Effect of organic and inorganic mulches on growth parameters of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Allahabad Safeda under high density planting system

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Effect of organic and inorganic mulches on growth parameters of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Allahabad Safeda under high density planting system” was carried out during 2024-25 at the Precision Farming Development Centre, Department of Fruit Science, IGKV, Raipur (C.G.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with 13 treatments and 3 replications. Various organic (paddy straw, banana leaves, kans grass, mushroom husk, cardboard,) and inorganic (silver, black and transparent polythene) mulches were evaluated along with a control (no mulch). The study revealed that mulching had a significant effect on all growth parameters of guava, including tree height, tree volume, leaf area, leaf area index and chlorophyll content. Among the treatments, silver polythene mulch (T₇) recorded the maximum tree height (3.00 m), tree volume (7.21 m³), leaf area (93.42 cm²), leaf area index (3.41) and chlorophyll content (48.00 SPAD), followed by transparent and black polythene mulches. The control treatment recorded the lowest values across all parameters. The improved growth under mulched conditions may be attributed to better soil moisture retention, favorable root-zone temperature and enhanced nutrient availability. The findings demonstrate that silver polythene mulch is most effective in promoting vegetative growth of guava under high-density planting systems, suggesting its suitability for optimizing orchard productivity and resource use efficiency.