Productivity and water use efficiency of kinnow mandarin (citrus reticulate blanco) as influenced by drip trickle irrigation and hydrogel

An experiment was conducted to find out the effect of drip trickle irrigation and hydrogel with black polyethylene mulch on productivity and water use efficiency of Kinnow mandarin. The two years pooled data revealed that highest available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (244, 20 and 164 kgha-1), porosity and maximum water holding capacity (34.5 and 40.9 %) and percent increase height, spread and canopy volume (13.6, 14.8 and 44.5 %), respectively, were obtained with the application of 3 days drip trickle irrigation and 90 g hydrogel with black polyethylene mulch materials of tree. The drip trickle irrigation and hydrogel with black polyethylene mulch produced a significantly (p=0.05) maximum improve in soil moisture content over control treatment. The 3 days drip trickle irrigation and 90 g hydrogel with mulch showed highest fruit yield (9404.7 kg ha-1), length (6.5 cm), weight (116.5 g) and quality of fruit volume (113.9 cc), Juice content (54.1 %) and TSS (13.3 0Brix). The specific gravity and titratable acidity showed reverse trend. The water use efficiency and benefit cost ratio were better in 3 days drip trickle irrigation and 90 g hydrogel with mulch materials of tree.

Effects of Agronomic Practices on the Severity of Sweet Basil Downy Mildew (Peronospora belbahrii)

Downy mildew (caused by Peronospora belbahrii) is a severe disease of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) crops around the world. We examined cultural methods for reducing the severity of sweet basil downy mildew (SBDM) under commercial conditions in greenhouses and walk-in tunnels. The effects of the orientation of walk-in tunnels, air circulation in greenhouses, plant density, and soil mulch were tested. SBDM was less severe in the tunnels that were oriented north-south than in those oriented east-west, but the yields in both types of tunnels were similar. Increased air circulation reduced SBDM severity, but did not affect yield. Gray or transparent polyethylene mulch reduced SBDM severity and, in most cases, increased yield relative to bare soil/growth medium. Yellow polyethylene mulch provided a smaller amount of control. The combination of increased air circulation and yellow polyethylene mulch provided synergistic SBDM control, whereas no synergism was observed when we combined increased air circulation with the other two types of mulch. Planting at half the usual density reduced disease severity. The reduced plant density was associated with reduced yield in the greenhouses, but not in the tunnels. All of the tested methods provided an intermediate level of SBDM control that varied among the different experiments.

BLACK CURRANT PRODUCTIVITY FORMATION AS AFFECTED BY THE COMPONENTS OF CULTIVATION TECHNOLOGY

Studied in the experiment were the following components of cultivation technology for black currant: maintaining the soil between rows as black fallow or grassed; maintaining the rows as black fallow, mulched with straw or covered with polyethylene mulch film; foliar dressing in the budding stage with liquid suspended organic fertiliser Riverm at the concentrations of 1, 3 or 5% against the background of complete mineral fertiliser N60P90K90. According to the results of the research, it was found that the best growth and development of black currant plants was for maintaining the soil between rows as black fallow and maintaining the rows mulched with straw. Such practices activate the soil microbiota and facilitate the availability of nutrients to plants. Mulching with straw effectively protects against weeds, prevents damage to plants by tillage tools, and does not prevent rainfall from entering the soil. Accordingly, the best indicators of the maximum number of bunches of black currant (604) fruit number per bush (1315) were obtained in the treatment with maintaining the rows as black fallow and the use of fertiliser N 60P90 K90 (background) + Riverm 5 %. However, the highest fruit weight (1.66?1.74 g) was obtained in the treatment with maintaining the soil between rows as black fallow, the use of fertiliser background N60?90K90 + Riverm 3 % or Riverm 5 %. In general, the use of mineral fertilisers along with foliar dressing using Riverm increased the fruit yield in the treatment with N60P90K90 + Riverm 3 % under maintaining the rows as black fallow and mulching the rows using the straw up to 13.44 t/ ha; for the use of Riverm 5 %, the fruit yield was 13.28 t/ha.

