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Effect of Organic and Synthetic Mulches on Soil Temperature, Nutrient Availability and Yield of Squash (2019–2020)

A.T.M.A.I. Mondol
Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

M. K. Alam
Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

M.J. Alam
Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

S. Akhter
Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The field experiment was conducted on squash cv. Bulam house at Central Research Farm, BARI, Gazipurunder AEZ-28 during the rabi season of 2019-2020 to study the effect of organic and synthetic mulches on soil temperature, nutrient availability and yield of squash. The treatments were T₁: control, T₂: black polyethylene mulch, T₃: white polyethylene mulch and T₄: rice straw mulch. The experiment is laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), where each treatment was replicated thrice. Data on growth and yield attributes of squash were collected during the crop growing season and after harvesting. Soil temperatures were differentially affected by the type of polyethylene mulch, with temperatures generally following the order: white polyethylene mulch>black polyethylene mulch >rice straw mulch. All plant growth characters, yield and yield contributing characters were superior with white polyethylene relative to grown without mulch (control). Treatment T₃ (white polyethylene mulch) resulted in increased single fruit weight (kg) of squash than control. Fruit yield was also increased when grown in soils under white polyethylene mulch which was 40 t ha^-1. White polyethylene mulch had a 332 % increase in yield per ha over control. The higher yield was associated with increased soil temperature in the soil under white polyethylene.

Keywords: Soil moisture, Organic and synthetic mulches, Soil temperature, Nutrient availability, Squash

Location: Soil Science Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-2019

End Date: 00-00-2020

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Mulching, Squash

Objectives:

This study was undertaken to fulfill the following objectives: i. To determine the effects of different mulches on soil temperature ii. To observe the changes in soil moisture and trend of nutrient availability as governed by organic and synthetic mulches

Methodology:

A field experiment was conducted at Central Research Farm, BARI, Gazipur under AEZ-28 during 2019-2020. There were four treatments i.e. T₁: Control, T₂: Black polyethylene mulch, T₃: white polyethylene mulch and T₄: Rice straw mulch. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications of each treatment. Three seeds were sown in a pit (30 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm) on 17 December 2019 at a spacing of 2m x 2m following the cultural practices of BARI, Gazipur. Variety used in the experiment was Bulam house. The recommended dose of NPKB @ of 230-80-150-0.3 kg ha^-1was used per STB (FRG, 2018). Cowdung @ 10 tons ha^-1was applied during final land preparation. All PB, ¹/₂ K and ¹/₅ N were incorporated into the soil before sowing. The rest K and N were top-dressed in four equal splits at 20 days intervals after transplanting. After the establishment of the seedlings, plants were mulched on 1 January 2020. The experimental soil was clay loam, slightly acidic in nature (pH 6.1) with very low organic matter content (0.66%). Soil samples were collected from 0-15 cm soil depth from each plot and analyzed in the laboratory following standard methods. Soil samples for moisture content determination were collected from each plot, from sowing to harvesting of squash according to treatment. All intercultural operations were done as and when necessary to raise a healthy crop. Fruits are harvested when they were still tender and of marketable size. The harvesting was started on 02 February 2020. Monthly weather data during the crop growing period of 2019-2020. After the collection of data, it was tabulated in proper form and subjected to statistical analysis with the help of a computer package tested with DMRT.

Source of Information: Annual Research Report 2019–2020, Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

It is concluded that the application of mulches over controls beneficial to farmers. Farmers can adopt mulches for the production of pit crops like squash based on the availability of mulch material and other priority criteria. This is the result obtained after one season of the experiment. The experiment should be continued in the next year for the confirmation of the results.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings