Vol. 7, Issue 12, Part A (2025)

Maize (Zea mays) is the world’s second most important cereal crop in terms of acreage and is often referred to as the “Queen of Cereals.” Global maize production reached approximately 1,140 million metric tonnes in 2023-24, underscoring its growing importance in global food systems. A field experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Field, Aditya University, Surampalem, during the Rabi season of 2020 to evaluate the influence of different mulch practices under drip irrigation on maize growth performance, weed control efficiency, and selected soil physical properties. The experimental area comprised 180 m² (15 × 12 m) and was divided into four treatments. The results indicated minimal variation in soil bulk density across treatments, confirming that mulch practices had negligible impact on this parameter within the study duration. However, substantial differences were observed in weed suppression. The highest weed control efficiency was recorded in T₁ (plastic mulch) at 94.8%, followed by T₂ (live mulch) at 82.3%, whereas T₃ (drip without mulch) recorded only 61.7%. The control plot exhibited the highest weed infestation throughout the season. Overall, plastic mulch under drip irrigation proved highly effective in enhancing weed control and improving crop microenvironment, suggesting its strong potential for sustainable maize production under semi-arid conditions.