Effect of mulching on potato production under rainfed conditions of Kashmir

The experiment was conducted under AICRP (potato) at high altitude area (2776m ASL) of Yarikhah Tangmarg during years 2020-21 and 2021-22 to explore the effectiveness of organic and plastic mulching for potato production under rainfed conditions. In the experiment seven treatments viz T₁: black polythene mulch, T₂: Transparent mulch, T₃: Silver colour mulch, T₄: Pine needle mulch (10t/ha), T₅: Straw mulch (10 t/ha), T₆: FYM as mulch (15 t/ha) and T₇: Control (no mulch) were replicated four times using RCBD. The organic and inorganic mulches were compared to non-mulched control variant. The results showed that synthetic as well as organic mulches had a positive effect on various growth and yield parameters. The pooled data of the two years revealed that the black polythene mulch recorded maximum plant emergence percentage (94.50 %), maximum plant height (40.12 cm), maximum number of shoots/plant (4.75) and maximum tuber yield (33.77 t/ha). Minimum values for plant emergence (89.10%), plant height (32.38 cm), number of shoots/plant (3.50) and tuber yield (23.82 t/ha) were recorded under control treatment. Among organic mulches, FYM yielded maximum tubers i.e.,30.81 t/ha. Maximum nutrient removal of102.40 kg N/ha, 22.45 kg P/ha and 185.28 kg K/ha as well as maximum net returns of Rs. 3,07,280/ ha with a B:C ratio of 2.54 was also recorded with treatment T₁. Control plot recorded minimum values for nutrient removal i.e., 74.64 kg N/ha, 17.15 kg P/ha and 130.48 kg K/ha as well as for net returns (Rs. 170530) and B:Cratio (1.91).