Influence of organic and bio-mulching on weed management in baby corn cultivation
Keywords:
baby corn, weed count, organic mulches, bio mulches and weed control efficiencyAbstract
Investigations were carried out to study the effect of organic and bio-mulches in the cultivation of baby corn (Zea mays L.) at the Orchard, Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University during 2000-2002. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with eight treatments replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of application of four organic mulches viz., sugarcane trash mulch at 10 cm thickness, water hyacinth residue at 5 cm thickness, sawdust at 2 cm thickness and coir pith at 2 cm thickness and cultivation of three bio-mulches viz., coriander, mint and fenugreek. Significant effects due to the application of organic mulches and cultivation of bio-mulches were found on the weed control of baby corn. The highest response for plant characters was recorded due to the application of sugarcane trash at 10 cm thickness. It was closely followed by the application of coir pith at 2 cm thickness. Besides, spectacular effect on weed control was observed due to mulching treatments. The best weed control efficiency was recorded due the application of sugarcane trash at 10 cm thickness. This was followed by the application of coir pith at 2 cm thickness. Among the bio-mulches tried, satisfactory results were obtained by growing coriander for greens.
Hence, from the results of weed biometrics application of sugarcane trash at 10 cm thickness was found to be the best than the other mulching practices tried for baby corn.
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