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Microclimatic Alteration and Productivity of Mustard Crop as Induced by Indigenous Mulches

M. A. Awal
Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.

Farzana Sultana
Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An experiment was carried out in the Crop Botany Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to find out the effect of indigenous mulches viz. rice straw, ash and sawdust on the microclimate, growth and yield of mustard crop cv. Shafol (Brassica campestris var. Yellow Sarson) during the winter season; November 2008 to February 2009. As compared to add mulch and control (i.e. no mulch), the straw and sawdust mulches decreased the temperature but increased the moisture content of the soil. The mustard crop grown with sawdust mulch showed better performances for most of the parameters like shoot height, number of primary branches/plant, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation and yield components and yield. The sawdust mulched crop produced (1.54 t ha^-1) about 20% higher seed yield than the crops grown with straw mulch (1.00 t ha^-1) or no mulch (1.24 t ha^-1). A heavy mulch cover like rice straw is unsuitable for mustard cultivation because the seedlings were so soft and succulent that many plant lets could not emerge out successfully by penetrating up through the straw mulch cover thus fail to establish as good crop stands. In contrast, the loose or powdery mulch like sawdust is proved to be beneficial for establishing good crop stands with higher production of mustard.

Keywords: Brassica campestris, Dry matter, Leaf area index, Microclimate, Mulch, Yield

Location: Crop Botany Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-11-2008

End Date: 00-02-2009

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Commodity: Mustard, Weather/Climate

Objectives:

To document the effect of microclimate on the productivity of Mustard
To find out the effect of mulches on the growth and yield of mustard under altered microclimate,
To identify the best indigenous mulch for the better production of mustard crop under the agro-climatic conditions of Bangladesh

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted in the Crop Botany Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University during the dry winter season e.g from November 2008 to February 2009. Geographically the site (24°75' N latitude and 90°50' E longitude) is at at an elevation of 18 m above the sea level) belonging to the sub-tropical climatic. The topography of the experimental field was medium high land of Sonatala Soil Series: gray flood plain soil type under the Agro Ecological Zone-9, named Old Bramhaputra Flood Plain. The soil was silty loam with imperfectly to poorly drained. The land was prepared by deep ploughing with a power tiller. The weeds and stubbles were removed from the plots as far as possible. Recommended doses of manures and fertilizers were mixed to the soil. The unit plot size was 3x2 m. The experiment comprised four mulching treatments viz. no mulch (control), rice straw, ash and sawdust mulches followed by a RCBD with four replicates. Seeds of mustard cultivar-‘Shafol’ (Brassica campestris L. var. Yellow Sarson) were sown by hand on 12 November 2008 maintaining 25 cm space between lines and 10 cm between plant to plant within a line. Soon after seed sowing the plots were covered by the selected mulches @ 1 kg m^-2 as per experimental design. The mulch materials were spread out uniformly throughout the plots. Different intercultural operations especially weeding and control of insect pests and diseases were done as and where needed. Microclimatic parameters viz. soil temperature and moisture were measured on 29 and 59 days after sowing (DAS). Daytime soil temperatures were measured at hourly interval starting from sunrise to around sunset. Soil temperature data were collected at 5 and 10 cm soil depths with graduated-transparent soil thermometers covered by metallic case. Soil moisture contents at 5-15 cm depth were measured gravimetrically. Ten plants from each plot were randomly harvested to record the data on seasonal growth traits like shoot height (measured with a graduated scale placed vertically from ground level to the top of the shoot), number of primary branches/plant (the branches on the main stem of the plant), leaf area, dry matter accumulation at 15 days interval starting from 30 days after sowing (DAS) continued till maturity of crop (90 DAS i.e. 9 Feb 2009). The leaf areas were measured by an Electronic Area Meter (LICOR, LI-3000, USA). The Leaf Area Index (LAI) was calculated as leaf area/ground area basis. To record the data on dry weight the plant samples were dried in an oven at 80±2°C until constant weight. The crop was finally harvested at physiological maturity to record the data on yield components and yield viz. number of siliqua/plant, number of seed/siliqua, number of seed/plant, 1000-seed wt. (g), seed wt. (g)/plant, seed yield, total dry matter yield (i.e. biological yield) and harvest index. All data were statistically analyzed and the mean differences were evaluated by Least Significant Difference (LSD) or Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test.

Source of Information: International Journal of Agricultural Research, 6: 819-829.

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: 10.3923/ijar.2011.819.829; URL: http://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijar.2011.819.829

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The mustard crop grown with sawdust mulch showed better performances for most of the parameters like shoot height, number of primary branches/plant, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation and yield components and yield. The sawdust mulched crop produced (1.54 t ha^-1) about 35 and 20% higher seed yield than the crops grown with straw mulch (1.00 t ha^-1) or no mulch (1.24 t ha^-1). A heavy mulch cover like rice straw is unsuitable for mustard cultivation. In contrast, the loose or powdery mulch like sawdust proved to be beneficial for establishing good crop stands with higher production of mustard.

Knowledge Management: Journal