Effect of polyethylene mulch on soil nutrient level and root, leaf and fruiting characteristics of mango (Mangifera indica).
Singh V. K., Gorakh Singh, Bhriguvanshi S. R.
Author Affiliation: Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Rehmankhera, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 227 107, India.
Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 79 : 411-417
Abstract : Field studies were conducted in Uttar Pradesh, India, from 2004 to 2008, to determine the impact of black polyethylene film (100 µ thick) on root growth, flowering and fruiting characteristics and nutritional and hydrothermal properties of soil, anatomical changes in roots and pedicel and stomatal behaviour of leaves in mango cultivars Chausa and Langra. Mulching treatment stimulated the lateral root growth in nutrient-rich upper soil layer in particular. The anatomical structure of roots of mulched trees showed more unicellular and tubular root hairs with prominent conductive tissue compared to non-mulched ones. Primitive abscission zones in the pedicels with increase in size of stomatal pores in the leaves of mulched trees was categorically noticed. Enhancement in flowering (35-50%), maximum fruit retention (381.61 and 566.47) and minimum fruit drop (14 and 51) with enhancement in yield (82.60 and 117.50 kg/tree) in both cultivars was recorded in mulched trees compared to the non-mulched ones. Alleviated soil temperature (21.0-25.8°C) was also noticed in the mulching treatments. The data on nutritional status clearly revealed the improvement in the level of N (2.50%), P (18.69 ppm), K (130.0 ppm), Ca (521.95 ppm), Zn (0.93 ppm), Cu (1.61 ppm) and Fe (4.90 ppm), in soil and leaves in both cultivars with different magnitude with mulching. However, there was no significant changes in the Mn level, soil pH, organic content in mulched soil compared to non-mulched soil. Significant increase with cultivar variation in gas exchange parameters and chlorophyll fluorescence was recorded in mulched trees.