Effect of Different Type of Mulches on Soil Properties and Weed Control Efficiency in Cauliflower Var. Pusa Snowball K-1

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted during winter 2021-22 at Polytechnic in Horticulture, ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Paria, Gujarat, India to study the effect of different type of mulches on soil properties and weed control efficiency in cauliflower var. Pusa Snowball K-1. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and nine treatments viz., T1- Black polyethylene mulch, T2- Silver polyethylene mulch, T3- Red polyethylene mulch, T4- Silver black polyethylene mulch, T5- White polyethylene mulch, T6- Paddy straw mulch (10 t ha-1), T7- Sugarcane trash (10 t ha-1), T8- Farmer’s practice (Two hand weeding with flood irrigation) and T9- Control (No mulch). The study revealed that the black polyethylene mulch had a positive impact on soil properties and weed control efficiency in cauliflower var. Pusa Snowball K-1. Black polyethylene mulch (T1) recorded maximum soil temperature (32.70 °C, 32.33 °C, 29.86 °C, 27.93 °C, 27.73 °C, 31.70 °C and 33.93 °C) and soil moisture content (23.65 %, 22.60 %, 20.98 %, 22.26 %, 21.55 %, 20.65 % and 22.46 %) at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 and 105 DATP, respectively. The highest weed control efficiency (97.26 %) was also recorded by black polyethylene mulch (T1) among the all treatments.