EVALUATION OF MULCHING MATERIALS FOR SOIL MOISTURE CONSERVATION, GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF BUNDED UPLAND RICE IN RAINFED ECOSYSTEM

摘要

Field studies were conducted at CRURRS, Hazaribag, Jharkhand during two rainy seasons for finding out the suitability of mulching materials viz., FYM and rice straw-chaffed and their rates i.e., 2,4 and 6 t ha~(-1) (on dry weight basis) for enhancingthe productivity of bunded rain fed upland rice. Considerably higher (32.1 %) infiltration rate was found with application of rice straw @ 6 t ha~(-1) compared to bare plot (0.155 cm hr~(-1)). Crop and weed growth and soil moisture content in the profilewas appreciably higher and yield attributes were also found to be superior by applying rice straw @ 6 t ha~(-1) compared to control Significantly higher grain (2 35 t ha~(-1)) and straw (2.54 t ha~(-1)) yield was obtained with the application of rice straw @ 6 t ha~(-1).