EFFECT OF MULCHES ON SOIL NPK AVAILABILITY AND LEAF NUTRIENT LEVELS IN INDIAN JUJUBE

Studies were conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana to investigate the effect of mulches on soil NPK availability and leaf nutrient levels in Indian jujube. Three years and eight months old plants of Indian jujube ‘Umran’ were planted at 7.5 x 7.5 m. The plants were mulched in June applying different types of mulch materials i.e. paddy straw, dry grass, sarkanda, black polythene, black polythene + glyphosate at 1 L/ha and black polythene + gramoxone at 1 L/ha. The jujube leaves and soil samples were collected for examination of NPK content. The highest leaf nitrogen content in jujube plants was observed in the treatment with black polythene and glyphosate at 1 L/ha (2.49%), black polythene (2.47%) and black polythene + gramoxone at 1 L/ha (2.44%). The maximum leaf phosphorus content was recorded in the treatment with paddy straw mulch (0.112%) which was statistically at par with dry grass (0.110%) and three black mulching treatments. The maximum leaf potassium content was also observed in the treatment with paddy straw mulch (0.558%) followed by black polythene mulch (0.548%). The maximum available soil N in both soils of 0-15 cm depths and soil moisture was observed in black polythene mulch. All the mulches applied in this experiment reduced the weed growth in terms of count and weight with the best performance of black polythene mulches. Black polythene mulch is an ideal choice for jujube orchards in fostering soil NPK availability and leaf nutrient levels in Indian jujube, increasing soil water content and controlling weed growth.