Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Effect of Different Mulches on Potato at the Saline Soil of Southeastern Bangladesh

M.J. Rahaman
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, 1701

M.Shalim Uddin
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, 1701

M.J. Uddin
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, 1701

Shamim Ara Bagum
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, 1701

N. K. Halder
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, 1701

M. F. Hossain
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, 1701

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The present study was carried out to observe the effect of different mulches on the production of potato (Solanum tuberosum). Treatments with mulches-rice straw, water hyacinth and wastage of rice straw significantly increased potato yield over control. Salinity was found to be higher in the treatment without mulch than different mulch materials during the experimental period. From the average of two years results, it was found that highest yield (23.02 ton ha^-1) and gross margin (TK 69425) was obtained by rice straw mulch followed by water hyacinth mulch with yield 22.23 ton ha^-1 and gross margin TK 66084. The benefit cost ratio was found to be highest (2.51) in rice straw followed by water hyacinth (2.46), wastage of rice straw (2.08) and no mulch (1.69). The results indicate that potato could be cultivated in saline soil by minimizing salinity with application of mulch.

Keywords: Potato, Mulch, Salinity

Location: Farming Systems Research and Development (FSRD) site, Atkapalia, Noakhali, BARI

Start Date: 00-00-1999

End Date: 00-00-2001

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Potato, Soil salinity

Objectives:

To know the effect of different mulches viz. water hyacinth, rice straw and wastage of rice straw in the production of potato.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted at farmer’s field under Farming Systems Research and Development (FSRD) site, Atkapalia, Noakhali, during the winter season of 1999- 2000 and 2000-2001. Organic matter content, pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and sulphur of soils were 1.41%, 7.06, 0.03%, 5.7 µg g^-l soil, 0.231 meq per 100 g soil, 0.66 µg g^-l soil and 65.2 µg g^-l soil, respectively. Different mulch treatments i.e., no mulch (T₁), wastage of rice straw (T₂), water hyacinth (T₃) and rice straw (T₄) amounting 4.0 ton ha^-l were tested against control (no mulch) treatment. The experiment was conducted under randomized complete block design with six dispersed replications having unit plot size of 8x5 m. The experimental site experiences a year-to-year variation of salinity on the basis of rainfall. According to monitoring data of SRDI, Noakhali (Anonymous, 2000) trend of soil salinity (0-130 cm depth) and rainfall of the nearest site Char Jublee during the previous two years (1996-97 and 1997-98). The crop was fertilized with N-P-K -Zn (165-32-57-3) and cowdung at the rate of 5 t ha^-lto achieve high yield goal on the basis of Fertilizer Recommendation Guide- 1997, BARC. All fertilizers were applied at the final land preparation as basal. The whole potato tubers of the variety Diamont were planted within 20-23 November, in both the years. Mulches were applied immediately after planting to check the loss of soil moisture. The crop was grown under rainfed situation and harvested during 4^th week of February. Data regarding yield was collected from each plot by avoiding 1m border area from each side 10 hills were selected randomly for collecting all the yield contributing factors. Electrical conductivity in soil solution was measured using conductivity bridge (Model- EIJKLKAIWP pH/EC 18.38). All the data were recorded at the time of harvest and were statistically analyzed. The means were compared by Least Significant Differences (LSD) test. Moreover, input prices were recorded for cost and return analysis.

Source of Information: Journal of Biological Sciences, 4(1): 1-4, 2004, ISSN 1727-3048

Article Link (Online Journal): http://www.oalib.com/paper/2754534#.Vu916XqeXIU

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Soil salinity (Electrical conductivity, EC) was determined at every 15 days interval during the experimental period. Electrical conductivity of the experimental plot before planting of potato tuber were 2.2 dsm^-1 in the year 1999 and 2.32 dsm^-1 in the year 2000. In the harvesting stage (22 February), the highest EC (7.8 dsm^-1) was found in T₁ followed by T₂ (6.9 dsm^-1), T₃ (5.6 dsm^-1) and T₄ (5.2 dsm^-1) during 1999-00. On the other hand, during 2000-01, the highest salinity (BC, 6.6 dsm^-1) was recorded in T₁ followed by T₂ (5.4 dsm‘l), T₃ (5.2 dsm‘l) and T₄ (4.8 dsm‘l) in the harvesting stage. The lower EC in mulched plot may be attributed to protection of evaporation due to mulch that hindered the build up of salinity. In the year 2000, after 2 days of planting of potato, salinity level declined when a heavy rainfall amounting 43 mm occurred during 4th week of December. After that salinity increased gradually up to harvesting period. But the higher salinity was observed with no mulch treatment (6.6 ds m^-1) followed by wastage of rice straw (5.4 ds m^-1), rice straw (5.2 ds m^-1) and water hycinth (4.9 ds m^-1) during the harvesting period of potato. Different mulches affected plant height, number of tuber per plant and tuber weight per plant and tuber yield ha^-1 significantly over control. The higher plant height 60 cm during 1999-2000 and 67 cm during 2000-01 were obtained from the treatment rice straw mulch. The lowest plant height 42 and 52 cm, respectively were recorded from the control (no mulch) treatment during both the season. Treatments rice straw and water hyacinth produced significant difference over control treatment. But rice straw and water hyacinth showed statistically similar plant height in both the year. The plant height was poor in no mulch treatment due to higher salinity in the root zone and salinity prevents the plants from taking up the proper nutrients they require for healthy growth (Salt tolerance of plants). Higher number of tubers produced per plant by the mulch treatment rice straw (1007) followed by water hyacinth (9.80), wastage of rice straw (7.53) and control (6.33) during 1999-2000. The weight of tubers per plant was recorded highest 454.3 and 612.3 gm during 1999-00 and 2000-01 in rice straw mulch. In both the years tuber weight per plant was statistically similar to water hyacinth mulch (448.8 g in 1999-00 and 590.7 g in 2000-01). The lowest weight of tubers per plant was recorded by control treatment 392.7 and 420.3g during 1999-00 and 2000-01, respectively. Different mulch treatments rice straw, water hyacinth and wastage of rice straw produced significant yield difference over control. Highest yield was found from rice straw 17.23 t ha+ during 1999-2000 and 28.81 t ha^-1 during 2000-01 followed by water hyacinth(16.52 t ha^-1 in 1999-2000 and 27.95 t ha^-1 in 2000-01), wastage of rice straw (14.32 ton ha^-1 in 1 999-00 and 21.83 tha^-1 in 2000-01) and control (11.32 tha^-1 in 1999-2000 and 16.80 t ha^-1 in 2000-01). The use of water hyacinth mulch in potato cultivation has been in practice in some areas for a long time.

Knowledge Management: Journal