Influence of different organic mulches on soil hydrothermal and plant growth parameters in potato crop (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Present study was conducted to investigate the effect of different mulching materials on soil hydrothermal environment and plant growth parameters for potato crop at field experimental station National Institute Technology, Hamirpur in humid sub-tropical agro climate Western Himalayas. The experiments were a randomized complete block design with four treatments; wheat straw mulch, pine needle rice mulch no three replications. An increase moisture retention ranging from 5.14% 42% observed depending upon material depth layer root zone. Mulching also reduced daily maximum temperature up 3.5ºC an average reduction 1-2ºC during period tuber formation. produced beneficial effects depth, height, leaf area index yield. helped bring about yield surplus 1.7-4.4 tonnes ha-1 over unmulched conditions water use efficiency which varied 13.5% 34.9 % inwheat mulch.