Evaluating the Effectiveness of Mulches and Soil Amendments on Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) Yield
Divyansh Verma *
Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, FoA, SKUAST Jammu, Chatha-180009, J&K, India.
Vikas Abrol
Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, FoA, SKUAST Jammu, Chatha-180009, J&K, India.
Peeyush Sharma
Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, FoA, SKUAST Jammu, Chatha-180009, J&K, India.
Ashima Choudhary
Division of Fruit Science, FoH&F, SKUAST Jammu, Chatha-180009, J&K, India.
Gourav Sudan
Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, FoA, SKUAST Jammu, Chatha-180009, J&K, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of soil amendments along with distinct moisture conservation practices on the yield parameter of brinjal with an unpredictable pattern of rainfall. For the years 2022–2023 and 2023–2024, respectively, a field experiment was conducted at the Advanced Centre for Rainfed Agriculture (ACRA), located in the Dhiansar Samba district of J&K. Split plot design used for this field research included twelve treatments and three replicates of each mulch. RDF (Recommended Dosage of Fertilizer with No Mulch) was compared against a number of moisture conservation techniques, including as mulch (both plastic and organic), soil additives such as biochar (2 and 4 tons per hectare), and rice husk (2 tons per hectare). Results revealed that treatment T3 (RDF in combination with 4 tons of biochar per) along with plastic mulch (PM) elucidated maximum fruit yield of brinjal. Moreover, T1 (RDF) with no mulch (NM) showed minimum fruit yield for both the consecutive years under drip irrigation in rainfed conditions, respectively. The study highlights the importance of integrating moisture conservation methods in drip irrigation systems to boost crop yield in rainfed agricultural system.
Keywords: Soil amendments, moisture conservation, drip irrigation, biochar, rice husk