Evaluation of Recycled Paper Mulch for Vegetables as an Alternative to Plastic Film Mulch

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H. Mahmoud, Dina M. Salama, S. D. Abou-Hussein, S. M. El-Sawy This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7243124/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Mulch is considered beneficial for controlling weeds, water conservation, and encouraging plant growth. However, not much research has been done on how pepper growth is affected by Kraft recycled paper mulch. For this reason, Field trials conducted in 2022 and 2023 aimed to investigate the effects of different mulches on morphological parameters of pepper plants, weed management, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), and soil temperature. Four mulches: wheat straw, kraft recycled paper as organic mulch (biodegradable mulch) and black polyethylene mulch, and transparent polyethylene, along with a control treatment (no mulch). Organic mulching variously improved soil temperature and pepper yield, and biochemical constituents, which are very important for pepper cultivation. Organic mulching managed the soil temperature, the daily soil temperature ranges of Kraft recycled paper and wheat straw treatments being 3°,2°C and 4°, 3°C lower than for bare land at soil depths 5 and 10 cm ,respectively. Results revealed that mulch treatments affected the weed biomass and weed percentage, which confirms that Mulch was effective for weed management, especially black polyethylene and kraft recycled paper. Also, compared to bare soil, mulch enables roots to spread and establish farther beyond the trunk at the rate of 21% and 24% at 75 DAS, so plants thus become more stable. Root enlargement and chemical quality of pepper fruits are most excellent under organic mulches compared to plastic or bare soil. Hence, Kraft recycled paper, as organic mulch that was used, might be a good substitute in this investigation for polyethylene mulch to control soil temperature, weeds, and irrigation water use efficiency in pepper production. Biological sciences/Ecology Earth and environmental sciences/Ecology Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental sciences Biological sciences/Plant sciences Capsicum annuum L. kraft recycled paper wheat straw polyethylene mulch weed control soil temperature Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 11 Figure 12 1. Introduction Pepper ( Capsicum annum L .), both fresh and processed, is widely used in human nutrition. The estimated global production is 35.9 million tons, with an average output of 17.5 t per hectare 1 .It is the fourth largest crop in Egypt after tomato, potato and onion, with 10974 ha in 2021, with an average yield of 19 tons ha − 1 FAOSTAT 2021 2 .California Wonder Sweet Pepper; this is one of the oldest and largest heirloom bell pepper available, distinguished by its green color, thinner walls, and thicker skin in the middle, is traditionally used in Egypt. Mulching is a technique used by horticulturists and farmers to improve the state of agricultural soils by covering the soil surface with various materials. Mulching with either organic or inorganic materials aims to cover soils and provide a physical barrier to prevent soil water evaporation, control weeds, maintain a healthy soil structure, and protect crops from soil contamination 3 , 4 , 5 .Plastics are the most widespread mulching materials, and especially black polyethylene is used almost everywhere due to its low price and proven positive results in production 6 .These factors have led to the usage of polyethylene mulches in agriculture for more than 50 years 7 . Thus, the traditional mulching method has been transformed by the use of plastic film as mulch 8 .On the contrary, one of the primary disadvantages of polyethylene mulch is that it must be removed after use because it isn't biodegradable. According to evaluations by Hayes et al. , 9 and Mahmoud et al. , 10 , among the current disposal choices, burning, incineration, recycling, composting, and landfilling have a substantial negative impact on the economy or ecological 6 , 11 . Other alternatives to using plastics have been created. Although biodegradable films can be safely left in the field after harvesting, their use is growing. However, they are far more costly than plastics and have poor durability 10 . The process of covering the soil's surface with the organic remains of a previous crop is known as crop residue mulching 12 , as palm fronds, maize stalks, wheat straw, or stubble of leafy organic material that can also be imported from another place 13 . Woody materials like sawdust or bark, as well as compost, are examples of organic mulches that are becoming more widely available in places where green waste recycling systems are in place 9 . Coolong 14 demonstrated how mulches made of paper may be used in vegetable production systems. Paper mulch has the advantage of not posing the same disposal issues as plastic films, which are always and partially biodegradable after prolonged usage. Paper mulch decomposes organically and becomes part of the soil 15 .Sanchez et al. 16 reported success growing organic high-tunnel cucumbers with shredded newspapers as weed-suppressing