggregate size range than the interaction of same cropping sequence with continuous conventional tillage. Integrating surface mulch with tillage and maize-cowpea sequence increased mean weight diameter of water stable aggregates from 0.66 to 0.85 mm compared to similar integrated system without mulch. One-time conventional tillage increased cumulative infiltration amount by 45% and sorptivity from 7.51 to 12.24 cm h–1 over continuous conventional tillage. Generally, the interaction of one-time conventional tillage with maize-cowpea rotation or maize monoculture and mulch improved grain yield and the soil hydraulic properties of cumulative infiltration, steady state infiltrability and sorptivity. Diversifying tillage operations within the framework of conservation agriculture holds promise for improving soil hydraulic properties and crop yield in sub-Saharan Africa in the era of climate change.
... The use of plastic mulch (PM) as soil cover has numerous benefits in agricultural production (i.e. raises crop yields by improving moisture conservation…) (Kwabiah, 2004;Ban et al., 2009;Kumar and Lal, 2012). The objective of the current research is to evaluate the role of plastic mulch (PM) in mitigating drought stress in tomato cultivated under semi-arid conditions. ...
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Kizildeniz, T. G. (Org.). (2022). Proceedings of the 1st International Congress on Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary (160 p.). Niğde, Turquia: T-fide A.Ş. In: 1st International Congress on Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary, November 20-21, 2022. WELCOME NOTES You are welcome to our 1st International Congress on Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary organized by T Fide R&D Innovation Industry and Trade Limited Company. The congress accepts papers on subjects related to Agricultural Sciences, Veterinary, and Natural Science and all other related Engineering fields are included. It is aimed to organize a qualified and scientific congress in order to present valuable research from different disciplines, share with each other and bring them together on an international common platform. Our congress will be held online with the participation of domestic and foreign universities. Our expectation is that every participant and valuable people of the science and business world will follow our congress with pleasure and benefit from the outcomes. We are pleased and happy to be together with you, the scientists who contribute to the scientific field and literature, with the “1st International Congress on Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary”, the first of which will be held between 20-21 November 2022 in Niğde, Turkey. PARTICIPANTS COUNTRIES: Turkey (15), Azerbaijan (3), Algeria (5), The UK (1), Spain (2), Peru(10), Tunisia (6), Costa Rica (2), Albania (2), Ecuador (5), Pakistan (7), Brazil (10), Samoa (1), USA (1)
... This study showed that the yield of mulched grass and tuber was 17.99% and 10.60% higher than unmulched, respectively, which is consistent with previous studies. Black mulches increase soil temperature and adversely affect plant survival and photosynthesis, resulting in low yield (Bhardwaj, 2013). Differences in the colour of the mulch also have some effect on the variability of the yield (Thakur and Kumar, 2021). ...
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Introduction Plastic film mulching (PFM) and deficit irrigation (DI) are vital water-saving approaches in arid agriculture. Cyperus esculentus is a significant crop in dry zones. However, scant data exists on the impacts of these water-saving methods on C. esculentus yield and quality. Method Using randomized block experiment design. Three irrigation strategies were tested: CK (standard irrigation), RW20 (20% water reduction), and RW40 (40% water reduction). Mulchin treatments included film mulching (FM) and no film mulching (NFM). Results Results revealed substantial effects of film mulching and drip irrigation on soil nutrients and physical properties, with minor influence on grass, root, and tuber stoichiometry. PF treatment, DI treatments, and their interaction significantly affected C. esculentus forage and tuber yields. Initially, grass and tuber yields increased and then decreased with reduced irrigation. The highest yields were under RW20 (3716.31 and 4758.19 kg/ha). FM increased grass and tuber yield by 17.99% and 8.46%, respectively, over NFM. The water reduction augmented the biomass distribuiton of the leaf and root, while reducing the tuber biomass in NFM. FM significantely impacted grass ether extract content, while reduced water influenced grass and tuber crude protein and tuber ether extract content. Mild water stress increased ether extract, crude protein, and soluble matter in grass and tubers, while excessive RW decreased them. Conclusion Integrating soil traits, nutrients, yield, and quality, findings indicate C. esculentus yield and quality primarily hinge on soil water content, pond hydrogenase, and electrical conductivity. Based on this results, the recommended strategy is to reduce irrigation by 20% for cultivating C. esculentus in this area.
