Effect of In-situ Soil Moisture Conservation Practices on Growth, Moisture Use Efficiency and Kusmi Lac Yield of Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana) under Rainfed Condition in Jharkhand
2011
Singh, R.K. | Siṃha, Balarāma | Baboo, Bangali
Soil moisture conservation practices have favourable effect on surface soil moisture conditions and consequently on the crop growth. For commercial lac host plants, which are generally grown under rainfed condition, the importance of soil moisture conservation remains high especially during its establishment stage. A field experiment was carried out at Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums Farm, Ranchi, during 2005–2009 to find out the effect of different in-situ soil moisture conservation practices on plant growth and kusmi winter season lac yield of ber (Ziziphus mauritiana), which is one of the most important lac hosts alongside kusum (Schleichera oleosa) and palas (Butea monosperma). The moisture conservation treatments imposed were: half moon terracing, mulching with locally available grasses, compartmental bunding, cover crop (black gram) and control (without rainwater conservation treatment). All the conservation treatments were effective in increasing soil moisture level over control, but mulching proved to be the best treatment. Mulching at the rate of 10 kg/plant conserved 26.2% more moisture over control during the post monsoon period. Mulching was also useful in enhancing the ber plant height, basal girth and crown spread by 22.8, 24.2 and 28.9%, respectively, over control. Moisture use efficiency increased by 1.51 kg/ha/mm, while the harvested biomass recorded was 86.1% higher over control. Although both the broodlac yield and broodlac yield ratio were statistically nonsignificant, yet the broodlac yield ratio was 61.9% more under mulching than under control.
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