Performance of tree leaf mulch compared with traditional mulch on potato growth, yield, and weed infestation

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Agroforestry Farm under the Department of Agroforestry at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, from November 2019 to February 2020. The aim was to assess and compare the performance of tree leaf mulching with traditional mulching materials on potato cultivar Diamant growth, yield, and weed dynamics. Diamant. The experiment followed a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications and seven different treatments: T₀= Control (no mulch), T₁= Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) mulch, T₂= Akashmoni (Acacia auriculiformis) tree leaf mulch, T₃= Minjiri (Cassia siamea) tree leaf mulch, T₄= Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp) tree leaf mulch, T₅= Sada koroi (Albizia procera) tree leaf mulch, T₆= Kalo koroi (Albizia lebbeck) tree leaf mulch. There were 21 plots (7 treatments with 3 replications), each measuring 1.5 m × 1.5 m. Ten plants from each plot were randomly chosen to collect data on potatoes' vegetative and reproductive characteristics and weed parameters such as the type of weed species and the number of weeds. The results indicated that Akashmoni tree leaf mulch (T₂) obtained the highest values for potato growth characteristics, while the control treatment (T₀) showed the lowest values. The highest yield of potato tuber (18.66 t/ha) was obtained from treatment T₂, while the control treatment (T₀) yielded the lowest (14.08 t/ha). Treatment T₂ had the lowest average number of weed species (2.33), whereas treatment T₀ had the highest (4.33). Based on these findings, it appears that tree leaf mulch may be a viable alternative to traditional mulches in potato fields, while also helping to reduce weed infestation. Therefore, it is suggested that the tree leaf mulch used in this study could be beneficial for mulching in potato cultivation.