... Mulch is widely used in commercial production of vegetables for its benefits of minimizing soil erosion, water loss, nutrient loss and better weed control (Van Derwerken and Wilcox-Lee 1988). It further improves the environmental conditions in the tunnel, with manifold advantages; such as, controlling weeds, reducing nutrient leaching, increasing soil moisture conservation and decreasing soil evaporation (Lamont 2005;Kumar and Lal 2012) leading to higher and uniform yield (De Pascale et al. 2011). It is beneficial in promoting higher plant biomass, early harvest and yield of when compared to plants grown without mulch. ...
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An investigation was undertaken to study the impact of date of sowing and mulching under low tunnel conditions on the growth, yield and quality of direct sown muskmelon during 2019-20 and 2020-21 at Vegetable Research Farm and Biochemical Laboratory of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Treatments were comprised of four dates of sowing (15th November, 15th December, 15th January under low tunnels and 15th February in open conditions) and two mulch treatments (black polythene mulch and non-mulch). Muskmelon hybrid, MH-27 planted on 15th November gave higher number of fruits (4.0), highest total yield (216.6 q/ha), ascorbic acid (22 mg/100g) and dry matter (8.6 %). 15th January planting gave highest vine length (186.8 cm), maximum fruit diameter (17.6 cm), maximum fruit weight (830.3 g) and TSS (12 °Brix). Mulched plants exhibited better growth, yield and quality when compared with non-mulch plants. It is concluded that muskmelon sown under low tunnel on 15th November with black polythene mulch
... Small tunnels with a single layer of plastic will experience faster heat loss than larger tunnels with multiple layers of plastic. Insulating ground covers may act to slow down heat loss below and above ground (Bhardwaj, 2013). In our study straw and black plastic ground covers combined with low tun nels were not sufficient to produce a viable yield of Red Russian kale at 10 garden sites. ...
Article
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Kale, Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala, is an important urban crop for human health and may potentially be grown year-round even in a temperate climate. We investigated black plastic and straw mulch compared to bare soil cover in low tunnels at 10 urban garden sites and in low tunnels within a high tunnel in the USA to ascertain the influence on yield and nutrients of Red Russian kale, soil temperature, air temperature, weed pressure, and aphid abundance. Kale had low yield in garden sites, likely because the outside environment was too cold for low tunnels to gain and retain heat. Cultivating kale in a high tunnel resulted in good yields, especially when paired with a low tunnel and plastic or straw mulch, which resulted in the highest air and soil temperatures. The amount of minerals in plants within the high tunnel largely did not vary across combinations of low tunnels and ground covers, except for copper and sulfur, which were lowest in plots with no low tunnel or ground cover. Also, dietary fiber was higher when no low tunnel or ground cover was used compared to plots with a low tunnel and no ground cover. Weeds were suppressed by straw and black plastic mulch, but none of the ground covers influenced aphid abundance. Overall, our work demonstrates that Red Russian kale can be grown in a temperate climate during winter with some combinations of tunnels and ground covers.
... The majority of research on mulching has been on how it affects agricultural productivity or output. Loṕez-Tolentino et al. (2016) in cucumber and Wang et al. (2021) in maize have shown that black plastic mulch may boost crop yields in the Temperature increases of 2-30°C (Bhardwaj, 2013) Transparent film Soil temperature increases by 7.9-10.2% (Yang J. et al., 2022) Black film Soil temperature increases by 4.1-4.7% ...
