Efficacy of Geotextile Jute Mulches on Yield, Soil Nutrient Dynamics and Weed Suppression in French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)–Capsicum (Capsicum annum L.) Cropping System

Field experiments conducted on french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) during rabi season (December to March) of 2013 revealed that a significant increase in pod yield, available soil nutrients were resulted from the application of biodegradable geotextile jute mulches of varying thickness (250, 300, 350, 400 and 500 gsm sheets). Highest pod yield of french bean was recorded in the thicker mulched plots i.e. in 500 gsm and 400 gsm jute mulches. Weed population was also successfully controlled by these jute mulches as these mulches were initially very hard to penetrate. In overall performance, higher weed control efficiency and lower weed index were resulted from mulched plots of varying thickness than bare soil. Regarding nutrient dynamics; soil organic matter pool, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content were found to be significantly higher than normal non-mulched plot. The residual effect on capsicum during 2014 revealed overall increment of soil organic stocks and others nutrient pool. Yield of residual crop chilli was higher in the plots which were previously mulched. From nutrient status to weed control efficiency point of view 500 and 400 gsm mulch were found to be superior then jute mulches of other thickness.Geotextile mulch could be a viable ecofriendly technology which has enormous potential to play a key role in increasing the carbon stocks and increasing the crop yield due to suppression of weeds, and improvement of soil health particularly in dry-land agriculture.