Influence of different type of mulches on soil properties and weed biomass in okra {Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench}

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted at in summer season 2017 in okra .Soil properties studied under inorganic and organic mulch and compared with control. The experiment was laid out as randomized block design with three replication and nine treatments. The results reveled that among all the treatments, the soil temperature at 30, 60 and 90 DAS (35.17, 33.93 and 36.27 °C) were recorded with black polythene mulch: 50 micron. The maximum soil moisture content at 30 and 60 DAS (16.33 and 18.33 %) and maximum water use efficiency (WUE) (32.54 kg/ha/mm) were recorded with treatment silver polythene mulch: 50 micron. Also, analysis indicated that minimum weed biomass (19.27 g/m2) was observed in silver polythene mulch: 50 micron.