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Dryland agriculture requires the efficient utilization of water resources and the implementation of water-conserving technologies. Mulching is a water conservation practice used in arid land areas to preserve soil moisture, control temperature, and minimize soil evaporation rates. Organic mulching minimizes soil deterioration, enhances organic matter, and boosts the soil’s ability to retain water. Mulching can help keep moisture in the root zone, allowing plants to receive water for extended periods. Mulching with composted yard waste led to higher soil nutrient levels, including phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and organic matter when compared to uncovered soil. Under plastic mulch, soluble nutrients such as nitrate (NO 3 ⁻ ), ammonium (NH 4 ⁺ ), calcium (Ca ²⁺ ), magnesium (Mg ²⁺ ), potassium (K ⁺ ), and fulvic acid are released as organic matter decomposes, enhancing the soil’s nutrient availability. Mulching has several advantages for dryland agriculture, such as reducing soil water loss, soil erosion, weed growth, water droplet kinetic energy, and competition for nutrients and water with nearby fields. This review article aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of ground mulching in water conservation. This is particularly important in arid regions where agricultural sustainability is at risk due to drought, heat stress, and the inefficient use of limited water resources during the cropping season. Ground mulching is essential for minimizing surface evaporation and hence decreasing water loss. This review research thoroughly examines the advantages of organic and synthetic mulches in crop production, as well as their use in the preservation of soil and water resources.
... Different mulches regulate soil moisture and temperature, suppress weeds, and improve germination and emergence (Frazier, 1957). Higher yield and better quality, less infestation of insect's diseases, earliness, prolong growing season, higher nutritive value of the produced, improved storability are the advantages of mulching (Bhardwaj, 2013). In some extent, mulches reduce the invasion of insects and diseases. ...
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Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is one of the most important root vegetables of Bangladesh. Mulching and micronutrients have strong effect on growth, yield and quality of carrot. An experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm of the Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from November 2021 to February 2022 to examine the effect of mulching and micronutrients on growth, yield and quality of carrot. The two-factor experiment consisted of four mulching treatments viz. control (no mulch), water hyacinth, rice straw and black polythene, and four types of micronutrients viz. control (no micronutrient), boron (3 kg/ha), zinc (2 kg/ha), boron+ zinc (3+2 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Result of the experiment revealed that application of mulching materials and different levels of micronutrients alone or in combination significantly influenced all the parameters studied. The highest gross yield of root (29.4 t/ha) was obtained from black polythene mulch. The lowest gross yield of root (14.9 t/ha) was obtained from control (no mulch) treatment. The highest gross yield of root (31.7 t/ha) was obtained from (boron+ zinc) micronutrient treatment. On the contrary, the lowest gross yield of root (13.3 t/ha) was obtained from control treatment. Among the treatment combinations, the highest gross yield of root (39.8 t/ha) was obtained from Black polythene with (boron+ zinc) micronutrient treatment. On the contrary, the lowest gross yield of root (10.6 t/ha) was obtained from control treatment. The highest gross was obtained from black polythene mulch with (boron+ zinc) micronutrient treatment. Therefore, application of black polythene mulch along with combined treatment (boron+ zinc) was found to be better in respect of growth, yield and quality of carrot.
... Mulching is one of the important agronomic practice beneficial in conserving the soil moisture, suppressing the weeds, improving soil fertility" [2]. "Organic mulch are efficient in reduction of nitrates leaching, improve soil physical properties, prevent erosion, supply organic matter, regulate temperature and water retention, improve nitrogen balance, take part in nutrient cycle as well as increase the biological activity" [3]. Mulching had significant influence on potato growth and yield. ...
