Journal of Krishi Vigyan

A field experiment was conducted at farmers’ fields in Khargone during kharif 2016 and 2017 with view to assess the effect of plastic mulch on growth, yield and economics of chilli. Two treatments were T₁ Farmers practice (without mulch) and T₂ (30 micron silver on black plastic mulch) replicated at five farmers field. Thirty two days old seedlings of chilli hybrid Sonal were transplanted on raised beds at a spacing of 1.20 m between row to row and 0.40 m plant to plant spacing. The Treatment T₂ (Silver on black plastic mulch) recorded significantly maximum plant height (104.56 cm), number of structural branches/plant (9.93), fruit length (16.48 cm), fruit girth (1.29 cm), green chilli weight (8.19g), number of fruits/plant (212.80), dry chilli weight/plant (267.50g) and dry chilli yield (53.50q/ha). The maximum net return per hectare (Rs 2, 87, 856/ha) and benefit cost ratio (2.71) were recorded under treatment T_2. However the minimum net return and benefit cost ratio were recorded in control (T₁).