Effect of plastic mulch on economizing irrigation water and weed control in baby corn sown by different methods

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during the winter season of 2003 -04 and 2004 -05 to determine the effect of 
mulch in relation to irrigation and planting method on soil temperature, weed control, baby corn growth, water 
use and yield. The study revealed that bed planting of baby corn caused 34.9% increase in yield over ridge 
planting method. Plastic mulch increased baby corn yield by 18.9% and 77.5% over rice straw and unmulched 
treatment respectively. Baby corn yield at irrigation level of 1.2 ETc proved significantly superior to 1.0 ETc and 
0.8 ETc levels. The study further revealed that plastic mulch at irrigation level of 0.8 ETc resulted significant 
increase in yield by 28.6% over unmulched soil condition even when it was irrigated at 1.2 ETc and resulted 
30.6% of water saving. It was interesting that in bed planting method, plastic mulch caused statistically same 
baby corn yield at all the levels of irrigation with maximum water use efficiency of 40.1 kg/ha-cm at irrigation level 
of 0.8 ETc, while in ridge planting method the baby corn yield was statically same only at irrigation level of 1.2 
ETc and 1.0 ETc, while at 0.8 ETc it decreased significantly.