Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Kovilpatti to study the effect of intercropping and mulching on chemical properties of soil and productivity of cotton in rainfed situation. The post harvest estimates of the available soil nutrients revealed that depletion of N was more in pre-monsoon sown crops. Intercropping of cotton with blackgram or clusterbean had increased the residual N and organic carbon content of soil, but it depleted more of P. The application of subabul loppings or bajra straw as mulches improved the level of available N, K and organic carbon content. The cotton + clusterbean sown under pre- monsoon and mulched situations recorded higher cotton yield equivalent.

Keywords: Cotton, intercropping, mulching