mulch. But, some paper mulches degrade quickly under field conditions, which lessen their usefullness. Paper mulch is hygroscopic by nature, expanding and contracting in response to variations in its moisture level, and thus tends to provide a more consistent temperature than other mulch treatments, in contrast to plastic polymer films 17 , 18 . Additionally, due to their inability to heat the soil, a prior researcher suggested using paper mulch for hot-season crops. Furthermore, it was discovered that paper mulch decomposed spontaneously and degraded more quickly than straw mulch when added to the soil 15 , 19 . Also, The ability of paper mulch to maintain plants in water-limited settings and plant water status is an additional advantage 20 .Because paper mulches are biodegradable, made from a renewable resource, and don't need to be removed from the field after harvest, they have recently attracted attention. Paper constituents have been categorized as lower‑value recyclable material or equivalent municipal solid garbage 5 . So, it’s crucial to choose a certain kind of mulch for a given use. In this research, In order to reduce plastic waste and approach agricultural production sustainably, Kraft recycled paper was used. Nowadays, in Egypt, the accumulation of plastic garbage has increased due to increased plastic use and economic expansion. This article reviews the effect of biodegradable mulch such as wheat straw and kraft recycled paper mulch, and talks about the chances they present to deal with the issues of excessive plastic use in agriculture and the resulting environmental risk. 2. Material and Methods 2.1 Site Description Two field trials were conducted in newly reclaimed sandy soil field at the National Research Centre for Experimental Research in Nubaria, Beheira Governorate, Egypt (30◦29′50′′ N 30◦19′16′′ E) over two consecutive growth spring seasons of 2022 and 2023. The NRC approved the experiment to take place on its farm and gave its permission for all processes and for collecting plant samples as well. The whole experiment including collecting plant samples was conducted under the supervision and with the permission of the vegetable research department, agriculture, and biological institute, NRC in Cairo, Egypt, and according to its ‘Ethics approval and consent to participate’ section. to study the feasibility of a recycled paper mulch in the production of pepper plant. The physical and chemical properties of the experimental soil are shown in Table 1 . The soil under study was examined using the techniques outlined by Cottenie et al. 21 . Table 1 Physical and chemical characteristics of the experimental soil (the data are the average for two seasons). Soil physical properties Texture Sand (%) Silt (%) Clay (%) Sandy 92.1 0.83 7.07 Soil chemical properties CaCO 3 (%) EC (dS/m) pH OM (%) Ca (mg/L) Mg (mg/L) Na (mg/L) K (mg/L) CL (mg/L) HCO 3 (mg/L) 5.2 1.8 8.2 0.44 141.48 6.56 22.76 12.51 18.43 79.93 2.2Experimental Design The experiment included four treatments compared to the control (bare soil): 1 – wheat straw mulch (thickness of layer 7 cm); 2 –kraft paper; 3- black polyethylene mulch (60 µm thickness); 4 – white polyethylene mulch (60 µm thickness). The experiment was organized into a complete randomized block system with 4 replications (10 experimental plots in total, 150 m 2 ). The pepper plants, cv. California Wonder Sweet Pepper were grown from seedlings, the seedlings were acquired from the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Center nursery. These plants are not wild and according to Egyptian law, we do not have to deposit them in a public herbarium and this seeds sold commercially in the Egyptian market . The transplantation date was the 10th of March in the field. The distance between the rows was 70 cm, and 25cm between the plants. Each experimental plot had 100 plants on a surface of 15 m2. During the growth period, custom agricultural practices were applied such as: drip irrigation, fertilization, and plant protection. 2.3 Experimental Treatments The four mulches, i.e., wheat straw, kraft paper, black polyethylene and white polyethylene (Figs. 1 and 2 ), were put on shortly after the planting was completed.The soil under the control treatment was left bare. The organic and polyethylene mulches were hand-laid. Before planting, holes were cut in the black and white plastic mulch to match the emitters in the drip tape. The plastic mulch covering was 20 µm thick securely placed on the ground with drip tape underneath. The soil temperature content was recorded during 10:00 Am (morning) and 15:00 PM afternoon at two depths (5 and 10 cm) under each mulch treatment at 10-minute intervals by a soil temperature (Instrument Co. Ltd, LvBo, RS485). . 