Study of Sisal Nonwoven Mulching for Watermelon Cultivation and Its Effect on Soil Nutrition Values

In this research work an attempt has been made to prepare a nonwoven fabric using a sustainable natural fibre ‘Sisal’ and to use the same for the mulching purpose for the cultivation of watermelon. The sisal fibre nonwoven was prepared by needle punching technique with three different GSM values, i.e., 300, 600, and 900. The result is further contrasted against the synthetic mulch using plastic. The study explores the soil characteristic in terms of its macronutrient (organic carbon, phosphorous, potash, and sulfur) and micronutrients (zinc, iron, manganese, copper) as an effect of the mulching. The watermelon cultivation cycle with the mulching takes 65–70 days. The process of cultivation was maintained identically for all the chosen mulches. The nonwoven was characterised by its thickness and permeability characteristics. The results showed a promising use of the sisal fibre nonwoven mulch for the cultivation of watermelon. Sisal fibre nonwoven mulch of 300 and 600 GSM yielded a normal result while the 900 GSM value yielded abnormal values.