Effect of Natural and Synthetic Mulches on Yield and Yield Attributing Parameters of Chili (Capsicum annum L. Solanaceae)

Abstract

Aims: Production of chili (Capsicum annuum Linnaeus; Solanaceae) in rain-fed regions of Nepal during the winter is constrained by the limited availability of soil moisture. Mulching has been a proven tool to conserve soil moisture and enhance yield. A field study was conducted in the winter of 2019 to identify the most suitable mulch that enhances the yield and yield attributing parameters of chili.
 Study Design: Seven treatments with three replications were evaluated under the randomized complete block design. Among the treatments, rice straw (5 kg/plot) and water reed (5 kg/plot) were used as natural mulches. While, plastic mulches: transparent (25 µ), silver (25 µ), black (25 µ), and black thick (50 µ) (double thickness) were used as synthetic mulches. Only soil with no mulch was the control.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Bangau, Dang, Nepal from November 2019 to May 2020.
 Methodology: We measured soil temperature at 10 cm depth using soil thermometer, and calculated soil moisture through oven dry method. Similarly, weight of ten fresh and ten dry fruits was recorded from each plot using an electronic scale. Number of fruits per plant was also counted. All the data were analyzed using ANOVA and means were separated following a post hoc test.
 Results: The highest soil moisture (18.38%), number of fruits per plant (24.91), fruit fresh weight per ten fruits (59.86 g), and fruit dry weight per ten fruits (14.65 g) were recorded in black thick plastic mulched plots. Furthermore, the lowest fresh weed weight (95.30 g) was also measured in black thick plastic mulched plots. Whereas, the highest soil temperature (18.92°C) was recorded in transparent plastic mulched plots.
 Conclusion: This study concludes black thick plastic as the most effective among the treatments tested in this study in enhancing yield and yield attributing parameters of chili.