Influence of organic mulches on soil moisture conservation in maize (Zea mays L.) in alfisols of eastern dry zone of Karnataka

A field experiment was conducted at Department of Soil and Water Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering, University of Agricultural Sciences, Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, Bangalore during kharif 2019 to study the influence of different organic mulches on soil moisture conservation in Alfisols of eastern dry zone of Karnataka. The experiment consists of seven treatments viz , mulching with paddy straw, mulching with saw dust, mulching with grass, mulching with newspaper, mulching with dry leaves, dust mulching and no mulch (control) which were replicated thrice in randomized complete block design. Maize crop was sown as a test crop. The results of study revealed that mulching with dry leaves treatment recorded significantly higher soil moisture content 24.07, 18.90, 21.70 and 20.73 per cent at 30, 51, 72 and 93 DAS respectively compare to other treatments at 15 cm depth. The similar treatment recorded significantly higher soil moisture 24.83, 20.87, 22.90 and 21.80 per cent at 30, 51, 72 and 93 DAS respectively at 15-30 cm depth. Overall, the mulching with dry leaves treatment showed higher soil moisture content, higher infiltration rate and lower bulk density compare to other treatments.