2.4 Irrigation and Water Use Using a soil moisture sensor that displays the pick-out range, such as when it achieves 20% consumption at a depth of 5 cm from the soil surface, irrigation scheduling was suitably assessed based on soil water content (SWC). Water use efficiency (WUE) = [the total dry matter yield (g/plant)]/[the respective total consumptive water use amount in mm for the whole crop period] 15 , 22 . $$\:\varvec{W}\varvec{U}\varvec{E}=\:\:\frac{\varvec{Y}\varvec{i}\varvec{e}\varvec{l}\varvec{d}\:}{{\varvec{W}}_{\mathbf{c}\mathbf{o}\mathbf{n}\mathbf{s}\mathbf{u}\mathbf{m}\mathbf{p}\mathbf{t}\mathbf{i}\mathbf{o}\mathbf{n}}}$$ $$\:{W}_{\text{c}\text{o}\text{n}\text{s}\text{u}\text{m}\text{p}\text{t}\text{i}\text{o}\text{n}}=\:{W}_{sowing}+P-\:{W}_{harvest}$$ W consumption is the water consumption (mm), W sowing is the soil water storage before sowing (mm), and P is the precipitation during the crop growth period (mm), W harvest is the soil water storage after the harvest (mm) 23 . 2.5 Measurements of Crop Parameters 2.5.1. Plant growth measurement Plant height, leaf area index (LAI), number of branches were measured after 45 and 60 days from planted seedlings. Each leaf was measured five times, and the average values were noted. Also, root length was measured every 30, 45, and 60 from planted seedlings. 2.5.2. Root length After carefully uprooting three plants from each plot, the soil was removed from the roots by gently washing them with water. At 30, 60, and 75 days (DAS), the plant was set out on white paper, and the diameter of its roots was noted and measured. 2.5.2. Photosynthetic pigments Leaf Pigment Contents (chlorophyll a, b, and a + b) and carotenoid, examined in the samples of fresh leaves at 60 days after planting date, according to Moran 24 . Using an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer (T-60, PG instrument, Wibtoft Leicestershire, UK), 500 mg of fresh leaf disks were immersed in 10 mL of N, N-dimethyl formamide for an entire night. The extracts were then measured at 470, 647, and 663 nm for carotenoids, chlorophyll b, and chlorophyll a, respectively. N, N-dimethyl formamide served as a blank 2.5.3. Flowering and yield measurements The number of days since seedlings were sown was used to determine the earliness of blossoming (day), although Mature pepper fruits were collected twice a week throughout the 70–80 day harvesting stage following transplantation, once the fruit achieved a minimum length of 5 cm, had a consistent shape and diameter, and had not yet begun to yellow on the blossom end. Each fruit's fresh weight, length, and width were measured. At the conclusion of the study, the total yield for the growing season was calculated (kg/plant). 2.6 Weed biomass Weed fresh weight was assessed using quadrats that were positioned at random (60 by 60 cm) once in each experimental plot's center row, one 45 days after planting. Every weed in the quadrate was gathered. Weed biomass (fresh weight per g/m²) and weed percentage were measured. 2.7. Biochemical constituents 2.7.1 Phytochemical content The total antioxidant activity in pepper fruits was evaluated. The stock solution was prepared by dissolving 24 mg 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) with 100 ml methanol and then stored at 20°C until needed. The solution was obtained by mixing10 ml of the stock solution with 45 ml of methanol to an absorbance 1.1 ± 0.02 units at 515 nmusing a UV/VIS spectrophotometer (SPECTRONIC 20D, Milton Roy Co. Ltd., New York, USA). The extracts (750 µL) were allowed to react with 1,500 µL of the DPPH solution for 5 min in the dark. Then, the absorbance at 515 nm was evaluated using a UV/VIS spectrophotometer (SPECTRONIC 20D, Milton Roy Co. Ltd., New York, USA). The standard curve was linear between 25 and 800 µmol Trolox according to the method described by Brand-Williams et al. 25 . Total phenols content of pepper fruits was estimated based on dry weight using a spectrophotometric mode. Phenols were extracted using 80%ethanol. Phenols were evaluated by adding 1 ml of sample, 70 ml of distilled water nexttoFolin-Ciocalteau reagent, and 15 ml of saturated sodium carbonate solution, incubated at chamber temperature for 30 min and measured at 765 nm using a UV/VIS spectrophotometer (SPECTRONIC 20D, Milton Roy Co. Ltd., New York, USA). Gallic acid was used to create a calibration curve 26 . Total indoles were assessed in pepper fruits on a dry weight basis by adding 1 ml of ethanol extract sample to a test tube followed by adding 2 ml of Salkowski reagent (consisting of H2SO4 concentrated (150 ml) and FeCl3.6H2O 0.5M (7.5 ml) 27 . This solution was incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature in the dark. Next, total indoles were measured at a wavelength of 530 nm using a UV/VIS spectrophotometer (SPECTRONIC 20D, Milton Roy Co. Ltd., New York, USA) 28 . The concentration of total indoles was determined by constructing a standard curve using IAA. Vitamin (C) content of pepper fruits was analyzed, on a fresh weight basis. The fruits were extracted with 1% oxalic acid and the extracts were titrated with a solution containing 295 mg L-1 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol(DPIP) and 100 mg L-1 sodium bicarbonate 29 . 