000			01676nam a2200241Ia 4500
008			220216s9999 xx 000 0 und d
100			_aLakshmanan R
245		0	_aPolythene mulching in rubber seedling nursery
260			_bIndian Journal of Natural Rubber Research _c1995
300			_a13-20
520			_aThe feasibility of using polythene films as mulch in rubber seediling nursery was investigated. Field studies were conducted with three types of clear polythene films, conventional plant mulch and an unmulched control. The polythene mulches were topped with a thin layer of soil of over 5 cm thickness. Mulching significantly enhanced seedling growth. Polythene-mulched plots recorded 15.5 to 28.9 per cent increase in plant diameter over the unmulched plots and compared favourably with plant mulch. The soil moisture content in the surface 0-15 cm soil layer with polythene mulching was 87-113 per cent more than that in the unmulched plots during extreme dry weather conditions, while the increase with plant mulching was only 50 per cent. The extent of weed control achieved with polythene mulching was 84 to 90 per cent and that with plant mulching 56.9 per cent, over the unmulched plots. Mulching with polythene sheets did not increase absolute soil temperature over the conventional plant mulches. Soil temperature fluctuations were also minimised due to mulching.
650			_aMulching
650			_aPlant mulch
650			_aPolythene film
650			_aRubber nursery
650			_aSoil temperature
650			_aWeed control
700			_aMani Jacob
700			_aMathew M
700			_aPothen J
700			_aPunnoose K I
942			_cJS
999			_c65301 _d65301