Effect of organic mulches on moisture conservation for rainfed turmeric production in mango orchard.
Dinesh Kumar, Pandey V., Vishal Nath
Author Affiliation: Central Horticultural Experiment Station (IIHR), Aiginia, Bhubaneswar - 751 019, Orissa, India.
Indian Journal of Soil Conservation 36 : 188-191
Abstract : A field experiment was conducted during 2003-04 and 2004-05 to assess the effect of different types of organic mulches on the growth, yield and soil moisture in turmeric grown as inter-crop in mango orchard under rainfed conditions of Bhubaneswar, Orissa, eastern India. Five treatments, viz., paddy straw mulch (1 kg/m2), paddy straw mulch (0.5 kg/m2), local grass mulch (1 kg/m2), local grass mulch (0.5 kg/m2) and control (no mulching) were replicated four times in a randomized block design. Plots of 50 m2 (5 m × 10 m size) were prepared in the inter space of mango plantation for space utilization. The results indicated that maximum turmeric plant height (104.65 cm), stem girth (8.95 cm), leaf size (35.92 cm × 15.88 cm), dry biomass (20.90 q/ha), dry root weight (5.08 g/plant), number of finger (10.25), finger weight (156.45 g), mother rhizome weight (60.45 g) and fresh yield (78.65 q/ha) were recorded with the application of paddy straw mulch at 1 kg/m2. The soil moisture content was higher during rhizome formation, development and maturation stage in plots where paddy straw was applied at 1 kg/m2 (lt/ha). An average maximum fruit yield of mango (5.5 t/ha) was recorded in control plots (without intercrop) which was at par with other treatments.