2.7.2 Minerals content The content of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus content were evaluated the mode mentioned to in the AOAC 29 , in the dry pepper fruits. The fruit samples were dried at 70°C in an oven before being milled into a fine powder.In order to aid in the wet digestion of 0.1 g of plant material, samples were treated with 5 mL of strong sulfuric acid. Ten minutes of heating the mixture was followed by the addition of 0.5 mL of perchloric acid. After heating the mixture once more until it turned into a clear solution, hydrogen peroxide and sulfuric acid were added to aid in the digesting process. The phosphorus content of the digested solution was confirmed utilizing a spectrophotometer (SPECTRONIC 20D, Milton Roy Co. Ltd., New York, USA), the nitrogen content determined using the Kjeldahl method (UDK 139 Semi Automatic Kjeldahl Distillation Unit, VELP Scientific, Inc., New York, USA), and the potassium and calcium concentrations were estimated utilizing the flame photometer system (JENWAY, PFP-7, ELE Instrument Co. Ltd., Staffordshire, UK). 2.8. Statistical Analysis The obtained data were subjected to two-way analysis of variance using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 2008 release 17.0 for Windows, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Values were expressed as an average of three measurements ± standard deviation. The least significant difference test was used to compare significant differences among treatment means at p ≤ 0.05 level of significance in accordance with the procedures reported by Snedecor and Cochran 30 . 3. Results 3.1 Effect of mulching on soil temperature The results showed that, in comparison to bare soil (uncovered soil) and organic mulches, all plastic films significantly increased soil temperature.The behavior of the temperature curves shown in Figs. 3 and 8 over the course of a day showed that the soil temperature dropped until 10:00 AM (morning), at which point it began to rise and reached its peak at 17:00 PM. The soil temperature then dropped once more during the course of the pepper plant's various growth stages, reaching its lowest point at 17:00 PM. After planting seedlings, Figs. (3 and 4) demonstrated that mulching types at the soil surface (0 cm depth) had an impact on the soil temperature. The differences in maximum soil temperature between plastic mulch and bare soil were 3 and 2 ºC in the case of black and transparent film, respectively. Meanwhile, in the case of organic mulch (straw) and kraft paper, the differences in maximum soil temperature were only 4 and 5 ºC compared with bare soil. So, the presence of plastic mulches led to rising soil temperature compared with the organic mulches and bare soil for all depths, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 . In the vegetative growth period, being there of plastic mulches led to increasing the temperature of soil compared with bare soil for all depths, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 . For example, at time 10:00 AM, the soil temperatures were 38, 38 ºC and 37, 36 ºC at soil depths of 5 and 10 cm respectively under black film. This indicates that the black polyethylene rises the temperature of soil by 4 and 5 ºC for 5 and 7 cm soil depth, respectively, for the two seasons. Meanwhile, at 10:00AM, the soil temperatures were 33, 32 ºC at soil depths of 5 and 10 cm under kraft paper mulch, respectively, indicating that the black film increased the soil temperature by 4 and 5 ºC at these depths. Additionally, the findings demonstrated that as depth increased, the soil's daylight temperature (from dawn to sunset) dropped, while the soil temperature increased with increasing depth at night. For instance, at time of 10:00 AM, the soil temperatures were 32 and 33 ºC at soil depths of 5 cm, but the soil temperatures at the same time were 29 and 30 ºC at soil depths of 10 cm under kraft paper. In flowering stage, The soil mulching had a direct effect on the temperature soil in both growing seasons the same effect of soil mulch could be deduced from Fig. (7) and Fig. (8). It is disclosed that the kraft paper mulch gave the highest difference in the greatest soil temperature compared with bare soil and other mulches for all depths. For example, at time 10:00AM, the soil temperatures were 32, 34 ºC and 33 and 36 ºC for soil depths of 5 and 10 cm, respectively, at the two seasons. While at time 17:00 PM, the soil temperatures were 33, 36 ºC and 31, 33ºC at soil depths of 5 and 10 cm, respectively, under kraft paper mulch. Also, the highest temperatures of soil were recorded at both depths (5 and 10 cm) in summer with black polyethylene mulch and bare soil .The highest surface temperature was recorded over the black plastic mulch at 40 and 39 ºC, followed by the transparent mulches. Perhaps as a result of trapping more solar radiation, the polyethylene mulched plots (black and transparent) maintained relatively higher air and canopy temperatures than the organic mulching and the control. 