Black Polyethylene Mulch Results in Over Two-Fold Increase in Capsicum ( Capsicum annuum L.) Yield in Trans-Himalaya

The influence of black polyethylene mulch (BPM) on growth and yield of capsicum, a warm season crop, was investigated under a low-input cultivation system in trans-Himalayan Ladakh at an elevation of 3344 m. The mean marketable yield in different treatments varied from 0.6 ± 0.0 to 9.2 ± 0.5 and 0.3 ± 0.1 to 5.2 ± 1.5 t ha −1 in 2014 and 2015, respectively. BPM increased marketable yield by 1.3- to 9.0-fold depending on year and crop variety. The mean marketable yield of four varieties under BPM increased by 2.8- and 2.9-fold in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The best performing variety (California Wonder) under BPM yielded 7.2 t ha −1 marketable fruit, which suggested that capsicum can be grown in open field condition in trans-Himalayan regions. Temperature 10 cm beneath the BPM was 3.1 ± 0.3 ºC higher than in nonmulched soil. BPM reduced 68% weed and save 75% time in manual weeding. Incidence of insect-pest and diseases was minimal, and rotten fruit was less than 1% of marketable yield without application of pesticide or fungicide.