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Mulching sheet + drip fertigation for loose-flower crops

The mulching-sheet plus drip fertigation package is the standard production system for loose-flower crops in commercial floriculture. A silver-on-black polyethylene mulch is laid over twin- or triple-line drip emitters at bed preparation, and water-soluble fertilisers are injected through the drip line across the cropping cycle of African marigold, chrysanthemum and rose.

Principle

Loose-flower crops respond strongly to consistent root-zone moisture, uniform nutrition and suppressed weed competition. Silver-on-black polythene mulch conserves soil moisture, reflects light upwards into the lower canopy (improving thrips and whitefly visibility for monitoring), excludes weed growth and stabilises soil temperature. Drip fertigation matched to growth phenology delivers nutrient supply in step with the rapid vegetative and flowering cycles of these crops.

Implementation

ICAR-IIHR trials on African marigold show that combining 1.0 ETc drip irrigation with silver-black polymulch produces taller plants, larger flowers and higher loose-flower yield than open-soil controls. Sheets are typically 25-30 micron LDPE film, reused over 2-3 successive flower cycles to amortise installation cost. The package is subsidised via PMKSY-PDMC drip plus the MIDH/NHB plastic-mulch component.

Adoption context

The system is now standard practice across the marigold, chrysanthemum and rose belts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. It pairs naturally with the festival-driven price cycle: growers use the productivity uplift to maximise yield during the festival window when prices spike.

Limitations

Plastic mulch generates field-level polythene waste that must be collected and disposed of after each cycle. Mulch laying requires either skilled hand labour or a mulch-laying machine. In high-rainfall events with poor drainage, water can pool over the mulch and damage shallow-rooted crops. Sheet damage from rodents or hot weather curtails the planned 2-3 cycle reuse.

See also Festival Flower Market Cycle, Floriculture Seedling Nursery Tray System, Photoperiod Night Lighting Chrysanthemum, Drip Fertigation and Mulching Vegetables.

References

  1. Effect of Fertigation, Irrigation and Mulching on African Marigold. ICAR-IIHR study.
  2. Floriculture Crops. ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research.