Role of organic mulching on soil properties of alfisol in rainfed maize.

摘要

Field experiment was conducted in Regional Research Station, Paiyur to asses the effect of organic mulching on soil physical properties, nutrient availability pattern and microbial population. The treatments included maize straw at 5 and 10 t ha-1, sugarcane trash at 5 and 10 t ha-1, raw coirpith at 5 and 10 t ha-1 and dried weeds at 5 and 10 t ha-1 and unmulched control, which were replicated thrice in Randomized Block Design. In maize, application of raw coir pith at 10 t ha-1 had reduced the bulk density and all the physical properties. Application of dried weed mulch at 10 t ha-1 (T9) recorded highest water holding capacity. Dried weed mulch at 10 t ha-1 recorded higher available N, P and K while raw coirpith at 10 t ha-1 (T7) increased the bacteria and fungal populations. Overall, mulches has great agro-ecological potential and they typically conserve the soil, improve the soil ecology, stabilize and improve soil properties.