Benchmarking the Agronomic Performance of Biodegradable Mulches against Polyethylene Mulch Film: A Meta-Analysis

Growers are interested in biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based polyethylene mulch film (PEM). However, many growers cite limited knowledge about biodegradable mulch films (BDMs) as a significant barrier to adoption. Agronomic field tests of BDMs are often limited temporally or spatially, and the variability of performance results relative to PEM may be contributing to this perceived knowledge gap. Our objective was to use data available in the scientific literature to provide the first quantitative performance benchmark of BDMs against PEM. We extracted data from 66 articles for meta-analysis. Response ratios were calculated for comparison of BDMs relative to black PEM, and differences among categorical groups were determined using 95% bootstrap confidence intervals. Overall, BDMs reduced soil temperature by 4.5% ± 0.8% (±one standard error) compared to PEM, and temperatures were coolest beneath paper-based BDM. Starch-polyester BDM was less effective than PEM for weed control, but paper-based BDM reduced weed density and biomass by 85.7% ± 9.2%. Paper-based BDMs were particularly useful for controlling Cyperus spp. weeds. Despite differences in soil temperature and weed suppression, crop yields were not different between BDMs and PEM. Future research should focus on reducing costs, adding functional value, and increasing the biodegradability of BDMs.

EFFECT OF MULCH ON SOIL TEMPERATURE, SOIL MOISTURE CONSERVATION AND YIELD OF CHILLI

The experiment was conducted at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Jamalpur, Bangladesh during the period of 2017-18 and 2018-19 with the objectives to evaluate the effect of different mulch on soil temperature, soil moisture conservation and yield attributes of chilli. There were five treatments comprising T1: no mulch, T2: rice straw mulch @ 5 t ha-1, T3: water hyacinth mulch @ 5 t ha-1, T4: black polyethylene mulch and T5: white polyethylene mulch. The results revealed that, all the mulch treatment had higher soil temperature and soil moisture content at 5 cm and 10 cm depth compared to no mulch treatment. Soil temperature was highest in black polyethylene mulch, it increased average soil temperature by about 5.7 oC at 5 cm depth and 5.1 oC at 10 cm depth compared to no mulch treatment at 120 Days. Rice straw mulch treatment recorded highest soil moisture, it increased average soil moisture about 27.87 % at 5 cm depth and 28.57% at 10 cm depth over no mulch treatment. Rice straw mulch treatment produced highest green chilli yield (8.81 t ha-1) which was 26.94 % increased over no mulch treatment (6.94 t ha-1).Considering economic analysis, highest gross return (Tk 352400 ha-1), gross margin (Tk 235400 ha-1) and BCR (3.01) was obtained from same treatment T2 i.e., rice straw mulch treatment.

Evaluating AquaCrop for simulating response of tomato to irrigation induced salinity

<p>AquaCrop is considered a reliable simulation model to predict crop yield. AquaCrop is supported by the FAO and seems to provide reasonable balance between accuracy and simplicity. While AquaCrop handles crop response to conditions of salinity, there have been few studies evaluating its accuracy to this parameter. We evaluated AquaCrop for its ability to simulate crop growth, transpiration and yield under conditions of irrigation-induced salinity using an experimental database of tomato grown during different meteorological conditions and demands under highly varied conditions of irrigation water salinity and irrigation amounts.</p><p>Field and lysimeter experiments were carried out in the Southern Arava Valley in Israel in fall and spring seasons. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cultivar ‘5656’) was grown. Irrigation in the field was managed with treatments of 30, 60, 100, and 130% of reference evapotranspiration (ET<sub>0</sub>) of Class A pan with irrigation water salinity (EC<sub>I</sub> = electrical conductivity of irrigation water) of 3 dS m<sup>-1</sup>. Irrigation treatments in the lysimeters were six EC<sub>I</sub> levels from 1 to 11 dS m<sup>-1</sup> all at 130% of ET<sub>0</sub> and five irrigation levels of 30, 60, 100, 130 and 160 % of ET<sub>0</sub> all at EC<sub>I</sub> of 3 dS m<sup>-1</sup>. EC<sub>I</sub> was regulated adding 1:1 Molar concentrations NaCl and CaCl<sub>2</sub>. Irrigation was applied via drippers from soil surface covered with polyethylene mulch to reduce evaporative losses to a minimum. AquaCrop was run to calculate yield and transpiration in fall and spring. The datasets of meteorological, crop, management, and soil data were obtained from field-measured results.</p><p>Predicted biomass at the end of both growing periods agreed relatively well with measured biomass. Patterns of accumulated transpiration were different in the two seasons, with gradual increase to a stable maximum in the fall and continued increase in the spring. Irrigation level and salinity were found to effect biomass, transpiration and yield alternatively, with irrigation dominant at low EC<sub>I</sub> levels and salinity dominant when irrigation application was relatively high. Transpiration was simulated well, showing similar trends of the measured data in lysimeters in both fall and spring. The biomass in fall and spring was predicted relatively well. Following these results, AquaCrop appears applicable for simulation of salinity effects on yield and transpiration, at least under conditions similar to those of the current study.</p>

