Mulching impact of Jatropha curcas L. leaves on soil fertility and yield of wheat under water stress

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 8891
• Main Authors: Irshad, Muhammad, Ullah, Faizan, Mehmood, Sultan, Al-Huqail, Asma A., Fahad, Shah, Siddiqui, Manzer H., Ali, Hayssam M., Saud, Shah, Danish, Subhan, Datta, Rahul, Dawar, Khadim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 25.05.2022; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/158; 631/449; Acidic soils; Agricultural production; Bicarbonates; Biomass; Carbon; Carbonates; Cereal crops; Crop yield; Dissolved salts; Electrical conductivity; Field capacity; Gallic acid; Grain; Humanities and Social Sciences; Jatropha curcas; Mulching; multidisciplinary; Nitrogen; Organic matter; Organic soils; Phenols; Plant growth; Salts; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Seed germination; Soil fertility; Soil organic matter; Soil surfaces; Soils; Triticum aestivum; Water deficit; Water stress; Wheat
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13005-7

In present studies we have evaluated mulching impact of Jatropha curcas leaves on soil health and yield of two wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) varieties Wadan-2017 (rainfed) and Pirsabak-2013 (irrigated) under imposed water stress. Mulch of Jatropha leaves was spread on the soil surface at the rate of 0, 1, 3 and 5 Mg ha −1 after seed germination of wheat. Water stress was imposed by skipping irrigations for one month at anthesis stage of wheat maintaining 40% soil field capacity. We found a significant decline in soil microbial biomass carbon (30.27%), total nitrogen (22.28%) and organic matter content (21.73%) due to imposed water stress in non-mulch plots. However, mulch application at 5 Mg ha −1 significantly improved soil organic matter (38.18%), total nitrogen (37.75%), phenolics content (16.95 mg gallic acid equivalents/g) and soil microbial biomass carbon (26.66%) as compared to non-mulch control. Soil health indicators like soil carbonates, bicarbonates, electrical conductivity, chloride ions and total dissolved salts were decreased by 5 Mg ha −1 mulch application. We noted a decline in yield indicators like spike weight (14.74%), grain spike −1 (7.02%), grain length (3.79%), grain width (3.16%), 1000 grains weight (6.10%), Awn length (9.21%), straw weight (23.53%) and total grain yield (5.98%) of wheat due to imposed water stress. Reduction in yield traits of wheat due to water stress was higher in Pirsabak-2013 than Wadan-2017. Jatropha leaves mulch application at 5 Mg ha −1 significantly minimized the loss in yield traits of wheat crop caused by water stress. Jatropha curcas leaves mulch application at 5 Mg ha −1 is recommended for the successful establishment of wheat crop under water deficit conditions.