Effect of manuring and mulches on irrigated arid brinjal in Western India

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during 2004-2009 under hot-arid irrigated conditions of western Rajasthan to determine the influence of manuring and mulching on hydrothermal environment of soil, root growth, fruit yield, nutrient removal and economics in brinjal. The FYM mulch and other soil management practices conserved moisture 63 to 144 and 10 to 133%, respectively throughout the crop growth period as compared to control. Mulching with FYM and cluster bean straw lowered the soil temperature by 4.9° and 3.4°C at a depth of 15 cm, and increased the soil temperature by 4.2 and 3.5°C, respectively during the winter season. FYM mulch recorded maximum values of root length to aerial mass ratio (RL/AM) which increased by 140% over control. The root length density (RLD), root weight density (RWD) and root volume (RV) were higher by 370, 392 and 198%, respectively under FYM mulch treatment. Higher fruit yield 173 and 154% were recorded under FYM and cluster bean straw mulching. The N, P and K status was higher under FYM by 363, 392 and 275% over control. Nutrient removal of crops, in general, was significantly higher under FYM mulch over all other treatments. The benefit: cost ratio was the highest (1.91) with FYM mulch as compared to control which was (0.83). The results of the study indicates the possibility that FYM mulch as soil water conservation practice could be an important strategy for the local inhabitants for increasing the production potential of brinjal crop.