Effect of mulching on yield and physico-chemical properties of mango fruits cv. Himsagar grown in rainfed laterite soils.
Ghosh S. N., Bauri F. K.
Author Affiliation: Department of Fruits and Orchard Management, Faculty of Horticulture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur - 741 252, Nadia, West Bengal, India.
Orissa Journal of Horticulture 31 : 78-81
Abstract : Sixteen years old mango cv. Himsagar trees of uniform growth and vigour were grown in Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India, during 1994-97. The treatments comprised black polyethylene sheet mulching (250 gauge thickness), paddy straw mulching, dry mango leaf mulching, hoeing around the tree basin and control (no mulch). Mulching significantly increased fruit retention in mango, which consequently resulted in high fruit production. Black polyethylene mulch was the most effective and resulted in the highest fruit retention of 68.0%. The black polyethylene mulch-treated trees had the highest fruit yield per tree of 71.8 and 125.4 kg, which was 22.1 and 81.2% over the control in the 'on years' of 1995 and 1997, respectively. Determination of soil moisture content in the rooting zone (0-30 cm depth) revealed that all the mulching treatments helped to improve the soil moisture status and it was the highest under the plants treated with black polyethylene mulch (15.0 and 13.4% in March and April, respectively). The efficiency was 3 to 5 times higher than that of the control. Mulching increased individual fruit weight, which was highest in black polyethylene mulching (322.0 g) followed by hoeing of tree basin (321.0 g), and lowest (288.0 g) in the control. The fruit quality was affected significantly by the application of various mulches. The highest total soluble solids (18.3%) and total sugar (12.45%) contents were recorded under black polyethylene mulch followed by paddy straw and the lowest values were obtained in the control. The ascorbic acid content was maximum under dry leaf mulching (100.2 mg/100 ml) followed by paddy straw. Fruit acidity was not affected by various mulching treatments. The highest net income of Rs 630.20 tree was obtained from black polyethylene mulch, which gave an additional income of Rs 182.20 per tree compared to the control.