Effect of organic mulching and spacing on soil properties and yield of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) cv. CIM Sammohak

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during November 2017 to April 2018 at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India to study the effect of organic mulching and spacing on soil temperature, soil moisture and yield of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) cv. CIM Sammohak. The experiment was conducted in split plot design with three replications. There were four level of mulches ( no mulch, rice straw, black gram straw and barnyard millet straw) as main plot treatments and three spacings (30×10 cm, 30×20 cm and 30×30 cm) as sub-plot treatments. The organic mulch at the rate of 5 ton ha−1 was applied in the field after transplanting of chamomile. From the study it was found that barnyard millet straw as mulch had the capacity to conserve the soil moisture and maintain favourable soil temperature for higher plant yield. It was also found out that for higher flower and essential oil yield of chamomile, application of barnyard millet straw at the rate of 5 ton ha−1 along with the spacing of 30×10 can be recommended under tarai conditions.