Productivity and economics of transparent polyethylene for soil solarization in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)bell pepper (Capsicum annum) sequence

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2004 and 2005 at Bangalore to work out the economics of soil solar- ization on break-even basis with different thicknesses (0.05 and 0.01 mm) of transparent polyethylene (TPE) in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) R bell pepper (Capsicum annum L.) sequence. Soil solarization with TPE 0.05 mm covered twice in the same season recorded significantly higher pod yield of groundnut (2.36 t/ha) and fruit yield of bell pepper (15.1 t/ha), followed by TPE 0.05 mm covered once in the same season (2.27 t/ha and 12.0 t/ ha respectively) and TPE 0.10 mm covered twice (2.17 t/ha and 12.6 t/ha). Similarly, leaf aredplant and yield at- tributes, viz. number of podslplant (23.0) and number of fruitslplant (6.4) were also superior in soil solarization with 0.05 mm twice, TPE 0.05 mm once (21.7 and 5.3 respectively) and TPE 0.10 mm twice (22.1 and 6.0). Significantly lower number of weeds and weed dry weight was recorded with TPE 0.05 mm twice in both groundnut and bell pepper crop sequence. Repetitive use of TPE 0.05 mm for two times in the same season recorded higher net in- come (Rs 139.95 xlO3Iha) and B : C ratio (3.86) followed by TPE 0.05 mm for three times and TPE 0.10 mm for two times continuously in the same season. Soil solarization with TPE 0.05 mm thickness twice in the same season for groundnut ii bell pepper sequence was found to be highly productive and most economical practice.