3.2 Effect of mulching on plant growth As shown in Table 2 , plant growth indices were differentiated by different mulching types, highlighting the instant impact of mulching on plant length and leaf area development. Overall plant length was tallest in plants under kraft paper, as organic mulch, and then closely followed by straw, then by black film treatments; it became clearer with the plant leaf area as well as the branch numbers of the plant. Over the whole season, the height of plant increased gradually until the vegetative growth and then quickly increased in the final growth periods after 45 planting. The largest leaf area index(LAI)was observed in organic mulching with kraft paper then followed by the straw and the smallest in bare soil (without mulch) within the growth stages. Although Table 2 shows statistical differences between all treatments, a larger LAI was detected in mulch treatments compared to no-mulch treatments. Mulch treatment had no effect on the LAI during the primary growth stage. Table 2 Effect of different mulches on plant growth of pepper plants during two growing seasons. Mulch types Plant height (cm) Leaf area index (cm 2 / cm 2 ) No. of branches / plant after 60 DAS 45 DAS 60 DAS 45 DAS 60 DAS First season Bare soil 23.80 33.80 11.33 13.25 4 Wheat straw 34.59 48.33 15.36 19.35 4.6 Kraft recycled paper 36.75 49.67 16.88 21.22 5.5 Black PE 33.20 46.50 14.02 17.35 4.5 Transparent PE 31.20 43.30 13.11 15.20 4.3 LSD 5% 2.22 2.11 1.02 1.21 0.3 Second season Bare soil 22.30 31.22 11.21 13.65 4 Wheat straw 35.19 48.67 16.37 19.85 4.9 Kraft recycled paper 37.79 50.17 17.80 21.88 5.8 Black PE 34.25 46.50 14.14 17.57 4.5 Transparent PE 30.45 40.22 13.51 15.66 4.1 LSDat 5% 2.26 2.06 1.02 1.11 0.2 3.3 Effect of mulching on root length The data on the root length of pepper were recorded at 30, 60, and 75 DAS after planting are given in Table 3 .Mulches had notable main effects on root length. This may be due to the preservation of adequate soil moisture. After 30 days of sowing pepper seedlings, plants with the highest root length (27.36 cm) was observed in treatment organic mulch under kraft paper while lowest root length of 17.25 cm was observed with no mulch as bare soil. Eight weeks (60 DAS) after seeding, pepper root length at a 0:40 cm depth was high in all mulching treatments compared with bare soil treatment Table 3 . However, maximum root elongation in the surface layer (0:40 cm) was observed in the kraft paper mulch treatment at length 39.36 cm equivalent to 12% more than the following treatment straw mulch 18% and black polyethylene mulch. Root length within the outermost layer of the un-mulched treatments was notably shorter than with the mulched treatments (Table 3 ).Similar trends in root elongation were observed 10 weeks (75 DAS) after seeding. But, the greatest root elongation in the 40 cm depth was noted under kraft paper mulch. Under good soil temperature conditions, the elongation of root rate 4 cm/day was noticed under the kraft paper mulch and 3 cm/day with the straw treatment. The rate of elongation peaked four weeks after sowing, having been modest during the seedling stage. In general, the rate of elongation was inversely proportional to the highest soil temperature recorded at 5 and 10 cm depth Table 3 Effect of different mulches on root length of pepper plants during two growing seasons. Mulch types Root length (cm) At 30 DAS At 60 DAS At 75 DAS First season Bare soil 17.25 ± 4.05 f 25.25 ± 3.68 a 29.50 ± 3.06 e Wheat straw 25.36 ± 2.86 b 36.36 ± 2.19 b 39.26 ± 2.12 b Kraft paper 27.36 ± 2.12 a 39.36 ± 1.73 a 42.25 ± 1.20 a Black PE 24.25 ± 3.25 d 34.25 ± 2.78 c 37.5 ±2.29 c Transparent PE 21.00 ± 3.36 e 33.00 ± 3.12 d 36.20 ± 2.73 d LSDat 5% 1.11 1.14 1.22 Second season Bare soil 16.35 ± 4.22 e 22.35 ± 3.67 e 28.25 ± 3.22 e Wheat straw 26.36 ± 2.85b 37.58 ± 2.22 b 41.66 ± 1.67 b Kraft paper 28.35 ± 2.36 a 39.67 ± 1.22 a 43.65 ± 1.12 a Black PE 24.66 ± 3.32 c 35.66 ± 2.76 c 40.95 ± 1.93 c Transparent PE 22.67 ± 3.63 d 34.67 ± 3.22 d 38.33 ± 2.12 d LSD at 5% 1.12 1.32 1.35 3.4 Effect of mulching on photosynthetic pigments It is obvious from Table 4 that, the content of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll and carotenoids) of pepper leaves during both growing seasons. The statistical analysis showed significant differences (P < 0.05) between the different mulches. Chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll and carotenoids appeared the highest content in plants that were grown under the organic mulch such as kraft paper then followed by the straw mulch. On the contrary, pepper grown in bare soil had significantly lower contents of photosynthetic pigments than other mulches. In general, all treatments under mulches enhanced the content of photosynthetic pigments compared with plants that grow without mulching as control. Table 4 Effect of different mulches on photosynthetic pigments of pepper plants during two seasons. Mulch types Chl a mg/g F.W. Chl b mg/g F.W. Chl a + b mg/g F.W. Carotenoids mg/g F.W. First season Bare soil 1.18 ± 0.029 d 0.20 ± 0.017 e 1.38 ± 0.027 e 1.21 ± 0.017 e Wheat straw 1.83 ± 0.009 a 0.52 ± 0.011 b 2.35 ± 0.005 b 1.38 ± 0.010 b Kraft paper 1.88 ± 0.007 a 0.58 ± 0.010 a 2.46 ± 0.012 a 1.45 ± 0.007 a Black PE 1.72 ± 0.019 b 0.47 ± 0.023 c 2.29 ± 0.019 c 1.36 ± 0.022 c Transparent PE 1.67 ± 0.011 c 0.37 ± 0.014 d 2.04 ± 0.017 d 1.30 ± 0.023 d LSD at 5% 0.087 0.054 0.12 0.022 Second season Bare soil 1.22 ± 0.026 e 0.31 ± 0.027 e 1.42 ± 0.020 e 1.23 ± 0.015 e Wheat straw 1.81 ± 0.014 b 0.53 ± 0.012 b 2.34 ± 0.013 b 1.44 ± 0.010 b Kraft paper 1.87 ± 0.006 a 0.57 ± 0.008 a 2.44 ± 0.012 a 1.48 ± 0.007 a Black PE 1.70 ± 0.019 c 0.49 ± 0.023 c 2.30 ± 0.019 c 1.33 ± 0.022 c Transparent PE 1.67 ± 0.010 d 0.40 ± 0.024 d 2.06 ± 0.022 d 1.31 ± 0.022 d LSD at 5% 0.033 0.021 0.11 0.019 3.5Effect of mulching on flowering date, yield and fruit quality The growth