Potato Journal
  • Year: 2000
  • Volume: 27
  • Issue: 1 & 2

Root water uptake as influenced by mulched and unmulched treatments in potato*

  • Author:
  • Bharat Bhushan, C.L. Acharya1
  • Total Page Count: 4
  • Page Number: 41 to 44

1Department of Soil Science, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, 176 062, (HP.).

*Part of M.Sc. (Agri.) thesis of the Senior Author.

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted on a silty clay loam soil, classified as Alfisol, Typic Hapludulf, during 1992–93 and 1993–94, to study the effect of mulching on water uptake and overall return of potato crop. Root water uptake (r2) and water extraction was maximum under pine needle mulched treatments. Mulched treatments maintained higher values of xylem water potential as compared to unmulched treatments. Potato leaf area index (LAI) and tuber yield were also higher under mulched treatments. The mulching saved 60 kg N/ha in addition to 4 cm of water.