Scholarlink

Purpose <p>Water scarcity and declining soil fertility are major constraints to sustainable citrus production in semi-arid regions. This study evaluated the effects of organic and synthetic mulching systems on soil water relations, physiological performance, leaf macronutrient status, and soil microbial activity in Nagpur mandarin (<i>Citrus reticulata</i> Blanco) under semi-arid Vertisol conditions.</p> Methods <p>A randomized complete block design comprising nine treatments was conducted over eight months, including an unmulched control, four synthetic mulches (silver, black, transparent polythene, and Weedmat), and four organic mulches (mustard straw, coriander straw, jamun leaves, and soybean straw). Soil water-holding capacity, relative water content, gas exchange attributes, proline concentration, leaf macronutrients (N, P, and K), and soil microbial populations were determined.</p> Results <p>Organic mulches significantly improved soil moisture conservation and plant physiological performance compared with the control and synthetic mulches. Jamun leaves mulch increased soil water-holding capacity by 15.2% and maintained the highest relative water content (85.28%) compared with the control (75.00%). It also recorded the highest stomatal conductance (17.66&#xa0;mmol&#xa0;m<sup>−2</sup>&#xa0;s<sup>−1</sup>) and photosynthetic rate (8.85&#xa0;μmol CO<sub>2</sub> m<sup>−2</sup>&#xa0;s<sup>−1</sup>), while reducing leaf proline concentration from 0.36 to 0.25&#xa0;μmol&#xa0;g<sup>−1</sup>, indicating lower drought stress. Leaf nitrogen (2.27%), phosphorus (0.29%), and potassium (1.32%) concentrations were significantly enhanced under organic mulches. Furthermore, soil fungal populations increased by approximately 30–40% under organic mulching, suggesting improved microbial activity associated with nutrient mineralization and rhizosphere functioning.</p> Conclusion <p>Organic mulches, particularly jamun leaves, enhanced soil water availability, physiological performance, nutrient acquisition, and soil microbial activity in mandarin. These findings demonstrate that organic mulching is an effective and sustainable management practice for improving soil–plant interactions and mitigating water and nutrient limitations in citrus production under semi-arid conditions.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Mulch-mediated enhancement of physiological performance and macronutrient status in mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) cultivation under semi-arid vertisol conditions

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月30日

查看全文
  • Rinku Saini,
  • Prerak Bhatnagar,
  • Jitendra Singh,
  • Hemraj Chhipa,
  • Anchal Sharma

摘要

Purpose

Water scarcity and declining soil fertility are major constraints to sustainable citrus production in semi-arid regions. This study evaluated the effects of organic and synthetic mulching systems on soil water relations, physiological performance, leaf macronutrient status, and soil microbial activity in Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) under semi-arid Vertisol conditions.

Methods

A randomized complete block design comprising nine treatments was conducted over eight months, including an unmulched control, four synthetic mulches (silver, black, transparent polythene, and Weedmat), and four organic mulches (mustard straw, coriander straw, jamun leaves, and soybean straw). Soil water-holding capacity, relative water content, gas exchange attributes, proline concentration, leaf macronutrients (N, P, and K), and soil microbial populations were determined.

Results

Organic mulches significantly improved soil moisture conservation and plant physiological performance compared with the control and synthetic mulches. Jamun leaves mulch increased soil water-holding capacity by 15.2% and maintained the highest relative water content (85.28%) compared with the control (75.00%). It also recorded the highest stomatal conductance (17.66 mmol m−2 s−1) and photosynthetic rate (8.85 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1), while reducing leaf proline concentration from 0.36 to 0.25 μmol g−1, indicating lower drought stress. Leaf nitrogen (2.27%), phosphorus (0.29%), and potassium (1.32%) concentrations were significantly enhanced under organic mulches. Furthermore, soil fungal populations increased by approximately 30–40% under organic mulching, suggesting improved microbial activity associated with nutrient mineralization and rhizosphere functioning.

Conclusion

Organic mulches, particularly jamun leaves, enhanced soil water availability, physiological performance, nutrient acquisition, and soil microbial activity in mandarin. These findings demonstrate that organic mulching is an effective and sustainable management practice for improving soil–plant interactions and mitigating water and nutrient limitations in citrus production under semi-arid conditions.