Growth and Soil Health Influenced by Different Mulching and Irrigation Levels in Sunflower during Summer

Author: Irrigation Level, IW/CPE ratio, Mulch, Soil health, Water productivity

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Abstract

Optimizing water usage is essential for achieving higher crop and water productivity. In this study, conducted in 2019, we aimed to assess water management strategies to enhance productivity and profitability in sunflower cultivation. We implemented various combinations of mulching and irrigation levels, which included three mulch types: no mulch, straw mulch and polythene mulch, along with four levels of irrigation: critical stages, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 IW/CPE. Results revealed that polythene mulch led to highest values for growth parameter such as plant height, dry matter accumulation (DMA), number of leaves, stem diameter, SPAD values and nutrient content in grain and stover. Additionally, soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and enzymatic activity were most pronounced in plots with straw mulch. Among the different irrigation schedules, 1.2 IW/CPE level demonstrated superior performances, exhibiting higher growth attributes, nutrient content in both grain and stover and total uptake of nutrients. Furthermore, the application of irrigation at 1.0 IW/CPE resulted in highest SMBC and enzymatic activity in soil. This research sheds light on the potential benefits of polythene mulch and optimized irrigation schedules for enhancing sunflower cultivation in the Tarai region of Uttarakhand, with implications for improved crop yields and soil health.

Keywords

Irrigation Level, IW/CPE ratio, Mulch, Soil health, Water productivity

Conclusion

The experimental results indicated that polythene mulch with 1.2 IW/CPE ratio gave significantly higher plant height, dry matter accumulation, stem diameter, number of leaves, SPAD values and soil chemical properties while straw mulch with 1.0 irrigation schedules gave beneficial SMBC and soil enzymatic activity. Therefore, it is concluded that sunflower may be grown under straw mulch with 1.0 IW/CPE irrigation schedules for economical way.

References

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How to cite this article

Rakesh Dawar, Jeetendra Kumar, Th. Nengparmoi, K. Jaisimha Reddy, Indrani Debasmita Borah, Mohammed Saleh Al Ansari and Okram Ricky Devi (2023). Growth and Soil Health Influenced by Different Mulching and Irrigation Levels in Sunflower during Summer. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(10): 689-694.