Effects of Organic Mulch and Plastic Mulch on Groundnut Yield and Weed Biomass at Nawalpur, Sarlahi

Abstract

: A study was carried out at Oilseed Research Program, Nawalpur, Sarlahi, in 2020 and 2021 to compare the impact of plastic and organic mulch on groundnut yield and weed biomass. The randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was used in this experiment. Seven treatments were as follows: rice husk, rice straw, black polythene sheet, Lantana camara , living mulch, sawdust, and control. Result showed that Lantana camara mulching produced the lowest biomass for narrow leaf weed (0.062 t/ha) in 2020 and (0.046 t/ha) in 2021, which was followed by the black polythene sheet mulching (0.063 t/ha) in 2020 and (0.046 t/ha) in 2021. However, the plot mulched with rice straw had the lowest biomass of broad leaf weed (0.037 t/ha) in 2020 and (0.014 t/ha) in 2021. Notably, the plot treated with rice husk mulch produced the highest pod yield (2.35 t/ha) in 2020 and (2.07 t/ha) in 2021, with the living mulch treated plot coming in second (2.13 t/ha) in 2020 and (1.84 t/ha) in 2021. In conclusion, the use of organic mulches such as Lantana camara and rice straw may be a more effective way to reduce weed intensity while improving groundnut yield compared to plastic mulch.