EFFECT OF MULCHING, VERMICOMPOST AND IRRIGATION LEVELS ON SOIL PROPERTIES AND GROWTH OF APRICOT (Prunus armeniaca L.)
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Date
2016
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT Present investigation entitled “Effect of mulching, vermicompost and irrigation levels on soil properties and growth of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.)” was carried out at the experimental farm of Department of Soil Science & Water Management, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, during the years 2015 and 2016. Twelve treatment combinations comprising three types of mulches viz. unmulched control (Mo), grass mulch (Gm) and black plastic mulch (Pm); two N levels i.e. N1 and N2 (vermicompost equivalent to 100 and 75% recommended dose of N) and two levels of irrigation i.e. Ir0 (Rainfed control) and Ir1 (4 cm irrigation at 40% available soil moisture depletion) were replicated three times in a randomized block design (factorial). Results revealed that Gm maintained comparatively higher soil moisture contents before and after irrigation over Pm and Mo and order of mulches in maintaining soil moisture: Gm > Pm > M0. Mulches favorably moderated soil temperature and Pmrecorded highest temperature during both the years of study and effectiveness of mulches in moderating soil temperature followed the order: Pm> Gm> Mo at 8:30 hrs and Pm> Mo> Gm at 14:30 hrs. Grass mulch recorded highest OC. Mulching along with irrigation and N levels increased both leaf as well as available nutrients at 0-15 and 15-30 cm depths. Black plastic mulch with irrigation at 40 per cent ASM and vermicompost equivalent to 100 per cent recommended dose of N recorded significantly higher contents of available N, P, K, Ca and S as well as leaf N, P and K. Plant growth parameters (annual shoot extension, plant height, stem girth and plant spread) were also recorded higher under PmIr1N1. Treatment combination MoIr1 recorded maximum water requirement (28.0 cm) and minimum was recorded under GmIr1 (18.4 cm). Grass mulch was found to be superior and conserved 34.3 and 19.7 per cent irrigation water over unmulched control (M0) and black plastic mulch (Pm), respectively.