Effects of different types of mulching on soil moisture and yield of two Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) varieties under rabi conditions in Western Uttar Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted at the CAE Research Farm, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh (U.P.), during the rabi season of 2023-24 to study the effect of mulching on weed suppression, soil moisture, growth, yield, and economics of two Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) cultivars (Pioneer 45S44 and Pioneer 45S46). The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with eight treatment combinations comprising three types of organic mulches—paddy straw (5 t ha⁻¹), wheat straw (5 t ha⁻¹), and sawdust (20 t ha⁻¹)—along with a no-mulch control. Results revealed that mulching significantly influenced weed density, weed control efficiency, soil moisture retention, and yield parameters (siliquae plant⁻¹, seeds siliqua⁻¹, 1000-seed weight, biological yield, seed yield, and harvest index). Paddy straw mulch @ 5 t ha⁻¹ outperformed other treatments, registering the highest seed yield, oil yield, and B:C ratio across both cultivars. Between the two varieties, Pioneer 45S44 showed better performance in terms of yield and economic returns compared to Pioneer 45S46. The interaction effect of mulching and varieties indicated that Pioneer 45S44 with paddy straw mulch was the most profitable treatment combination. The study underscores the role of organic mulching as a sustainable practice for weed suppression, soil moisture conservation, and yield maximization in Indian mustard cultivation under semi-arid conditions.