Article
The present research work was conducted at Pili kothi farm, Department of Agronomy, Tilak Dhari Post Graduate College, Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh during winter season of 2018 and 2019. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design. The treatments comprised of different planting dates viz. 20 days early planting on 17th October, 10 days early planting on 27th October, Optimum planting time on 7th November, 10 days late planting on 17th November and 20 days late planting on 27th November and different mulching practices viz. Organic mulch (Paddy straw at 5 t/ha), Plastic mulch (Black colour) and Control (Without mulch) of potato. There were 15 treatments and each were replicated to four folds. These treatments were randomly arranged in each replication and divided into sixty plots. The results revealed that the significantly maximum number of haulms/hill at 45 DAP (4.50, 4.70 and 4.60), plant height (52.30, 54.00 and 53.10 cm), dry weight/ (27.90, 28.20 and 28.00) plant at 60 DAP, weight of tubers/plant (496.40, 504.10 and 500.30), weight of tubers/plant (>75 g) (207.70, 209.00 and 208.30) and tuber yield (369.30, 370.70 and 370.00 q/ha) were recorded under 20 Days Early Planting On 17th October among different planting dates during first, second year and mean data also. Whereas among the mulching practices significant variation were recorded among the all parameter. However maximum number of haulms/hill (3.60, 3.70 and 3.70) at 45 DAP, plant height (50.20, 52.0 and 51.10 cm), dry weight/plant (25.5, 25.9 and 25.7) at 60 DAP, weight of tubers/plant (454.80, 460.70 and 457.70), weight of tubers/plant (>75 g) (191.90, 193.30 and 192.60) and tuber yield (333.80, 334.90 and 334.30 q/ha) under the organic mulch (paddy straw at 5 t/ha) respectively, during first, second year as well as in mean data also.
... For this reason, the lowest leaf Na content and the highest leaf K content was found in polythene mulch treatment. These results are consistent with the earlier works [15]. Generally, 150% of the recommended K dose had the lowest Na and highest K content of leaf in both the years. ...
Article
Salinity is a major constraint to higher crop production in the southern coastal soils of Bangladesh. To overcome this problem, a study was undertaken with the application of different mulch materials and potassium fertilizer doses during 2017-18 and 2018-19 at Barguna district of Bangladesh. The test crop was a bitter gourd. The experiments were laid out in a two-factor randomized complete block design with three replications. The first factor was different types of mulch material (M1: no mulch, M2: rice straw mulch, and M3: polythene mulch), and the second factor was different rates of potassium (K) fertilizer (K1: no K fertilizer, K2: 100% recommended K fertilizer, and K3: 150% recommended K fertilizer). The effect of mulch materials and potassium fertilizer doses recorded significantly higher yield, yield components, and nutrient uptake of bitter gourd in both the years over control treatment. In the case of mulching, the polythene mulch treatment had the best performance in all tested parameters, followed by rice straw mulch and no mulch treatment. The polythene mulch treatment resulted in a 136% and 198% higher yield over no mulch treatment in two years, respectively. Regarding the K effect, the 150% recommended K fertilizer gave the best performance, followed by the 100% recommended K fertilizer and control treatment. Application of 150% recommended K increased 39 and 68% higher yield over K control treatment in two years, respectively. The polythene mulch and/or 150% recommended K fertilizer gave the highest positive results among all the tested treatments. On the other hand, the use of polythene mulch and/or 150% recommended K fertilizer gave the lowest soil EC and exchangeable soil Na. Therefore, polythene mulch and/or 150% recommended K fertilizer could be a new package for increasing bitter gourd yield by reducing salinity in coastal saline soil of Bangladesh.
... Mulching is a practice, which helps in proper growth and development of the plants by modifying soil temperature, providing better nutrient availability and by better moisture conservation (Kher et al. 2010). Research has shown that organic mulch provides many benefits to crop production through soil and water conservation enhance soil biological activity and improve chemical and physical properties of the soil (Bhardwaj, 2013). ...
... Mulching is a practice, which helps in proper growth and development of the plants by modifying soil temperature, providing better nutrient availability and by better moisture conservation (Kher et al. 2010). Research has shown that organic mulch provides many benefits to crop production through soil and water conservation enhance soil biological activity and improve chemical and physical properties of the soil (Bhardwaj, 2013). ...
