International Journal of Horticulture, 2024, Vol.14, No.4, 207-217 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 211 mulch increases number of leaves, growth and yield (Islam et al., 2002). These results are similar to those obtained by Kashyap et al. (1967). Table 2 Effect of mulching on number of leaves Treatments 60DAT 100DAT Control 4bc 9c Sawdust mulch 4bc 8c Straw mulch 5ab 11a Banana leaves mulch 4abc 11bc Neemmulch 5a 9bc White polythene mulch 4c 9c Rice husk mulch 4bc 11a Pvalue 0.102 0.013 LSD NS 1.61 CV(%) 10.72 9.1 Grandmean 4.67 10.01 SEM(±) 0.13 0.30 Note: LSD= Least significant difference, SEM= Standard error of mean, CV= Coefficient of variation, NS= Non-significant, P value= Probability value 3.1.2 Plant height The plant height varied among the treatment plots across the plant development phases (Table 3). Plant height was increased significantly (P<0.05) at 30 DAT (14.8 cm) and 100 DAT (64.8 cm). Similarly, plant height was increasing significantly (P<0.01) at 60 DAT (35.6 cm). Plant height at 30 DAT was highest on white polythene mulch followed by neem leaves mulch, banana leaves and the lowest plant height was on control. Similarly, at 60 DAT, the maximum height was found on white polythene mulch followed by neem leaves mulch, banana leaves and the lowest height was on control. Likewise, at 100 DAT maximum height was recorded on white polythene mulch followed by banana leaves, sawdust mulch and the lowest height was recorded on control. The result showed that the plant height development in mulched plots whereas stagnation of plant height on the control plot. Similar effect of highest plant in onion was depicted by Akter and Rashid (2023). Table 3 Effect of mulching on plant height Treatments 30DAT 60DAT 100DAT Control 10.8c 20.5c 48.6b Sawdust mulch 12.5abc 30.9ab 57.2ab Straw mulch 11.8bc 30.3ab 51.0b Banana leaves mulch 13.8ab 33.5a 61.0a Neemmulch 14.6a 33.8a 56.6ab White polythene mulch 14.8a 35.6a 64.8a Rice husk mulch 11.9bc 23.6bc 55.5ab Pvalue 0.021 0.009 0.046 LSD 2.4 7.9 9.9 CV(%) 10.4 15.1 9.9 Grandmean 12.9 29.7 56.4 SEM(±) 0.40 1.50 1.60 Note: LSD= Least significant difference, SEM= Standard error of mean, CV= Coefficient of variation, P value= Probability value
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