Crop coefficients of Bt. cotton under variable moisture regimes and mulching

An experiment was undertaken for two years (2013-14 and 2014-15) on sandy loam soils of Junagadh (21°30’ N, 70°27’ E) to determine crop coefficients of Bt. cotton under three mulch treatments (M1- silver black plastic mulch, M2- biodegradable plastic mulch, M3- wheat straw mulch and C - control) with two irrigation regimes (I1- 1.0 IW/ETc, I2-0.8 IW/ETc). Actual evapotranspiration was estimated using soil moisture sensors. Results revealed that adjusted FAO Kc predicts higher value than sensor based Kc values at both irrigation regimes. Silver black plastic mulch recorded lower crop coefficient values at all growth stage of Bt. cotton compared to biodegradable plastic mulch, wheat straw mulch and control. Sensor based Kc ini and Kc-devvalues of silver black plastic mulch observed 72.2, 29.0 and 66.9 and 14.8 per cent lower than control at 1.0 IW/ETc and 0.8 IW/ETc respectively. Overestimated adjusted FAO Kc values caused a loss of 78.1mm and 66.5mm of precious water at 1.0 IW/ETc and 0.8 IW/ETc respectively. This study admonishes blind adoption of published FAO Kc curves for mulch conditions.

Organic Amendment and Mulching Enhanced the Growth and Fruit Quality of Squash Plants (Cucurbita pepo L.) Grown on Silty Loam Soils

Adoption of suitable organic fertilizers and soil mulching are useful tools to enhance soil quality, which will inevitably lead to improved growth and yield of crops. Little is known about the soil organic amendments and Azolla (Azolla pinnata) under soil organic mulching on the growth and yield of squash plant (Cucurbita pepo L.). A comparative study mainly focused on the impacts of organic fertilizer treatments on soil fertility and squash growth under wheat straw mulch was conducted on wooden boxes filled with silty loam soil. Wheat straw, as an organic mulch, and five organic-fertilization treatments were added to the soil. Wheat straw with a size of <2 cm was added to the soil surface with a 2 cm thickness. The fertilization treatments were: control (CO), chemical fertilizer (CF), compost (CT), vermicompost (VC), and dry Azolla (DA). Wheat straw mulch had positive effects on the soil properties, growth, and yield. The maximum fruit yield was obtained from the soil fertilized with DA under wheat straw mulch, while the lowest one was found in the control without mulching. Azolla and organic fertilizers showed a remarkable superiority over the mineral fertilization in increasing the soil fertility as well as the growth and quality of squash fruits; this superiority increased under the wheat straw mulching system. The application of recommended mineral fertilization (CF), compost (CT), vermicompost (VC), and dry Azolla (DA) under wheat straw mulch increased the soil available-N by 2, 20, 12, and 29%, respectively, above the control (CO), while these organic fertilizers without mulching increased the soil available-N by 11, 32, 26, and 48%, respectively. The production of vegetable crops such as squash plants requires the addition of organic fertilizers and mulching to increase yield and quality of fruits.

Variation in Postharvest Quality Attributes of Fresh Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Beans Harvested from Different Crop Mulching Regime

Background: Present study, aimed to assess effect of organic and inorganic crop mulching on physical, physiological and biochemical quality of fresh cowpea beans.Methods: Cowpea (cv. Kashi Kanchan bush-type) was grown during two consecutive seasons from April 2018 to July 2019 under four different mulching treatments. Mulching treatments included no mulch; wheat straw mulch (organic mulch); black mulch and silver mulch. Black and silver mulches were made of 25 microns LDPE sheet. Cowpea was grown as per standard agronomic practices and physical, biochemical and postharvest quality parameters of beans were evaluated.Result: Results indicated that bean length (28.7cm) was highest under silver mulch whereas bean thickness (9.10mm), width (9.29mm) and 100 bean weight (1094.5g) were highest under organic mulch. Likewise, protein content (28.63%), total phenolic content (17.0µg GAE/100g) and total antioxidant activity (46.84µmol trolox equiv./100g) were found highest in beans produced under organic mulch. Overall results demonstrated that crop mulching could be used for enhancing the antioxidants, phenolic content of cowpea beans.

Optimization of wheat straw pretreatment process parameters for straw mulch mat

Straw mulch mat is a promising alternative to petroleum-based plastic mulching film. The straw pretreatment process parameters influence the mechanical properties of the mat. To explore the effect of pretreatment process parameters on physical properties of wheat straw mulch mat, a five-factor and five-level central composite design (CCD) methodology was studied. With response surface methodology (RSM) analysis, the effects of parameters (soaking water temperature, soaking time, processing speed, manufacturing temperature, and manufacturing pressure) on dry tensile index and wet tensile index of original film, and initial beating degree of the straw pulp were reported. The optimal technical parameters were optimized as soaking water temperature 90 °C, soaking time 1.5 h, manufacturing pressure 1.5 MPa, processing speed 83.5 to 87.8 r/min, and manufacturing temperature 95 to 100 °C. With the optimal condition, the dry tensile index, wet tensile index, and initial beating degree were higher than 8 N·m/g, 4 N·m/g, and 17 °SR, respectively. With this pretreatment of raw materials, the wheat straw mulch mat would meet the demands of mechanical properties for agriculture mulching after adding chemical additives.

