Interactive effects of irrigation and mulches on soil temperature and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the comparative effect of different irrigation levels in combination with mulching materials on soil temperature, water use efficiency and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). Irrigation was scheduled at (I1) 15% available soil moisture depletion (ASMD), (I2) 30% ASMD (I3), 45% ASMD, and (I4) 60% ASMD with combination of black plastic mulch (M1), wheat straw mulch (M2) and bare soil (M3) as a control. Comparatively, black plastic mulch increased soil temperature whiles wheat straw mulch decreased it over bare soil (control). The yield parameters; number of fruits, fruit yield per plant, per plot and per hectare were 4.03, 0.68 kg plant-1, 17.2 kg plot-1, and 17.2 tha-1 recorded in M3I2 (30% ASMD +black plastic mulch). The highest WUE was 292.97 kg/ha-cm obtained in treatment, M3I2. Using drip irrigation system, black plastic mulch resulted to 14.1% water saving whiles wheat straw mulch 5.27% over bare soil.