Evaluation of different types of mulching practices on weed management and productivity of winter maize in Chitwan, Nepal

Sustainable agriculture requires the use of environmentally friendly management practices. Mulching is one of the most effective methods that can play a positive role in weed management, improving soil properties as well as increasing crop production. A field experiment was conducted at the research farm of National Maize Research Program (NMRP), Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal during winter season, 2016. The experiment was carried out in single factor randomized completely block design comprising of nine weed management methods with four replications. Data regarding the weed population, weed dry weight, yield attributes and yield were recorded during the study. Different weed management practices showed significant differences on weed dynamics and weed control efficiencies. Black polythene mulch and silver black mulch was found more effective to reduce total weed density and dry weight during whole crop season and remain comparable with other polythene mulch too. The effect of weed management practices observed on weed density and dry weight were reflected on grain yield. The highest grain yield was recorded in silver black plastic mulch (4537.50 kg ha-1) followed by black plastic mulch (4068.20 kg ha-1), clear plastic mulch (4065.22 kg ha-1), green plastic mulch (3834.84 kg ha-1) and weed free (3222.74 kg ha-1) which were comparable to each other. At tasseling-silking stage among plastic mulch treatment, the higher moisture conservation observed on the black plastic mulch followed by clear plastic mulch, green plastic mulch and silver black plastic mulch. While comparing of plastic mulch with dead mulch, moisture on dead mulch remain higher than plastic mulch after 90 DAS. Thus, in humid subtropical region of western Chitwan, Rampur, the maize can be successfully cultivated by using different color of polythene mulch.