International Journal of Horticulture, 2026, Vol.16, No.2, 98-104 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 101 Table 2 Effect of mulching material on leaf number of okra at East Rukum, Nepal, 2024 Treatments 25DAS 40DAS 60DAS Black plastic mulch 5.4750a 19.600a 27.58a Control 4.9500b 14.58ab 20.58ab Mustard straw 4.8000b 13.48ab 19.68b Banmara 4.5125b 14.28ab 20.78ab Sawdust 4.7125b 9.98b 17.40b Leaf litter 4.6750b 11.58b 15.88b LSD(0.05) 0.4837 5.962 7.091 SEM(±) 0.162 0.818 0.974 F-probability 0.0097* 0.05* 0.0449* CV% 6.708 28.84 23.498 GrandMean 4.85 13.91 20.31 Note: LSD = Least Significant Difference; CV (%) = Coefficient of Variation; DAS = Days after sowing; SEM = Standard Error of the mean; Means followed by the same letter(s) within each column are not significantly different at 5% level of significance by DMRT, ** and * indicate significance at <0.01 level and significance at <0.05 level respectively 3.3 Yield parameter and productivity The results showed that the average fruit weight was highest (245.80 g) under black plastic mulch, which was significantly superior to mustard straw, banmara, sawdust, and leaf litter mulches, but statistically similar to the control plot (193.70 g) (Table 3). The lowest fruit weight (129.85 g) was recorded under leaf litter mulch. Average fruit length was also significantly affected by mulching. The longest fruits (14.91 cm) were obtained under black plastic mulch, followed by leaf litter (13.76 cm) and control plots (13.67 cm). The shortest fruits (12.88 cm) were recorded in mustard straw mulch. The productivity was highest under black plastic mulch (14.897 Mt/ha), followed by the control plot (11.739 Mt/ha), mustard straw (9.289 Mt/ha), banmara (9.831 Mt/ha), sawdust (8.433 Mt/ha), and leaf litter (7.87 Mt/ha), respectively. Increased productivity under black plastic mulch is likely associated with larger and longer fruits, higher fruit set, and improved microclimate conditions, leading to enhanced overall yield. Table 3 Effect of mulching materials on yield parameters and productivity of okra at East Rukum, Nepal, 2024 Treatments 25DAS 40DAS 60DAS Black plastic mulch 245.80a 14.91167a 14.897a Control 193.70ab 13.67250ab 11.739ab Mustard straw 162.20b 12.87583b 9.289b Banmara 153.25b 13.53425b 9.831b Sawdust 139.15b 13.06667b 8.433b Leaf litter 129.85b 13.76167ab 7.87b LSD(0.05) 69.70379 1.199951 4.27 SEM(±) 9.537208 0.162517 1.41 F-probability 0.02674* 0.03556* 0.0307* CV% 27.37785 5.838235 27.39 GrandMean 170.6583 13.6371 10.343 Note: LSD = Least Significant Difference; CV (%) = Coefficient of Variation; DAS = Days after sowing; SEM = Standard Error of the mean; Means followed by the same letter(s) within each column are not significantly different at 5% level of significance by DMRT, ** and * indicate significance at <0.01 level and significance at <0.05 level respectively 4 Discussion The result presented in Table 1 shows that black plastic mulch had the tallest plant height at 25 DAS, 40 DAS, and 60 DAS. These findings are in accordance with (Chaudhary et al., 2023), who reported the highest plant height under black plastic mulch at each stage. At the beginning of the growing season, the remaining treatments did not show significant differences in plant height. The improved growth under black plastic mulch can be
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