Boosting Peach Production in Rainfed Areas of Punjab Through Mulching Techniques

Abstract

Mulching is an approach to cover soil around plants with materials like polyethylene sheets, organic matter or crop residues, gaining wide recognition for its capability to enhance soil moisture retention, regulate soil temperature and suppress weed growth. The experiment was conducted at Soil and Water Conservation Research Institute, Chakwal aimed at investigating the potential of mulching techniques to enhance peach production in rainfed areas of Punjab. The treatments were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), selecting two years old peach plants. The mulch treatments were polypropylene sheet, black plastic polyethene sheet, grass, gypsum amendment, and control (without any mulch). The results indicated a substantial improvement in mean soil moisture content, with the maximum enhancement observed in the treatment utilizing black sheet mulch (10.8% and 11.2%) followed closely by polypropylene sheet mulch (10% and 10.1%) in 1st and 2nd year respectively. Fruit yield, a critical parameter for assessing orchard productivity, exhibited the highest values in treatment unit comprising black sheet mulch, recording an impressive 27.2 kg plant-1. Conversely, the control showed the lowest fruit yield as 18.5 kg plant-1. These findings emphasize the significant potential of mulching techniques in optimizing soil moisture levels and augmenting peach fruit yield in rainfed areas. The study contributes into sustainable agricultural practices, illustrating the practical benefits of mulching strategies to improve water retention and overall orchard productivity in rain fed areas. This study will be helpful for policymakers, farmers, and researchers for adopting this technique in peach cultivation in rainfed areas of Punjab.