Evaluation of indigenous forest plant leaves for bio-mulching in organic ginger production and income generation under rain-fed conditions of NEH region

Abstract

<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:="" en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="" lang="EN-US">Field experiments were conducted during 2007-10 at various farmer’s field of Dzongu valley of North Sikkim district of Sikkim to identify locally available different forest plant suitable for leaf material for using as bio-mulching under rain-fed condition as farmers practices for the main objectives: to identify best leaves for control moisture loss, optimized temperature, soil erosion, weeds and disease incidences, increased germination, quality yield and economy in organic ginger (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Zingiber officinale </i>Rosc.) local cv. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Bhaisey</i>. Green leaves of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Artemisia vulgaris </i>Linn<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">.</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Schima wallichii </i>Korth<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">.</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Chromolaena odorata</i> (L.) R.M.King &amp; H.Rob. syn. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Eupatorium odoratum </i>Linn<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">.</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Alnus nepalensis </i>D. Don and mixed leaves<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i>were used traditionally as bio-mulches in &nbsp;organic &nbsp;ginger seeding in field. The longest rhizome size (7.25 cm), No. of rhizome fingers/plant (39.23), more ginger yield (208.54 q/ha), B:C ratio (1:1.80), lowest incidence of diseases (16.10%), recorded significantly maximum soil moisture conservation (44.75%) and optimum soil temperature (24.80 ⁰C) were recorded significantly under the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Schima wallichii </i>fresh leaves for bio-mulching as compared to all other bio-mulching material in organic ginger production and economic under rain-fed condition of NE hills. The leaves of S<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">chima wallichii </i>used as bio-mulch in organic ginger increased in yield (60%) and net return (134.50%) as compared to without mulching (control).</span>