Analytical Study of Plastic Mulching in Tuberose and Melons in Dharmapuri District of Tamilnadu

Dharmapuri is a versatile district with a wide variety of crop diversity from millets to vegetables under protected cultivation. Tuberose and melons are livelihood crops for small and marginal farmers with limited irrigation water source. About 80% of the cost of cultivation is spent on weed management in tuberose. Productivity in melons is affected due to soil-borne diseases and fruit flies. Front line demonstrations for the use of plastic mulching was conducted to address the issues. The demonstrations were conducted in farmers’ fields and each farmer field is considered as one location. Results of the demonstrations were analysed in various perspectives including economic benefits so as to showcase the positive outcome of the plastic mulching technology. There was about 15 – 20% increase in the melons and 18 - 22% in the case of the tuberose. Though the increase in productivity cannot be correlated only to plastic mulching, the improvement in the fruit quality (95% of first grade fruits) attributed by plastic mulching especially in melons. Weed management cost was reduced in tuberose by 80%. In melons the reduced crop duration by 6 – 8 days indirectly reduced the cost of cultivation and added to the net returns of the crop. The economic benefit of the technology were realised by farmers.