stimulation led to acceleration of the flowering date. Typically, the days number from planting to 50% flowering was used to record the flowering date. Table 5 showed that the 50% flowering dates were 73, 81, 84, 88, and 98 days for kraft paper, wheat straw, black, transparent mulch, and bare soil, respectively. This finding showed that the kraft paper caused flowering to be accelerated by 7 and 11 days in the case of wheat straw and black mulch. On the contrary, For 10 days, polyethylene mulch delayed blossoming compared with organic mulch and its action of raising the soil temperature is what causes this delay in the blossoming date. Compared to the control, mulching increased the number of fruits produced per plant (Table 5 ). It indicated that mulch has a favorable effect on pepper fruit setting. The greatest quantity of fruits per plant was noted in kraft paper (26.67 plant-1), followed by the black plastic mulch (24.36 plant − 1 ), followed by wheat straw (24.00 plant − 1 ), and clearmulch (23 plant − 1 ). Conversely, the control treatment displayed the fewest fruits per plant. (18.33 plant-1).Concerning the effect of mulching types on the pepper yield, the findings indicated that the pepper yield values were 3164, 3060, 2900, 2630, and 1955 g per plant. Under kraft paper, black, wheat straw, transparent and soil bare, respectively as shown in Table 5 . With kraft paper mulch, the high root length and its elongation in the planting bed will encourage quicker crop growth and earlier yield. The fruit quality (fruit breadth, length and diameter) under kraft paper and black plastic mulch treatments did not significantly differ. Fruit quality was slightly lower wheat straw and transparent mulch compared to the kraft paper, and black plastic. The bare soil treatment had significantly lower the fruit quality than other treatments. Table 5 Effect of different mulches on flowering date, yield and fruit quality of pepper plants during two planting seasons. Mulch types Days to 50% flowering No. of fruit / plant Yield/ plant (g) Fruit breadth (cm) Fruit length (cm) Fruit diameter (cm) First season Bare soil 98.25 ± 2.76 e 18.33 ± 3.25 e 1955 ± 5.67 e 3.33 ± 1.66 d 5.23 ± 1.63 d 3.25 ± 0.62 c Wheat straw 81.36 ± 2.25 b 24.00 ± 2.39 b 2900 ± 4.00 c 4.35 ± 1.38 b 6.30 ± 1.55 b 4.33 ± 0.41 b Kraft paper 74.24 ± 2.33 a 26.67 ± 2.22 a 3164 ± 3.30 a 5.00 ± 1.11 a 7.50 ± 1.33 a 5.23 ± 0.30 a Black PE 84.36 ± 2.42c 24.35 ± 2.25 b 3060 ± 3.35 b 4.88 ± 1.25 a 6.50 ± 1.42 a 5.00 ± 0.37 a Transparent PE 88.39 ± 2.55d 23.00 ± 2.76 d 2630 ± 4.76 d 3.67 ± 1.44 c 5.33 ± 1.54 c 4.33 ± 0.50 b LSDat 5% 2.30 1.26 19.25 0.50 1.02 0.34 Second season Bare soil 97.25 ± 3.25e 17.35 ± 3.42 e 1904 ± 5.30 e 3.67 ± 1.58 c 5.12 ± 1.67 c 3.16 ± 0.67 c Wheat straw 82.25 ± 2.20 b 24.33 ± 2.66 c 2837 ± 3.63 c 4.26 ± 1.39 b 6.00 ± 1.44 b 4.30 ± 0.40 b Kraft paper 73.36 ± 2.30 a 27.40 ± 2.10 a 3088 ± 3.27 a 5.00 ± 1.19 a 8.65 ± 1.30 a 5.20 ± 0.26 a Black PE 83.36 ± 2.25c 24.33 ± 2.17 b 2978 ± 3.37 b 4.87 ± 1.28 a 7.69 ± 1.39 a 5.00 ± 0.30 a Transparent PE 93.67 ± 2.48d 23.33 ± 2.70 d 2652 ± 4.33d 4.00 ± 1.41 b 6.00 ± 1.53 b 4.20 ± 0.44 b LSD at 5% 2.06 1.31 20.20 0.60 1.03 0.31 3.6 Irrigation and water use Water use efficiency (WUE) is strongly associated with mulching practices, and irrigation management. The logical combination of irrigation and mulching can enhance WUE in pepper, contributing significantly to agriculture that is sustainable. The results for of the bare soil treatment were insignificant, indicating that providing irrigation water without using organic mulch was ineffective (Figs. 9 and 10 ). Under the mulching treatments, significantly improved WUE with black polyethylene and kraft paper occurred over straw and transparent polyethylene. Finally, Fig. (9) illustrated that the values of water use efficiency was 2.41, 6.63, 8.16, 9.28, and 9.50 kg/m 3 under uncovered soil, straw, transparent, kraft paper and black mulch respectively. The highest IWUE was obtained for mulching treatments, and the order of IWUE among the five treatments was black polyethylene > kraft paper > transparent polyethylene > straw > bare soil in both planting years. No significant difference was observed between black polyethylene and kraft paper in water use efficiency. Water consumption of the five treatments was in the order of black polyethylene = kraft paper < transparent polyethylene < straw < bare soil, indicating that polyethylene and kraft paper were the most effective in preventing water evaporation, as shown in Fig. (10). 3.7 Weed biomass Data was gathered throughout the growth season on the fresh weeds weight that emerged in a quadratic. Results revealed that mulch treatments affected the weed biomass and weed percentage. The Results showed that the control (no mulch) treatment (Figs. 11and 12) had the highest weed biomass, weeds percentage and was deferred considerably from each mulch treatment. The no mulch as control had the maximum weed biomass and percentage density grasses (Figs. 11 and 12 ). In mulch treatments, weed biomass (the quantity of grasses) was greatly decreased. The findings indicated that the forms of mulching had an impact on the percentage of weeds. The average weed percentage for each treatment is shown in Fig. (12).The greatest decrease in the percentage of weeds of 99% was noticed under black polyethylene, and then followed by the kraft paper 82%, straw mulch 70%, and transparent polyethylene 65%, while the minimum reduction was 5% with bare soil. The black polyethylene and kraft paper seriously prevented light from penetrating to the soil surface; therefore, weed seedling cannot survive under these mulches. 