Abstract:
The experiment comprised four doses of organic and inorganic fertilizers and four different types of mulches viz. no mulch, rice straw mulch, Saccharum spp. mulch, black polyethylene mulch laid out on factorial randomized complete block design replicated thrice. The major challenge in the study was the efficient management of weeds through eco-friendly technologies involving mulches. The studies revealed that high yields in elephant garlic can be achieved by fertilizing it with N:P: K @120:60:60 kg/ha + FYM @ 24 t/ha and mulching it with rice straw. The study pointed out the effectiveness of locally available rice straw as a potential mulch for improving the micro-climate of elephant garlic and thereby enhancing its important horticultural traits. The highest benefit-cost ratio of 1:4.0 was however obtained in treatment having N:P:K @120:60:60 Kg/ha, FYM @24 t/ha in combination with rice straw mulch which resulted in a high net income of ₹ 1139007 with a gross income of ₹ 1423575 at cultivation cost of ₹ 284568. The study will be helpful in checking of weed menace in closed spaced crop of Alliums spp. and will help in increasing the farm income of the growers.