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Effect of mulching and kaolin foliar spray on mung (Vigna radiata) – rapeseed (Brassica campestris) double cropping system under rainfed conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

Rajat de
Affiliation:
Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India
Gajendra Giri
Affiliation:
Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India

Summary

Results are described of an experiment made at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, for 4 years under semi-arid seasonally dry tropical conditions to explore the possibilities of double cropping in the traditionally monocropped areas. Use of straw mulch did not increase mung yield in the monsoon season with welldistributed rainfall but increased its yield in a year when the monsoon receded early. Irrespective of rainfall pattern, mulching helped conserve enough moisture in the top 30 cm of soil to enable germination and quick establishment of the rapeseed crop. Mulching continued in the rapeseed crop conserved soil moisture until the flowering stage and increased the yield of rapeseed by 23%. Kaolin, a reflectant material applied at the preflowering stage, also increased seed yield of rapeseed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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References

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