3.7 Biochemical constituents It is obvious that the application of different types of mulches resulted in the amplification of the biochemical constituents i.e. nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, total antioxidant activity, total phenols, total indoles, and vitamin C in pepper fruits, as shown in Table (6). The highest values of nitrogen (1.78 and 1.76%), phosphorus (0.35 and 0.33%), potassium (3.46 and 3.41%), total antioxidant activity(8.75 and 8.58µmolTrolox/ g DW), total phenols (9.96 and 9.74mg GAE/g DW), total indoles (11.48 and 10.49mg IAA/g DW), and vitamin C (155 and 149mg/100 FW) were obtained using Kraft paper compared with other mulch types, during two sequentialseasons2022 and 2023.Utilization of Kraft paper as mulch recorded significant impact on the biochemical constituents except for vitamin, which did not show significant effect. Table 6 Effect of different mulches on biochemical constituents of pepper fruits, during two sowing seasons. Mulch types Minerals (%) Total antioxidant activity (µmolTrolox/ g DW) Total phenols (mg GAE/g DW) Total indoles (mg IAA/g DW) Vitamin C (mg/100 FW) N P K First season Bare soil 1.35 ± 0.05 0.25 ± 0.05 2.78 ± 0.05 6.50 ± 0.10 6.88 ± 0.88 8.75 ± 0.09 122 ± 3.0 Wheat straw 1.69 ± 0.05 0.32 ± 0.02 3.34 ± 0.04 7.79 ± 0.01 9.84 ± 0.12 11.38 ± 0.09 142 ± 6.1 Kraft paper 1.78 ± 0.04 0.35 ± 0.05 3.46 ± 0.04 8.74 ± 1.01 9.96 ± 0.04 11.48 ± 0.08 155 ± 5.0 Black PE 1.58 ± 0.08 0.30 ± 0.05 3.20 ± 0.05 7.57 ± 0.07 8.25 ± 0.25 11.10 ± 0.53 139 ± 1.0 Transparent PE 1.52 ± 0.02 0.28 ± 0.02 3.09 ± 0.02 7.18 ± 0.08 7.74 ± 0.09 10.20 ± 0.20 132 ± 6.1 LSD at 5% 0.07 0.03 0.04 0.58 0.49 0.33 NS Second season Bare soil 1.30 ± 0.05 0.23 ± 0.03 2.75 ± 0.05 6.35 ± 0.15 6.69 ± 0.04 8.52 ± 0.12 119 ± 1.0 Wheat straw 1.64 ± 0.04 0.31 ± 0.02 3.30 ± 0.05 7.64 ± 0.12 8.77 ± 0.10 10.50 ± 0.10 138 ± 2.0 Kraft paper 1.76 ± 0.06 0.33 ± 0.03 3.41 ± 0.10 8.58 ± 0.08 9.74 ± 0.04 10.89 ± 0.10 149 ± 1.0 Black PE 1.58 ± 0.04 0.28 ± 0.03 3.15 ± 0.05 7.49 ± 0.16 8.22 ± 0.22 10.21 ± 0.10 136 ± 2.0 Transparent PE 1.50 ± 0.05 0.27 ± 0.01 3.00 ± 0.10 7.14 ± 0.14 7.61 ± 0.10 `9.55 ± 0.05 131 ± 5.3 LSD at 5% 0.05 0.02 0.05 0.06 0.13 0.08 NS N.S = Not Significant (p < 0.05) 4. Discussion 4.1. Effects of mulching practices on soil temperature The mulching treatments (kraft paper, wheat straw, black polyethylene and transparent polyethylene) reduced maximum daily temperature of soil but raised minimum daily temperature of soil compared to the bare soil. The reason might be because the organic mulching (kraft paper, straw, wood chips, and grass) raises the albedo and reduces surface conductivity of thermal soil, decreasing the amount of solar radiation that penetrates the soil 31 , meanwhile decreasing the soil radiation dissipating, causing the daily soil temperature range to significantly decrease. Mulch protects soil from temperature extremes of by acting as aninsulator 32 . Additionally, Haapala et al. 6 noted that mulched soil displayed a higher soil temperature in colder weather and a lower soil temperature in warmer weather when compared to non-mulched soil. Furthermore, Wang et al . 33 concluded that organic mulch protects soil and roots from severe temperatures and helps to reduce temperatures. In contrast, plastic mulch plots retained comparatively higher air temperature and vegetation cover compared to organic mulch and bare soil which may be the result of more solar radiation being trapped. Among the mulches, there was minimal difference between the temperatures of surface and canopy. The plastic mulches, black polyethylene in particular retained heat from the sun and released it gradually at night, resulting in a greater the temperature of surface compared to organic mulch such as kraft paper and wheat straw. Midday air temperatures at the canopy level may be higher because of stomatal closure, which lowers transpiration cooling and let’s heat escape 15 , 34 , 35 . Our findings align with the conclusions of Wang et al . 33 who demonstrated that the mean temperature of soil under polyethylene (i.e., black and transparent mulching on the surface) treatment in When maize was in its early development stage (April–May), the 5 and 10 cm soil layer was 3.4°C greater than when straw mulching was in place. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the early phases of crop growth are more sensitive to the impacts of soil temperature than are the middle and late stages 35 .Our studies have shown that, Despite the fact that mulching with straw and kraft recycled paper can enhance soil moisture levels and boost soil carbon storage in agricultural regions, Additionally, it causes the soil surface temperature to drop, particularly during the spring and summer months when the soil temperature is rising under plastic mulching, which is not helpful to the increase in pepper seedlings or the yield 31 , 33 . 