Abstract
A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic and inorganic mulch materials on the vegetative
and reproductive components of chili cultivar Sanam (Capsicum annuum L.) Mulch treatments used in the study
were (T1 without mulch, T2 transparent plastic mulch, T3 rice straw, T4 wheat straw, T5 sugarcane begas and T6
black polyethylene mulch). The results revealed that the mulch materials significantly affected physiological
growth parameters. The maximum leaf area (7.0 cm2), number of fruit per plant (58.4 fruits), plant height (54.3
cm) and fruit set (86.66%) were observed when transparent plastic mulch was used. Similarly, the black
polyethylene mulch produced the same results after transparent plastic mulch. The organic mulches also
increased the yield components of chili. While minimum leaf area (4.0 cm2), number of fruit per plant (38.0 fruits)
and plant height (32.0 cm) were recorded when no mulch material was applied to the chili plants. The results
indicated that among the different mulch material, both transparent plastic mulch and black polyethylene mulch
were found to be effective concerning to chili production when compared to the other uncovered plants.