Wheat straw mulch improves summer maize productivity and soil properties

Crop residue mulch in agricultural systems preserves soil health and improves crop productivity through its moderating influence on soil temperature regime and enhanced moisture retention. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to determine the changes in soil properties and grain yield of irrigated summer maize in response to wheat straw mulching in the Northern maize region in China. The treatments investigated were: (i) application of wheat straw mulch (5000 kg ha-1) and (ii) no-mulch application (control). Maize growth and yield attributes were determined during various growth stages, and soil hydro-thermal properties were recorded for two depths (0-15 and 15-30 cm). Straw mulch increased the yield by 18% and also increased total dry biomass yield by 20%, compared to no-mulch. Yield increment was attributed to the increased number of ears per area and kernels number per ear. The effect on thousand kernels weight was found non-significant. Vigorous maize growth was observed under straw mulch treatment, having greater leaf area index (LAI), unit leaf rate (ULR), leaf area duration (LAD), and crop growth rate (CGR). Similarly, the dry matter partitioning for maize kernels was greater in mulch treatment. At the late reproductive stages (R3 and R5), SPAD values for ear and below-ear leaves were higher under mulch treatment. Straw mulch decreased the daytime soil temperature by 1.9 and 1.5 °C on average for 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil layers, respectively. Whereas, the soil moisture content increased about 2.5% (0-15 cm) and 3% (15-30 cm) under the mulch treatment. In crux, leftover crop residue application as mulch in irrigated maize could be a sustainable agronomic option to increase the crop productivity. Highlights - Wheat straw mulch improved maize grain yield by approx. 18% mainly by increased kernel numbers per ear. - Maize growth attributes and SPAD values were improved under mulch treatment compared to no-mulch. - Straw mulching helped in maintaining comparatively higher soil moisture content (~2 %) and reduced the soil temperature (~1.72°C) during the crop growth period.

The effect of straw mulch and compost application on the soil losses in potatoes cultivation

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of the straw mulch and compost application on the soil losses in potatoes cultivation. The three-year (2016–2018) exact field plot trials with the potato cv. Dicolora was carried out at the experimental station in Prague-Uhříněves. Wheat straw mulch in two doses 2.5 t/ha (SM1) and 4.5 t/ha (SM2) was applied on the soil surface; the compost in a dose of 20 t/ha (CM) was shuffled to the surface soil layer. Both straw mulch and compost application contributed to the significant reduction of the soil losses compared to control untreated (C). In the average of 2016–2018, the lowest soil loss 17.54 g/m² (amount of the soil sediment caught) was found for the variant with the straw mulch treatment (SM2); it means the decrease of soil losses by 71.9% compared to C. Variant SM1 (lower rate of straw mulch in dose 2.5 t/ha) showed the soil loss 18.6 g/m² (the decrease by 70.2% compared to C). The similar results for both variants indicate that for effective soil protection, it is not necessary to use the high doses of the straw mulch. Regarding the distribution of precipitation during the vegetation season, intensive precipitation during the short time, especially when they came after the longer period of drought led to higher soil losses compared to the precipitation distributed regularly.

The straw as mulch and compost as a tool for mitigation of drought impacts in the potatoes cultivation

The frequent occurrence of years with extreme drought leads to the investigation of measures for mitigation of their impacts. The efficiency of organic mulch materials – straw and compost application as the preservation of potato production in drought conditions were verified in this study. Three mulching treatments were verified during the three experimental years (2016–2018) in an exact field trial with potatoes cv. Dicolora. Wheat straw mulch in the rate of 2.5 t/ha (SM1) and 4.5 t/ha (SM2), compost in the rate of 20 t/ha (CM), and control block without any treatments (C) were used. The yield of marketable tubers (tuber over 40 mm) showed a significant increase by 21.2% at the straw mulch treatment (SM2) in comparison with control. As for the straw mulch (SM1) and compost mulch (CM), tubers yields increased by 12.8% and 10.1%, respectively, compared to control.

Effectiveness of wheat straw mulch and Polyacrylamide on shallow stability of roadside slopes

Soil aggregate instability on unprotected roadside slopes can cause landslide, soil erosion and sedimentation. Different biological and chemical soil stabilizers are used to reinforce the instable slopes. In the present study, straw mulch and Polyacrylamide (PAM) combinations were investigated on a clay soil of road cutslope in campus of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran. The selected cover treatments were Polyacrylamide (2, 3 and 4 g·m–2) with wheat straw mulch (50, 150 and 250 g·m–2) which was spread by hand to attain 75% groundcover on a 1:1 slope. After the three months, soil sampling was done to determine the changes in aggregate stability of soil. Results showed that the most efficient treatment with respect to mean weight diameter of soil aggregates in dry and wet sieving (MWDdry and MWDwet), aggregate stability index (AS) and aggregate destruction index (DI) was treatment of B (150 g·m–2 wheat straw mulch and 3 g·m–2 Polyacrylamide tackifier) with 34%, 68% and 47% increment in MWDdry, MWDwet and AS, respectively as well as 37% reduction in DI as compared to the bare soil control.<br /><br />

Investigations on effectiveness of wheat and rice straw mulches on moisture retention in potato crop (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Purpose Mulching is a practice recommended for soil moisture conservation in potato. The wheat straw and rice straw obtained as major crop residues were used as mulching materials to compare their effectiveness for soil moisture retention in potato crop. Methods The field experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design replicated thrice with three treatments viz. plots incorporated with wheat straw mulch, rice straw mulch at the rate of 10 tonnes per hectare each and no mulch serving as control. The soil moisture was determined using a soil moisture probe and data were recorded daily at 10 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm soil depths. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to investigate moisture retention characteristics of the mulch materials. Results Soil moisture retention varied as wheat straw mulch > rice straw mulch > no mulch at 10 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm soil depths, respectively. Highest moisture retention in wheat straw mulch at 10 cm depth is attributed to better moisture absorption ability of wheat straw in comparison to rice straw. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope images indicated the presence of smaller sized micro tubes in wheat straw than rice straw, which resulted in more water retention, thereby substantiating the findings of the study. Conclusion Wheat straw mulch is more effective than rice straw mulch for shallow rooted crops like potato, due to better moisture absorption and retention in upper soil layer.

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.