Effect of different mulches on soil erosion and carry-over of residual soil moisture for sowing of rabi crop in maize-wheat cropping sequence in rainfed Shivaliks of Punjab

The Shivaliks are prone to water erosion and the crops in this ecosystem usually suffer water stress under limited and erratic water supply condition. After maize (Zea mays L.) harvest, lack of adequate seed-zone moisture is a major limiting factor in the timely sowing of rabi crop i.e. wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Use of mulches not only conserve the rainwater but also reduce runoff and soil loss. A field experiment was conducted on a sandy loam soils during 2005–06 and 200607 to study the effect of different mulching materials on the soil erosion and grain yield of maize, and carryover residual soil moisture for the sowing of rainfed wheat. Three mulching materials i.e. Sugarcane trash, twigs and leaves of basooti and subabul were used as mulching material in the maize. Lower runoff and soil loss was recorded in the plots mulched with sugarcane trash followed by subabul, basooti and higher under the unmulched (control) plots. More water was conserved in the profiles with mulched treatments as compared to the control during crop growth and at the harvest of maize. Mulching in preceding maize helped in carrying-over the residual soil moisture for sowing of rainfed wheat. The higher grain yield as well as water use efficiency (WUE) were recorded under the treatment with sugarcane trash mulch followed by subabul, basooti and least under the control plots in both maize and wheat. Mulching with different materials increased maize yield by 18–76% and that of wheat by 1–56%. Soil organic carbon and water retention characteristics also improved with the mulch applications especially with subabul and basooti.