Effect of different mulches on weed management and growth parameters of guava nursery plants
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Date
2019
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present investigation to study the effect of different combinations of organic (paddy
straw mulch and coco mulch mats) and inorganic mulches (biodegradable polythene mulch,
black and silver polythene mulch and black and green polypropylene woven mats) on the
weed control efficacy, health and productivity of nursery plants was conducted during the
year 2018-19. The studies clearly revealed that black and green polypropylene woven mats in
combination with paddy straw mulch were very effective in suppressing the weed growth as
the weeds did not appeared even after 240 days of application. Weed biomass of 0.6 g/m2 was
recorded in black polypropylene woven mats in combination with paddy straw mulch after
300 days as compared to 42.5 g/m2 in control.The biodegradable mulch started degrading
after 120 days of application and recorded a weed biomass of 5.3g/m2 at this stage. The
chemical, nutritional and soil microbial properties improved with the application of organic
mulches. Black polypropylene woven mats resulted in 2-3 per cent higher soil temperature
during winters and maintained 1.5-2 percent higher moisture content during the month of
May-June. Among the plant growth parameters, maximum plant height (47.51 cm) was
recorded under green polypropylene woven mats and stem diameter (1.47 cm) was recorded
under black polypropylene woven mats as compared to other mulching treatments. The plots
mulched with black polypropylene woven mats resulted in highest B: C ratio (0.95) closely
followed by green polypropylene woven mats in combination with paddy straw mulch (0.91)
while the lowest B: C ratio was observed under the control plots. From the study, it was
concluded that, the polypropylene woven weed mats can be applied in the guava nursery plots
to control the weed growth effectively as well as to enhance the percentage of buddable
seedlings.
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