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An experiment was conducted at Fruit Research Farm, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh to study the effect of organic mulches on soil properties in acid lime using Randomized Block Design. The study revealed that the soil properties were found to be highly significant. The maximum soil moisture content (33.66 %) was observed in dry grasses mulch (T1) while maximum organic carbon (3.11 %), available nitrogen (428.47 kg/ha), available phosphorus (45.17 kg/ha) and potassium (575.06 kg/ha) were observed in saw dust mulch (T6) (Table 1). The mulching materials especially paddy straw and rice husk mulch imparted significance increase on the soil microbial population. Paddy straw mulch (T3) recorded highest microbial population of bacteria at 83.45 × 10 5 followed by rice husk mulch (T4) at 74.88 × 10 5 while highest population of fungi was observed in rice husk mulch (T4) at 119.34 × 10 5 followed by paddy straw mulch (T3) at 54.77 × 10 5 .
... Further, uses of paddy straw mulch may have boosted potassium content in the soil up to some extent. (Bhardwaj, 2013;Shivakumar et al., 2019). ...
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Aim: This study was planned and conducted to find the optimum IW:CPE level of irrigation scheduling along with mulching for spring maize in Punjab. Methodology: An experiment was conducted in spring, 2022 on agriculture farm of Lovely Professional University, Punjab comprising of four levels of irrigation scheduling viz., I1 (Surface irrigation at critical growth stages), I2 (Surface irrigation at 1.0 IW:CPE), I3 (Surface irrigation at 0.8 IW:CPE), I4 (Surface irrigation at 0.6 IW:CPE) assigned to main plots and two mulching treatments viz., M1 (No Mulch), M2 (With Mulch) allotted to the sub plots, which were replicated 4 times in split plot design. Results: Application of irrigation at IW:CPE ratio of 1.0 and 0.8 in spring maize were equally good as they recorded higher growth and yield parameters. Among the mulching practices, M2 resulted in better growth and yield parameters over no mulching. Highest green cob yield, grain yield and stover yield were also attained under irrigation applied at 1.0 IW:CPE combined with mulching, but it remained statistically at par with irrigation at 0.8 IW:CPE with mulching. Highest water use efficiency was seen under 0.8 IW:CPE. Interpretation: Optimum level of irrigation along with mulching for spring maize was assessed based on the results obtained for growth, yield as well as water use efficiency. It was recorded that irrigation at 0.8 IW:CPE with mulching was found best for higher grain yield of maize hybrid. Key words: Grain yield, Hybrid maize, Irrigation scheduling, Mulching, Water use efficiency
... Jenson (1988) mentioned that many agricultural developed countries use soil cover for many vegetable crops. Covering the soil also leads to retaining moisture, reducing the loss of nutrients, washing, and volatilization to the outside atmosphere by heavy irrigation or rain, in addition to improving the physical properties of the soil (Whiting et al. 2005;Bhardwaj & Sarolia 2012). Despite, the high efficiency of radish in absorbing solar energy arriving in the ground (Ham et al. 1993), coverage reduces weed growth because it blocks light useful for growth (AL-Masoum et al. 1993). ...
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This study aimed to estimate some genetic parameters of growth traits and the yield of two varieties of radish Raphanus sativus L., namely Turkish red and Turkish white under the influence of soil coverage viz. no mulch, green and blue. The study was carried out as a factorial experiment with six treatments according to the design of the sectors, during the autumn growing season of 2019-2020. The results indicated that the Turkish red cultivar showed a significant superiority over the Turkish white for the traits of the plant height, weight of leaves, root weight, and total yield, while Turkish white cultivar had a significantly higher number of leaves/plant. The green mulch treatment showed the highest values of root weight and total yield. The best values for root weight and total yield, appear on the cultivar Turkish red under covered plants.
... Jenson (1988) mentioned that many agricultural developed countries use soil cover for many vegetable crops. Covering the soil also leads to retaining moisture, reducing the loss of nutrients, washing, and volatilization to the outside atmosphere by heavy irrigation or rain, in addition to improving the physical properties of the soil (Whiting et al. 2005;Bhardwaj & Sarolia 2012). Despite, the high efficiency of radish in absorbing solar energy arriving in the ground (Ham et al. 1993), coverage reduces weed growth because it blocks light useful for growth (AL-Masoum et al. 1993). ...
