Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EFFECT OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC MULCHES ON TSS, ACIDITY, TSS/ACIDITY, YIELD EFFICIENCY, SOIL HYDROTHERMAL CONDITIONS AND LEAF NUTRIENT CONTENT UNDER TEMPERATE CONDITIONS

Sheikh Mehraj, Qurtulane, F.A. Peer, I.A. Bisati, M.M. Mir and Shaziya Hassan

Abstract

The present investigation to study “The effect of organic and inorganic mulches on tss, tss/acidity, yield efficiency, soil hydrothermal conditions (soil temperature, soil moisture) and leaf nutrient content in plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) cv. Santa Rosa” was carried out at Horticulture Farm of FOA/RRS Wadura, Sopore, SKUAST-Kashmir during the year 2012-2013. Eight year old trees of plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) cv. Santa Rosa of uniform size and vigour planted at a distance of 3x3 m were selected for the experimentation. The plants were mulched in the month of March 2012 by different types of mulching materials viz, Transparent polyethylene (250 μm), Black polyethylene (250 μm), Pine needles (7 cm thick ), Mowed grass (7 cm thick ), Sawdust (7 cm thick), Chinar leaves (7 cm thick ), Control (no mulch). Maximum TSS (16.40%), TSS/Acidity (11.70) and yield efficiency (0.07 kg cm-2) were obtained in plants under black polyethylene. Least acidity (1.40%) was recorded in plants under black polyethylene. Maximum soil temperature (18.95, 18.01) oC and soil moisture (11.2, 12.2) per cent at two depths 0-15cm and 15-30cm, respectively were recorded in plants under black polyethylene mulch. Maximum leaf nutrient status (N, P, K and Ca) was obtained under black polyethylene mulch (3.58, 0.36, 3.29 and 2.30) per cent respectively.