Abd El-Latif, K. M. ; E. A. M. Osman And T. A. A. Eid( 2012). Effects Of Available Soil Moisture Depletion Levels And Some Foliar – Sprayed
Organic Acids Additions On Yield And Some Crop Water Relations Of
Drip-Irrigated Maize
J.Soil Sci. And Agric. Eng., Mansoura Univ., Vol. 3 (12): 1185 - 1201
Abstract: The present work was conducted at El-Kanater Horticultural Research Station during
2009 and 2010 seasons to study the effect of different mulching methods: black
polyethylene plastic, rice straw and hand hoeing on water use efficiency, yield and
mineral composition of "Le-Conte" pear trees budded on P. communis L. rootstock.
Data obtained revealed that all investigated mulching treatments exhibited
a positive effect and a significant increase in measured characters as compared to
un-mulched treatments in both seasons. Mulching treatments were more effective in increasing water use efficiency, yield diminishing and kc values as compared to un-mulched
treatments. Plastic mulch was more effective in this respect where as it improving water
use efficiency as compared to other treatments. Moreover, all investigated fruiting
parameters (fruit set %, fruit drop %, tree yield either as kg or as No. of fruits per
tree, or as ton/fed and yield increment % as compared to the control) were
significantly increased as a result of using mulching treatments in comparison with
the control. It is quite clear that, leaf N, P and K contents were increased by using
both black polyethylene plastic sheet and rice straw mulching treatments in most
cases as compared with control . In general, it could be concluded that, both mulching
treatments either with black polyethylene plastic sheet or with rice straw were most
effective.
Keywords: ("Le-Conte" pear, P. communis L., plastic mulch, fruiting parameters, polyethylene plastic sheet. )
