Growth and biomass of ber (Ziziphus mauritiana) as influenced by various soil moisture conservation techniques under rainfed condition

摘要

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of different in-situ soil moisture conservation practices on ber (Ziziphus mauritiana) plant growth, development and winter kusmi lac yield for four years during 2005-2009 under rainfed condition at Research farm of Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums (IINRG), Ranchi. All the conservation treatments viz., half moon terracing/half basin ring, mulching with locally available grasses, compartmental bunding and use of cover crop in form of black gram (Vigna mungo) were effective in increasing soil moisture level over control (without rainwater conservation treatment) and mulching proved to be the best treatment. It conserved 26.2% (v/v) higher moisture over control during the post monsoon period. Mulching was also useful in enhancing the ber plant height, basal girth and crown spread by 22.8,24.2 and 28.9%, respectively over control. The harvested biomass recorded under mulching was 86.1 % more over control on weight basis. Besides, it produced 1.62 times more winter season kusmi broodlac than that of control.