Effect of Mulching on Soil Temperature and Moisture Regime on Emergence, Growth and Yield of White Yam in a Tropical Wet-and-Dry Climate
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: An on-farm yam experiment was conducted to study the effect of mulching on soil temperature and moisture regime on white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) growth and yield in Abeokuta, South-western Nigeria. Three mulching options (grass mulched, polythene mulched and unmulched) was selected and related to crop growth and yield. Grass mulch significantly (P < 0.05) lowered maximum soil temperature by 1-2℃ at 15cm depth during the thermal critical period (January - March). This led to higher rate of emergence which accounted for 28 and 46% to the polythene mulch and the unmulched plots respectively. Furthermore, grass mulch had tuber yield of about 4-6 tonnes ha-1 season-1 greater than the polythene mulch and the unmulched plots. Irrespective of mulching materials, it was found that mulching significantly (P< 0.05) increased tuber yield by about 6-8 tonnes ha-1 season-1 than the unmulched. The effect of grass mulch over nylon mulch on yam performance in the study was also discussed.
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W2033286770