Article
Full-text available
This study aimed to estimate some genetic parameters of growth traits and the yield of two varieties of radish Raphanus sativus L., namely Turkish red and Turkish white under the influence of soil coverage viz. no mulch, green and blue. The study was carried out as a factorial experiment with six treatments according to the design of the sectors, during the autumn growing season of 2019-2020. The results indicated that the Turkish red cultivar showed a significant superiority over the Turkish white for the traits of the plant height, weight of leaves, root weight, and total yield, while Turkish white cultivar had a significantly higher number of leaves/plant. The green mulch treatment showed the highest values of root weight and total yield. The best values for root weight and total yield, appear on the cultivar Turkish red under covered plants.
... Further, uses of paddy straw mulch may have boosted potassium content in the soil up to some extent. (Bhardwaj, 2013;Shivakumar et al., 2019). ...
... Mulching covers the soil to make more favourable condi-tions for plant growth and development as well as efficient crop production. It helps prevent weed growth, reduce evaporation, and increase rainwater infiltration during the growing season, to reduce temperature fluctuations and to promote soil productivity (Sarolia and Bhardwaj, 2012). Different mulching methods, i.e. application of organic materials (crop residues) like castor-shell and plastic mulching, provide better environment to the plant. ...
Article
A field experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) season of 2016, 2017 and 2018 at Centre for Natural Resources Management, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, to study the effect of land configurations and mulching on productivity and rainwater-use efficiency of castor (Ricinus communis L.). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 4 replications in loamy sand soil, having goodinfiltration capacity. The treatment comprised, viz. control (conventional method), raised-bed method, ridge and furrow method, ditch method, conventional method with castor-shell mulch, conventional method with plastic mulch, raised-bed with castor-shell mulch, raised bed with plastic mulch, ridge and furrow method with castor-shell mulch, ridge and furrow method with plastic mulch, ditch method with castor-shell mulch, ditch method with plastic mulch. The results of pooled data of 3 years showed that, the conventional method with plastic mulch resulted in higher seed yield (1,943 kg/ha), followed by ridge and furrow method with castor-shell mulch and conventional method with castor-shell mulch. However, the higher rainwater-use efficiency (3.57 kg/ha-mm of water) was observed in the treatment of raised bed with plastic mulch. The magnitude of increase in seed yield in conventional method with castor-shell mulch over the control was 56.74% on pooled basis. Thus, use of castor-shell mulch or crop-residue as low-priced input in dryland farming may be encouraged for enhanced in-situ moisture conservation, castor-grain yield and rainwater-use efficiency.
... The soil surface surrounding the plants is covered with mulch to create growth-promoting conditions. This might entail regulating the temperature, lowering the salinity and controlling weeds (Kumar and Lal, 2012). ...
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The present estimate of the number of people on Earth is 8 billion, but by the middle of the century, it is predicted to reach 9 billion. Simultaneously, the cultivable farm land is being lost to expanding urban areas, industrialization and climate change. The recent World Bank Report estimated that to feed 9 billion people, food production needs to scale up by 70% by 2050. In the present context, the significance of sustainable agriculture is crucial in ensuring the sustenance of the population and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. Environmental protection, resource conservation, soil fertility maintenance and improvement are the key goals of sustainable agricultural practises. Sincere efforts have been taken to discuss the various sustainable agriculture methods and practices in this assessment.
... Some authors (Simsek et al., 2017) have shown that mulching does not affect pH, electrical conductivity, bulk density and carbonate content in the soil. On the other hand, others have shown that all types of mulches have a much more positive effect because they maximally reduce the electrical conductivity within the soil properties (Kumar et al., 2012). According to our results, we notice that the electrical conductivity increases in almost all mulches, except at the level of the mixture, where it decreases compared to the control. ...
