IMPACT OF MULCHING AND ANTI-TRANSPIRANTS ON PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AND YIELD OF SOYBEAN

S. SANBAGAVALLI¹*, K. VAIYAPURI², R. SUDHAGAR³, J.R. KANNAN BAPU⁴, J. EJILANE^5
1Department of Pulses, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, India
²Water Technology Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, India
³Department of Pulses, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, India
⁴Department of Pulses, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, India
⁵Department of Pulses, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, India
* Corresponding Author : sanbagavallitnau@gmail.com

Received : 05-12-2016     Accepted : 20-12-2016     Published : 28-12-2016
Volume : 8     Issue : 63       Pages : 3572 - 3574
Int J Agr Sci 8.63 (2016):3572-3574

Keywords : Water stress, Mulching, Anti-transpirant, Dry matter production, Yield
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : We are grateful to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore for providing facilities and encouragement. Financial assistance by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi under All India Coordinated Research Project on Soybean is duly acknowledged
Author Contribution : None declared

The experiments were carried out during successive kharif season of 2012 - 2014 to investigate the effects of straw mulch and anti-transpirants on physiological parameters and yield of soybean at Millet Breeding Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The experiment treatments were arranged in split plot design with four replications. The mulching practices viz., Bajra straw mulch and without mulch were formed the main plot and anti-transpirants viz., Magnesium carbonate (0.5%), Glycerol (5%), Sodium carbonate (2%), Potassium nitrate (1%) and water spray constituted to sub plot. Results showed that enhanced physiological characteristics obtained from bajra straw mulch @ 5 t/ha, while anti-transpirant of potassium nitrate (1%) sprayed at 50% flowering stage which was on par with magnesium carbonate (0.5%) and glycerol (5%). The combined treatments of straw mulch with foliar spray of potassium nitrate (1%), sprayed at flowering stage improved the physiological and yield parameters of soybean. Water stress caused of decreases yield in soybean, but applied of mulches and anti-transpirant materials caused decrease of negative effects of water stress in our experiment and increased values of traits.