Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted in winter
season of 2015–2016 in the dry lateritic soil of Eastern
India to study the effect of different thicknesses of
nonwoven jute agrotextile mulches (NJATM) along
with other mulches on soil health, growth and productivity
of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.). The experiment
was conducted in randomized block design with
six treatments viz., T1 (control, i.e. no mulching), T2
(300 gsm NJATM), T3 (350 gsm NJATM), T4 (400 gsm
NJATM), T5 (rice straw) and T6 (black polythene
mulch), each of which was replicated four times. The
highest average curd weight (355.25 g) and yield
(8.53 t ha−1) of broccoli were recorded in T3 treatment.
The lowest density of broad leaved weed, sedges and
grasses were recorded in T6 treatment which was statistically
at par with T4. All the treatments composing of
NJATMincreased the population of all the soil microbes
except bacteria in the root rhizosphere of broccoli from
their initial population. On average, the highest population
of fungi (54.0 × 103 cfu per g) and actinomycetes
(134.75 × 103 cfu per g) was recorded with T3 and T4
treatments respectively in the post-harvest soil. The soil
moisture was conserved in all treatments compared to
control showing highest moisture content in T4 treatment.
Organic carbon and available N, P and K contents
of soil were increased in all mulch treated plots compared
to control, and their initial value and their highest
value were recorded in T3. The NJATM of 350 gsm
thickness was very effective compared to other mulches
in increasing the growth and productivity of broccoli by
suppressing weeds, increasing moisture, microbial population
and nutrient content of the lateritic soil.
