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Effect of Mulches on Soil Moisture Conservation, Nutrient Uptake and Yield of Wheat in Shallow Red Brown Terrace Soils of Bangladesh

M Sirajul Islam
On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Faridpur-7804, Bangladesh.

A J M Sirajul Karim
Department of Soil Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh.

M S Zannat
Soil Resource Development Institute, Farmgate, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Field experiments were conducted at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur during 2000-01 and 2001-02 to study the effect of mulching with rice straw, dry water hyacinth and white polyethylene on soil moisture conservation, water use, nutrient uptake and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum Lemand Liori & Pavl.). Rice straw mulch conserved more moisture (15.1%) at the grain filling stage of wheat than with water hyacinth mulch (8.6%) and polyethylene mulch (5.1%) against no mulch. The first one treatment also significantly increased plant height, spikes/m² grains/spike and straw and grain yield of wheat. Water hyacinth and polyethylene mulch also showed significant response compared with no mulch. The average grain yield increase over no mulch was 30% by rice straw mulch, 23% by water hyacinth mulch and 12% by polyethylene mulch. Total N, P and K uptake by wheat was also higher in rice straw mulch, followed by water hyacinth mulch. The rice straw mulch showed higher total water use as well as water use efficiency.

Keywords: Wheat, Mulch, Soil moisture, Root growth, Nutrient uptake, Yield

Location: Banglabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur

Start Date: 00-00-2000

End Date: 00-00-2002

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Wheat

Objectives:

To study moisture preservation, nutrient uptake and yield of wheat as affected by different mulch application.

Methodology:

The experiments were conducted at the research farm of Banglabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur during Rabi season of 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. The soil of the experimental site was slightly acidic in reaction having pH 6.6 and clay loam to clay in texture with organic carbon 0.73%, CEC 11.5 meq/100g soil, total N 0.081 %, available P17 ppm, exchangeable K 0.24 meq/100g soil and available Sand Zn 13.2 and 2.5 ppm, respectively. The experiment was laid out in RCB design with three replications and unit plot size was 5mx4m. The treatments were: i) rice straw mulch (RSM): rice straw was spread to cover the soil in between the wheat rows @ of 7.5 t/ha, ii) water hyacinth mulch (WHM): sun-dried water hyacinth was spread to cover the soil in between the plant rows @ 7.5 t/ha, iii) white polyethylene mulch (PM): polyethylene sheets were spread to cover the soil in between the plant rows, and iv) no mulch (NM) (control). The mulch materials were spread in between wheat rows after germination. The total rainfall during the growth period was 1.41 cm and 2.55 cm in 2000-01 and 2001-02, respectively. The previous crop in the field was mungbean. The field was ploughed twice and harrowed prior to planting. Wheat cv. 'Protiva' was sown in the 3^rd week of November at 20cm row spacing at 5cm depth. Fertilizers were applied @ 120 kg N, 35 kg P, 50 kg K, 20 kg Sand 5 kg Znl/ha. Irrigation was applied at 21, 56 and 81 days after sowing up to field capacity. Soil moisture content of samples from 0-15 and 15-30 cm depth was determined by gravimetric method until harvest. Wheat grain and straw samples were collected at harvest and analyzed for N, P and K. Grain yield was determined from 3m² of each plot. Plant height, number of spikes/m², grains/spike and 1000-grain weight were calculated from 20 plant sub-samples collected randomly. Root samples were taken at physiological maturity using soil cores at 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm depths. Three samples of root were taken; one from the area where the main root mass was located and other two from between rows. Root growth was estimated by weighing the root mass. The data were analyzed using 'Analysis of Variance' procedure; LSD was used to compare treatment means using F-test.

Source of Information: BANGLADESH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT, Vol-3(1), pp.83-88, June 2007, ISSN: 1816-0808.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

On the basis of the findings it may be concluded that use of rice straw and water hyacinth mulches can effectively conserve soil moisture. Rice straw and water hyacinth mulches also increases nutrient uptake, water use efficiency as well as yield of wheat in Modhupur Tract soil of Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Journal