Effect of Mulched and without Mulched Intercrops on Growth Yield and Fruit Quality of Kinnow Mandarin Plantation under Semi-Arid Irrigated Conditions

Abstract

The aim of the present was to analyze the effect of different intercrops with and without mulch on growth, yield and quality of kinnow mandarin orchard. The data of kinnow plant such as height, stem girth, canopy spread, and canopy volume were collected in the month of February 2020 before transplanting the intercrops. The intercrops under mulch and without mulch treatments have significant effect on growth of kinnow plant, the percent increase in plant height (3.22%) in kinnow + watermelon, stem girth (4.20%) in kinnow + tomato, and canopy spread EW direction (3.89%) in kinnow + cantaloupe, were found to have positive effect in mulch intercrops treatments and percent increase in canopy spread NS direction (3.76%) and canopy volume (10.84%) in kinnow + watermelon, was found in without mulch intercrops treatments. The number of fruits per tree, average fruit weight and yield were significantly affected by mulch and without mulch treatments, with maximum number of fruits (920), fruit weight (161.11 g), and yield (361.34 q/ha) were recorded in kinnow + watermelon. TSS (11.56%), acidity (0.91%), ascorbic acid (30.15 mg/100ml juice) were recorded in without mulch intercrops treatments, and juice (42.96%), peel (27.84%) were recorded in mulch intercrops treatments.

Effect of the intercropping on growth and productivity of Balady Orange trees in Upper Egypt

“…Also, in the three-season table (3) all treatments the increase was significant in the fruit size, which was on the same line with the increase in the weight of the fruit compared to the control. This is in agreement with results of Kumar et al (2022), the aim of the effect of different intercrops on the average fruit weight were significantly affected by mulch and without mulch treatment. Also, among different intercropping systems tried, mango + guava +cowpea exhibited better performance which has been reflected in the form of panicle production, fruit weight and fruit yield.…”

“…Also, Salama et al (2019) pointed out that fruit yield and quality attributes of squash significantly improved than control treatment. These results are in line with those obtained by Kumar et al (2022) found that the number of fruits per tree, yield were significantly affected by mulch and without mulch treatments. Intercropped peas increased yield with maximum number of fruits (920), fruits weight (161.11g) and yield.…”

“…Indeed, these results are in line with those obtained by Aisha et al (2017) found that Intercropped peas and clover which enhanced increased berry quality, TSS content, while reduced the total acidity in berries. Also, Kumar et al (2022), indicate that TSS were significantly affected, reduced acidity by without mulch intercrops treatments. Swain et al (2012), among different intercropping systems, (mango + guava +cowpea followed by mango + guava + French bean).…”

“…Our study agreement with). Kumar et al (2022) Who showed that ascorbic acid (mg/100ml juice) were significantly affected by without mulch intercrops treatments.…”

“…In the second and third season, the results showed that the highest values obtained for the volume of Juice were with Pea, then Pumpkin, then Clover, respectively. In a study by Kumar et al (2022) stated that the effect of different intercrops mulch and without mulch on juice were significantly affected by mulch intercrops treatments. Table (5) revealed that significant effect in the average juice weight of orange fruit.…”