Author(s)

M. ShahidIbni Zamir^*, Muhammad Aamir Khan, Mazhar Hussain, Ihtishamul Haq, M. Kamran Khan, Qamaruz Zaman, Usman Afzal, Naveed Islam, M. Asim, Ihtisham Ali, Husnain Khan, Khalid Iqbal

Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faislalabad, Pakistan.

A field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic mulches and tillage practices on growth, yield of cluster bean and soil physical properties. Experiment was comprised of two factors: A (Tillage), B (Mulches). Factor A was assigned to main plot and consisted of two treatments (Minimum tillage and Conventional tillage). Factor B was assigned to sub plot and consisted of four treatments (no mulch, wheat straw mulch, grass clipping mulch and saw dust mulch). The mulching materials were partially incorporated in the field after germination of crop. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement having three replications. Control treatment was kept for comparison. All other agronomic practices were kept standardized and consistent for all the treatments. Data regarding growth and yield components were collected and analyzed statistically by fisher analysis of variance and treatment significance was measured by significant difference test at 5% probability level. The factors, tillage and mulches significantly affected growth, yield, yield parameters and soil physical properties. Maximum plant population (31.7 m²), plant height (159 cm), branches per plant (18.9), cluster per plant (15.88), grains per pod (7.3), 1000-grain weight (34.6 g), grain yield (1.9 t•ha^-1), biological yield (9.91 t•ha^-1) and harvest index (19.15) was recorded in conventional tillage comparative to minimum tillage. Mulches also affected grain yield, and maximum grain yield was recorded in wheat straw mulch (1.88 t•ha^-1) followed by grass clipping mulch (1.81 t•ha^-1) and saw dust mulch (1.76 t•ha^-1) while minimum grain yield was recorded in control without mulch application (1.67 t•ha^-1). Tillage and mulches interactively affect pH, soil organic matter contents, electrical conductivity and soil bulk density. Mulches and minimum tillage improved soil physical properties. Highest BCR was obtained from conventional tillage without mulch and lowest calculated from minimum tillage with saw dust application. The conclusion is that the mulching and conventional tillage improves cluster bean yield about 1%.

Guar, Mulch, Tillage, Soil Properties

Zamir, M. , Khan, M. , Hussain, M. , Haq, I. , Khan, M. , Zaman, Q. , Afzal, U. , Islam, N. , Asim, M. , Ali, I. , Khan, H. and Iqbal, K. (2016) Quantitative Behaviour of Guar (Cymopsis tetragnolobus L.) to Various Tillage Systems and Mulches and Soil Physical Properties. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 7, 1040-1045. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2016.77099.