Effect of Different Colour Mulches on Water Use Efficiency in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) under Protected Cultivation

K. Nagarajan, I. Geetha Lakshmi, S. Ramya, M. N. Harinarayanan, K. N. Vidya
2022 International Journal of Environment and Climate Change  
Aims: To evaluate the effect of different colour mulches on Water use efficiency under protected cultivation a field experiment was carried out during April–June 2021 in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Study Design: Split plot design statistical design. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, between April to June 2021. Methodology: Different coloured
more » ... lastic mulches (black-M1, silver-M2, yellow-M3, red-M4, white-M5) and no cover M6 (control) with different irrigation levels (I1-100% PE, I2-75% PE and I3-50% PE) was adopted with split plot design. Results: The observed data revealed that using mulches decreased irrigation requirements of cucumber crop with comparing to no cover (without mulch). The data shows that Black Mulch M1 with I3-50%PE recorded the highest values of WUE (31.30 kg/m3) followed by White Mulch M5 with I3-50% PE (30.03kg/m3). Conclusion: Increasing irrigation level up to I2-75% improved yield with different coloured plastic mulch treatments, while the yield decreased with increasing irrigation level to I1-100%PE. Though using 50% PE with black plastic mulch increased WUE compared to using 75% PE or 100% PE without plastic mulch (control).
doi:10.9734/ijecc/2022/v12i1131114 fatcat:azxwcgmxqfc4dcds5oq7hnvcjq