Effect of mulching on soil moisture, yield and quality of pomegranate

An investigation was conducted during 2010–11 and 2011–12 in laterite soil of West Bengal to assess the effect of different mulches on soil moisture status, yield and fruit quality of pomegranate cv. Ruby. There were 11 mulching treatments viz., black polyethylene, white polyethylene, rice straw (chopped), wheat husk, Napier grass, saw dust, banana leaves, dry leaves of teak tree, rice straw, rice husk and control (no mulching). The study indicated that the plant basin mulched with sawdust gave highest average fruit yield (9.9 kg plant⁻¹) in pomegranate which resulted in maximum net revenue of 139.50 plant⁻¹ over control. White polyethylene mulching was the 2 ^nd profitable treatment followed by rice straw or rice husk mulching. All the profitable treatments helped to improve the fruit weight and quality as compared to control. The soil moisture status was higher in all the mulch treatments as compared to control plant (No mulching).