Mulching Techniques for Enhanced Yield in Non-Saline Coastal Bangladesh

Abstract

Agricultural water resources have been constrained over the years due to climate change. Mulching significantly lessens water stress in agriculture, making it an effective water-conservation method in Bangladesh's coastal region. This study examines suitable cropping patterns for the non-saline south-central coast of Bangladesh, aiming to enhance agricultural productivity and resource efficiency in the region. The experiment was conducted in a farmer’s field in Patuakhali district from May 2019 to May 2020. The experiment evaluated the performance of five cropping patterns (Mungbean- Fallow-Transplanted Aman rice, Cowpea- Aus rice-Transplanted Aman rice, Mungbean-Aus rice-Transplanted Aman rice, Maize- Aus rice-Transplanted Aman rice, Sunflower-Aus rice-Transplanted Aman rice) with mulching and no mulching treatment. The experiment was designed using a split-plot with 3 replications. Mulching treatment crop yields were higher compared to the no-mulching treatment, primarily due to higher soil moisture. Moreover, among all the dry-season crops, the highest seed yield was obtained from maize (8.54 t/ha). Overall, this study found that Aus rice-T. Aman rice-Sunflower with mulching was the most profitable cropping pattern. Mulching treatment was found to be more beneficial for higher yields and a better benefit-cost ratio (BCR) across all crops. The BCR for this cropping pattern under mulching was 1.77, with a rice equivalent yield (REY) of 21.08. The findings of this study may help policymakers formulate policies to enhance cropping intensity in Bangladesh's coastal areas.