Effect of mulching on post harvest quality of guava cv. L-49 grown in red and laterite tract of West Bengal

摘要

Mulches have a substantial impact on enhancing the sustainable yield and quality of fruit. It improves the physical and chemical qualities of the soil and availability of nutrient pool and biological qualities by increasing beneficial soil microbes. Mulches help in controlling evaporation of water from the soil surface and hence they conserve water, which is utilized by the crop plants especially in the dry red and laterite tract of West Bengal. With this in mind and to improve fruit quality, the present experiment was undertaken to study the effect of different types of mulching on post harvest quality of guava. Black polythene mulch (gauge, 50 micron) was applied around the tree basin while other mulches were applied uniformly to a thickness of 8 to 10 cm. Mature (turned light greenish yellow in colour), rainy-season fruits were harvested for physico-chemical analysis and post harvest storage life. Results revealed that mulching with different materials significantly increased the physico-chemical qualities of guava fruit, except fruit diameter. Among different mulching treatments, black polyethyene mulch showed maximum qualities in all respects, followed by mulching with paddy husk, while the lowest acid content of fruit was noted in mulches with black polythene. Leaf mineral content was also influenced by mulching. Maximum N, P and K values were obtained from black polythene, followed by paddy husk mulch. Post harvest storage life of fruit was also affected by different mulch treatments. Black polythene mulch gave 89% marketable fruit on the ninth day of storage while control (without mulch) showed minimum storage life, as evident from CO2 evolution and soluble solid content of fruit.