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Soil moisture is a key parameter of soil monitoring for observation of vegetation growth, predicting crop production, and improving water resource management. In this study, the objective is to compare the evolution of soil moisture in different mulches to determine the best mulch and its characteristics of infiltration in the soil. The experiment was conducted during the summer season in July-September 2022 on four different mulches (wood chips, sawdust, straw, mixture), and control at the experimental plot of Blida. The results showed that silt is the main matrix of the soil. The analysis of infiltration data identified modified Kostiakov as the best model of the study site, whose period of plant growth represents the phase during which we have a better infiltration under the mixture. The application of the mulch changes the moisture mainly at 15 cm and the conductivity at 10 cm. In addition, the mixture is the best mulch to conserve moisture in the soil while reducing the frequency of irrigation. The correlation between soil moisture and conductivity was overall very good. This was due to the effect of mulch, soil texture, plant root development, and capillary rise.
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Water footprint (WF) assessment has emerged as a vital tool for understanding and managing agricultural water consumption amid increasing water scarcity. This review synthesizes current knowledge and methodological developments in agricultural WF research, examining both volumetric and Life Cycle Assessment approaches. We analyze key methodological challenges, including water component differentiation, effective precipitation estimation, and calculation standardization across spatial scales. Recent trends show a shift from global assessments toward regional analyses, enabling precise water management strategies. The review evaluates WF reduction methods, demonstrating that optimized crop patterns and improved agricultural practices can significantly reduce water consumption. Integration of hydrological models with WF assessments shows promise for improving accuracy. Climate change, with varying regional impacts, emerges as a critical factor influencing future WF calculations. While WF methodology offers valuable insights for sustainable water management, its practical application requires careful consideration of regional contexts and limitations.
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The information on the potency and role of mulch and organic matter in coping with drought is unclear and limited. In this article, we provide a literature review on the types, doses of mulch and organic matter in drought research, and their role in soil properties, and plant resilience. We conclude that using mulches and organic matter can help reduce the impact of drought by improving soil properties. The difference lies in mulch’s ability to minimize evaporation i.e. 28–58.8% and control soil temperature by maintaining an increase at 2–3 °C, thereby enhancing soil moisture up to 4.6–22%. However, information on these impacts is limited to organic matter. Meanwhile, organic matter directly contributes to improving physical properties such as soil structure, aggregation, and aeration, which in turn enhance soil infiltration capacity by 39–44%, increase soil water retention up to 50%, soil water holding capacity, and stimulate better root growth. Mulching and adding organic matter also enhance physiological and crop yields in dry conditions. Plastic mulch has a greater impact in reducing evaporation rates and increasing water use efficiency (WUE) by 12–38.9% higher than organic mulch. Furthermore, the influence of mulch on crop production enhancement is greater than organic matter (19–145% versus 31%) in this review. It is important to note that the effects of different types of mulch, organic matter, and their combinations on plants during drought and different growth stages are not well understood. More research is needed in the future to address these knowledge gaps.
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Water management is a significant aspect of sustainable vegetable farming, especially in water-scarce regions. This, in addition to weed infestations, limits vegetable yields, which negatively affect food security in developing regions, particularly East Africa, where livelihoods chiefly depend on rain-fed agriculture. Vegetable farming, especially tomato cultivation, requires more water. By promoting mulching, a soil water conservation tool, we can control surface evaporation (E), which, together with irrigation, enhances effective water use and vegetable yields. The experiments for this study were conducted at the Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan, to evaluate the influences of different irrigation conditions and poly-mulching on weed control, tomato yields, and water use efficiency. The study was conducted from May to September 2018 on a 30 m 2 plot in an open-ended greenhouse using drip irrigation for tomato cultivation. Three predetermined irrigation conditions of 4, 3, and 2 mm/day were applied on black poly-mulched and bare ridges. Data on soil conditions-soil temperature, as well as meteorological variables, including solar radiation and temperature-were measured using thermocouple sensors and micro-hobo weather stations, respectively , during the tomato cultivation, while yield components-growth, yield, water productivity, and sugar content-were determined after harvest. The results of a two-way ANOVA show that irrigation conditions with poly-mulching reduced the weed biomass significantly, and improved yields and water use efficiency compared to the irrigation conditions on bare ridges. The application of 4, 3, and 2 mm/day irrigation with poly-mulching significantly reduced the weed biomass by 5% compared to the same irrigation conditions on bare ridges. Similarly, 4 and 3 mm/day irrigation conditions with poly-mulching significantly increased the tomato yield by 5% compared to 2 mm/day on bare ridges. The bigger roots were concentrated and widely distributed at the shallow soil depth (0-20 cm) of the ridges with high irrigation amounts, while the small and thin roots were in deeper soil layers (30-45 cm). This study provides scientific knowledge on the application of predetermined irrigation conditions that can be (i) integrated into irrigation scheduling and (ii) adopted for regions facing water scarcity and limited or no in situ meteorological data, to improve water use efficiency for vegetable cultivation.