Effect of Mulches on Soil Properties, Leaf Nutrient Status and Weed Growth of Pomegranate under Rainfed Conditions

The present study entitled "Effect of mulches on soil properties, leaf nutrient status and weed growth of pomegranate under rainfed conditions" at the experimental farm of HR&TS and KVK Kandaghat at Jadari, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, during 2017-2018. The different mulches like Nylon mulch mat, Silver polyethylene mulch, Black polyethylene mulch, Red polyethylene mulch and Coir mulch mat, Grass mulch were used in this investigation. Results revealed that maximum soil temperature and moisture were recorded in black polyethylene mulch. Nylon mulch mat was found effective in controlling weed growth followed by silver polyethylene mulch and black polyethylene mulch. Soil and leaf nutrient content were significantly higher found under grass mulch. The soil hydrothermal regimes were significantly higher under black polyethylene mulch. This provides better prevention of soil water evaporation and retaining soil moisture under rainfed conditions.

Mulching materials and wetted soil percentages on zucchini cultivation

ABSTRACT Polyethylene mulch can cause serious problems in the environment. A promising alternative to polyethylene mulch is biodegradable mulch. Therefore, a two-year experiment was carried out with zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) during the cropping seasons of 2017 and 2018 in Southeast Brazil to investigate the effects of four soil mulching treatments (white polyethylene mulch: WP, black polyethylene mulch: BP, biodegradable mulch of brown recycled paper: RP and nonmulched: NM) and two wetted soil percentages (50 and 70% of the soil surface) using a randomized block design with five repetitions. The average water consumption of the zucchini was 157 mm in the WP treatment, 155 mm in the BP treatment, 155 mm in the WP treatment and 215 mm in the NM treatment. The yield was higher in the WP (78.1 ton ha-1) and BP (69.1 ton ha-1) treatments than in the RP (66.6 ton ha-1) or NM (52.4 ton ha-1) treatments. The daily thermal amplitude was lowest in the RP treatment (3.6-6.0 °C) and highest in the BP treatment (7.3-9.0 °C). The lower wetted soil percentage (50%) reduced water consumption (by 5-7%) and improved water-use efficiency (by 11%). Weeds, including Cyperus roduntus, were more efficiently controlled in the RP treatment than in the WP and BP treatments. In general, compared to the nonmulched treatment, mulches were effective in reducing weed infestation (95%), increasing yield (36%) and improving water-use efficiency (94%). RP, as an alternative to polyethylene mulch, can save water and control weeds in zucchini crops. These results represent useful information that extends the mulching options for technicians and farmers.

Effect of Different Type Mulch on Growth, Yield Attributes and Yield of Brinjal (Solanum melogena)

Field experiment was conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Aurangabad and at farmer’s field during 2012 and 2013 to Effect of different type mulch on growth, yield attributes and yield of Brinjal (Solanum melogena). The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with three treatments viz; Black polyethylene mulch, Wheat straw mulch and no mulch (control). The result reveled that maximum plant height 78.0 cm, maximum no. of leaves per plant 366.8 and maximum number of shoots per plant 32.60 were observed in plot mulching with Black polyethylene. Maximum yield 29.5t/ha-1 of brinjal was obtained with black polyethylene mulch while, minimum yield recorded 16.5 t ha-1 in control plot. Wheat straw mulch recorded 50.30% more brinjal yield as compared with control. The benefit-cost ratio was highest (3.7) with black polythene mulch as compared to control which was (2.7). Economic comparison indicate that polythene mulch were more efficient than wheat straw mulch.