Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, 141004.
In a two year field study with summer mung bean (Vigna radiata (L) Wils.) on a loamy sand soil (Typic Ustipsamment) in Punjab, application of rice straw mulch @ 6t ha−1 improved edaphic environment of the root zone through soil water conservation and substantial reduction in maximum soil temperature, caused a significant mean grain yield increase of 38 percent and enhanced water expense efficiency by 39 percent. The IWIPAN-E ratio of 0.6 was found adequate to irrigate the crop for obtaining optimum grain yield. Even with irrigation at 0.6 ratio, straw mulching increased yield by 50 per cent.
Mung bean, edaphic environment, straw mulching, soil temperature, moisture conservation