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Mulching plays a pivotal role in modern sustainable agriculture, offering a versatile solution to enhance soil quality, improve soil health, conserve resources, and optimize crop performance. This study examined the effects of various mulching materials on soil properties, seasonal variations in soil and environmental variables, and yam production in a tropical environment, with a focus on sustainable agricultural practice. We applied a range of mulch treatments, including black polythene, weedmat, sugarcane straw, organic compost, cowpea-live, juncao grass, sawdust, and a control with no mulch. The results indicated that the organic compost mulch significantly increased soil pH and soil electrical conductivity (EC). The control treatment resulted in the highest soil moisture content, while the highest soil temperature were recorded for the black polythene and organic compost mulch treatments. The organic compost mulch enhanced the soil organic carbon (SOC) content, soil available phosphorus (SAP) content, and soil exchangeable calcium (SECa) content. The weedmat mulch showed the highest soil exchangeable potassium (SEK) content, and the control treatment exhibited the highest soil exchangeable magnesium (SEMg) and sodium (SENa) content. In terms of micronutrients, the sawdust mulch and black polythene mulch significantly increased soil exchangeable iron (SEFe) and copper (SECu) levels, respectively. Notable seasonal variations in soil pH, temperature, and environmental humidity were observed during the crop period. The soil pH fluctuated from slightly acidic levels in August 2023 to neutral levels in October, and then decreased to slightly acidic levels in early 2024 before stabilizing by March 2024. The soil temperature peaked in November and dropped in January, while the environmental humidity ranged from 48.25% in December to 76.33% in February. The study demonstrated that the organic compost mulch stood out as an advantageous choice because of its capacity to enhance the soil’s properties and offer a balanced nutrient mix, making it particularly beneficial for yam cultivation. It also proved to be a reliable and balanced option to enhance soil quality with stable soil quality indices (SQIs). The weedmat mulch proved to be highly effective in enhancing yam growth and productivity. The weedmat mulch is the most profitable and cost-effective option for yam cultivation, providing the highest net returns and strong financial viability. This study emphasizes the value of choosing the right mulching materials to support soil quality, crop productivity, and economic returns in tropical settings, making strides toward more sustainable farming practices.
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The current study dealt with development of nonwoven mulch mat from textile waste and its evaluation in the field for chilli crop. Six needle-punched nonwoven mulches were developed from textile mill waste comprising of cotton, polyester and acrylic in two different ratios. All ratios were varied with three different areal density ratios i.e. 200, 300 and 400 g/m² with 4-, 3.5- and 3-mm thickness, respectively. The mulch mats were characterised for their physicomechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation, air permeability, thermal insulation and resistance to sunlight degradation. Further, the developed mulches were analysed for its performance in the field on the hybrid variety of chilli CH-27. Parameters, including soil moisture content, soil temperature, weed suppression, yield and soil degradation were investigated through field tests, against a polyethylene mulch, paddy straw and without mulch. The experimental results revealed that the developed nonwoven mulches worked as buffer media between the atmosphere and soil surface and influenced the temperature of soil. These mulches performed better to maintain the soil temperature than the paddy straw and polyethylene mulch. On the basis of plant grown and crop yield, the best much performance was observed with cotton: polyester: acrylic (70:20:10) with 200 g/m².
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