Effect of Mulching on Weed, Fruit Yield and Economic Returns of Garden Egg (Solanium melogena) in Okigwe Southeastern Nigeria

The experiment was carried out at Umulolo in Okigwe Imo State in 2016 and 2017 seasons. The experiment was laid in randomized complete block design, replicated three times. The treatments were mulching materials (two synthetic materials-polythene sheet, trampoline sheet) while natural or organic materials were 6/ha sawdust and grasses and control treatment (no mulching). Result showed significant difference in all the weed infestation parameters, vegetative growth and yield parameters assessed. In both cropping seasons, the control had significant higher weed density and biomass. Garden egg fruit yield as influenced by different mulching materials was also significantly different (p<0.05) in both cropping seasons. The highest fruit yield; 22.27 and 23.63 t/ha in 2016 and 2017, respectively was from the plot mulched with sawdust. The grasses mulched plot had 21.19 and 22.17 t/ha fruit yield, respectively. The trampoline plot produced 18.77 and 17.18 t/ha fruit, respectively. The least fruit yield was 5.43 and 6.54 t/ha in both cropping seasons in control treatment. The result showed that the plot mulched with sawdust had 7-76% and 6-72% greater fruit yield compared to the other mulching materials in both cropping seasons. The result of indicated that application of grasses and sawdust were more cost effective in weed management and higher economic returns to management compared to trampoline and polythene sheets. Farmers in the study area were advised to mulch their garden egg field during off-season with sawdust. The application of sawdust would reduce weed infestation and also enhances high fruit yield.