Impact of sugarcane bagasse mulching boards on soil erosion and carrot productivity

Abstract Sustainable crop production depends primarily on water and nutrients among other inputs. Mulching improves soil moisture and nutrient conservation as well as ameliorates soil erosion. We conducted two different experiments to examine the impact of mulch on soil erosion and the productivity of carrot (Daucus carota L.). Mulch used were sugarcane bagasse boards (SBB) and sugarcane bagasse chips (SBC). Each experiment consisted of three treatments in a completely randomized design with three replications. The first experiment under rainfall simulation consisted of 2 SBB and 4 SBB representing 25 and 50% soil surface coverage and no sugarcane bagasse (NSB) represented the control. Treatments in the second experiment were SBB, SBC, and NSB. The 4 SBB and 2 SBB significantly decreased (p