Vol. 4 (1) : January-February 2013 issue
Green Farming Vol. 4 (1) : 1-6 (January-February, 2013)
Influence of organic mulches on fruit quality, soil nutrition and weed control in `Miyauchi` iyo
ARJUN KUMAR SHRESTHA1* and FUSAO MIZUTANI2
Bioresource Production Science Department, The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama, Ehime (Japan)
Designation : 1Ph.D. Scholar *(w741014u@mails.cc.ehime-u.ac.jp), 2Professor
Subject : Agronomy and Crop Production
Paper No. : P-0539
Total Pages : 6
Received : 06 October 2012
Revised accepted : 24 January 2013
Get Access
Citation :
ARJUN KUMAR SHRESTHA and FUSAO MIZUTANI. 2013. Influence of organic mulches on fruit quality, soil nutrition and weed control in `Miyauchi` iyo. Green Farming Vol. 4 (1) : 1-6 ; January-February, 2013
ABSTRACT
Conventional production system is heavily dependent on chemical fertilizers and pesticides resulting in colossal negative health effects. Consequently, the demand for organic citrus is mounting in recent years. Weed control, maintenance of soil fertility and fruit quality are the focal and interrelated issues in organic citrus farming. On the other hand, varieties of yard wastes are available in orchard that can be used in organic farming. This experiment was carried out from 2008 to 2010 at Ehime University Experiment Farm, Matsuyama, Japan to explore the influence of 3 organic mulches (a- Peach chip, b -Persimmon chip, c - Citrus (`Shiranuhi` chip) along with conventional practice and control on fruit quality, orchard nutrition and weed growth in `Miyauchi` iyo orchard. Sigmoidal pattern of fruit growth was obtained?during fruit development period. Regarding the fruit growth rate, the last week of June, 1st and last week of July, and the month of September were found crucial. No significant difference was found in the fruit size and weight but significant difference in fruit yield, peel colour and peel percentage. Larger fruit with lesser peel percentage were obtained due to persimmon and peach mulching while conventional practice resulted in smaller fruit with higher peel percentage. Lower total soluble solids and titratable acidity but higher TSS/TA ratio in fruit juice was obtained with mulching. Higher total carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and potassium content in soil were resulted with organic mulching, peach and persimmon mulching being the superior treatments. Organic mulches significantly suppressed weed.
Key words :
Chips, Citrus iyo, Orchard, Sigmoidal, Total carbon.