1Department of Agronomy, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar-751003, Odisha
2Division of crop production, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam-793103, Meghalaya
Department of Agronomy, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Cooch Behar-736165, W.B.
Online published on 5 October, 2016.
Present investigation was undertaken at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya in rabi season of 2012 to study the effect of different mulching materials on soil moisture content in maize based cropping systems. Thecropswere grownunderzero tillagewithfive croppingsystems (CS) as main plot treatments viz. maize-fallow (CS.,), maize-toria (CS2), maize-frenchbean {(bushtype BT)}(CS 3), maize-french bean{(pole type(PT)} (Cs4), maize-blackgram (CS5) and four soil moisture conservation (SMC) measures as sub plot treatments viz. no mulch (Mo), in-situ maize stalk mulch (MSM) (M.,), MSM + Ambrosia sp. 10 t ha"1 (M2), MSM + Tephrossia sp. 10 t ha"1 (M3). The results revealed that maize stalk along with Tephrossia mulch retained maximum soil moisture. This mulching treatment was statistically at par with MSM + Ambrosia mulch. Among cropping systems, maize-blackgram system conservedhighestsoilmoisture, followedbymaize-frenchbean(PT)cropping system.
Ambrosia sp, cropping system, mulch, soil moisture content, Tephrossia sp.