Exploration of effect of different mulches on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) variety Punjab Suhavani in sub-tropical regions of Punjab, India

The present research was carried out at Experimental Farm, Department of Agriculture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab (India) during summer season of 2022. The maximum germination was recorded under the black polythene mulch (73.00%), followed by transparent polythene mulch (71.33%), silver polythene mulch (70.33%). Among all organic mulches the maximum germination was recorded under the treatment paddy straw mulch. The maximum fruit diameter 1.97 cm was recorded under the treatment black polythene mulch at par with silver polythene mulch (1.95 cm) followed by transparent polythene mulch (1.74 cm). Among all organic mulches maximum fruit diameter was recorded under sugarcane trash mulch (1.66 cm). The maximum fruit weight was also recorded under silver polythene mulch (16.73 g) followed by black polythene mulch (15.53 g) and transparent polythene mulch (13.73 g). The maximum fruit yield per hectare was observed under silver polythene mulch (31.40 tons hac-1) followed by black polythene much (27.78 tons hac-1), transparent polythene mulch (22.72 tons hac-1), rice husk mulch (18.57 tons hac-1) while minimum yield was recorded under control (11.01 tons hac-1). The chlorophyll content of leaves recorded maximum under the silver polythene mulch (3.84 mg 100 g-1) followed by black polythene mulch (2.77 mg 100 g-1), transparent polythene mulch (2.37 mg 100 g-1), sugarcane trash mulch (1.92 mg 100 g-1), while least was recorded under control (1.49 mg 100 g-1) The maximum soil temperature was recorded under the treatment silver polythene mulch (25.8 °C) and black polythene mulch (25.6 °C) which was followed sugarcane trash mulch (24.4°C) and paddy straw mulch (24.4 °C). The maximum net return was recorded under silver polythene mulch (Rs. 343000 hac-1) followed by black polythene mulch (Rs. 288700 hac-1), sugarcane trash mulch (Rs. 121600 hac-1) and was minimum recorded under the control (Rs. 85150 hac-1) and saw dust mulch (Rs. -184966 hac-1).