Effect of straw mulch on soil temperature, weed and crop growth in Mentha arvensis L. (Japanese mint) under semi arid conditions of Punjab, India.

摘要

A field experiment was conducted in Ludhiana, Punjab, India during 2000-02 to determine the effects of straw mulching on the soil temperature and growth of M. arvensis under semi-arid conditions. Mulching increased the soil temperature at 5 cm depth during April and May of the first and second year of the experiment, respectively. Mulching reduced weed population and weed dry matter accumulation. At harvest, M. arvensis recorded higher dry matter accumulation under mulching treatments..