Effects of dried Pangola (Digitaria eriantha) mulching on Potato (Solanum tuberosum) yield and soil properties

The promotion of sustainable agriculture plays a crucial role in ensuring food security in a world where climate change and resource depletion threaten agricultural productivity.Maintaining a healthy environment involves preventing soil erosion, maintaining fertility, efficiently using water resources, reducing water pollution, minimizing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and preserving biodiversity.This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dried pangola mulching on potato growth and yield.Three treatments were compared: plastic film mulching (T1), a control (T2), and dried pangola mulching (T3).The T3 treatment demonstrated a 36% and 14% increase in yield compared to T1 and T2, respectively, due to improved soil moisture retention, improved soil structure, and enhanced root zone temperature regulation.Specifically, T3 had a lower average temperature of 23.38C, followed by T1 with 26.02C and T2 obtained a higher average temperature with 27.29C in the soils.This management approach is expected to enhance stable agricultural productivity, reduce dependence on external inputs, and enhance resilience to climate change.