Author(s):

HR Priya, GB Shashidhara and BH Kumara

Abstract: The field experiment was carried out at MARS, Dharwad during kharif and rabi season of 2013-14 and 2014-15 to study the performance of chickpea as influenced by mulching practices in maize-chickpea cropping system. The experiment comprised two vertical strip treatments like, maize grown with kharif mulch and without mulch in kharif and horizontal sub plot treatments (rabi crops with mulch and rabi crops without mulch in chickpea). Results showed that yield, yield parameters, available moisture and economics varied significantly among the mulching practices. Though all the mulch treatments improved the available soil moisture status, both season mulched was found superior in maintaining optimum soil moisture condition for crop use. The residual soil moisture was also minimum, indicating effective utilization of moisture by the crop under the mulching treatment. The results were showed that maize grown with mulching practices recorded significantly higher grain yield (8.34 t/ha) of maize as compared to without mulching practice (7.20 t/ha of grain yield). Both seasoned mulching treatment was recorded significantly higher the grain yield of chicpea (1.83 t/ha) as compared to without mulching practices (1.37 t/ha). The economic analysis also revealed that the maximum benefits could be obtained from both seasoned mulch (Rs. 35631/ha) as compared to without mulch treatment (Rs. 21936/ha). Benefit-cost ratio was highest in both seasoned mulch (2.7) lowest in without mulch treatment (2.1).

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