4.2. Effects of mulching practices on growth and yield performances The primary purpose of kraft paper mulch is to enhance crop production parameters, and to help retain moisture in the soil. Leaf area index (LAI), plant height and leaf number are main indicators of energy conversion, radiation and precipitation interception and water balance. In this study, the pepper biomass, LAI, plant height and leaf number, chlorophyll, and yield under kraft paper treatment was notably greater than the other treatments. This might be as a result of the kraft paper smoother and lighter surface reflects more sunlight, which is consistent with both Haapala et al . 6 ; Pengfei et al. 31 .In addition, improving vegetative growth andnutrients leads to improving the chlorophyll in the plant leaves, on a fresh weight basis 36 , 37 , 38 . Since mulch application affects LAI during the pre-flowering stage starting with DAT 60, mulched pepper treatments have a relatively higher LAI across all watering schedules than those without mulch. Given that standpoint of therate of photosynthetic pigments, leaves having a higher LAI might be exposed to more light. Over time, rising LAI may also result in increased canopy respiration 15 .Because of its great light-transmission capacity, the film mulching isolates the soil from outside moisture exchange and reduces sensible heat exchange, and eliminating latent heat inter change, highlighting the warming effect noticeable 6 , 39 .This could be the reason why the crop fared better in the early phases of growth when mulched with kraft paper as organic to polyethylene. Low temperatures were no longer a barrier to plant growth after the tassel stage, as the summer temperatures increased and the mulch was torn off. Also, the kraft paper and wheat straw mulch worked well to prevent evaporation, store rainwater, and control soil temperature. The plant growth's LAI, photosynthetic pigments, yield, composition, and WUE were higher than the ground cover treatment, but at this point the plants had transitioned from nutritional to reproductive growth, so they were essentially constant. The organic mulching decreases the temperature of soil and effects of the development of crop growth hence the swelling yield under kraft paper mulching 31 , 40 .Furthermore, these findings imply that it is preferable to keep the kraft paper mulching and straw mulching treatment of pepper plants during the plant growth cycle, which should be intercepted rising temperatures in the soil during through the growth stage in addition to decrease soil evaporation. In general, to prevent raising the surface temperature, which could impact the crop's pre-growth and lengthen the growth period, mulching should be done after seedlings are sown. This could be the reason why the crop often fared better during the early growth phases when mulching was applied, especially under organic mulching than under polyethylene. After the first growth period, as Low temperatures were no longer a barrier to plant growth when the summertime temperatures increased and the mulch was torn up, and the straw mulch and kraft recycled paper worked well for controlling soil temperature, holding onto rainwater, and preventing evaporation. But at this point, the plants had progressed from the stage of nutritious growth to that of flowering, so the plant growth’s LAI, yield, and IWUE were essentially stable and were higher than the bare soil treatment. The organic mulching decreases the temperature of soil and effects crop growth and development, hence the high yield at organic mulching during the plant cycle 23 , 35 , 40 . 4.3. Effects of mulching practices on weed biomass Significantly higher weed biomass and weed populations were recorded in the control (bare soil) treatment (Figs. 11and 12) compared to the other treatments, only because weeds grow greater without the mulch's inhibition and more weed seeds may spread into the plots when no mulch wrapping was placed. The findings indicated that the types of mulching had an impact on the percentage of weeds and weed biomass. The average weed percentage for each treatment was shown in Figs. (11 and 12). Under transparent film, the weed percentage decreased by 9%, whereas under black film, it decreased by up to 98%. Weed seedlings cannot thrive beneath the mulch because of the black film's significant inhibition of light penetration into the soilOur findings corroborate earlier research showing that, when applied deeply enough, organic mulches effectively suppress weeds 41 , 42 .The black plastic mulch blocked off light,which prevented weed development and growth and leadsaboutabout 100% control of allweed 23 . Inorganic mulches, like black plastic mulch, are effective in controlling weeds, but they don't decompose, must be removed by hand after usage, and may necessitate soil moisture management 14 . Because only a small portion of plastic is recycled, the use of plastics in agriculture, particularly as mulches, has already resulted in permanent soil degradation in many regions of the world. Due to the considerable labor costs associated with removing the films, plastic is not collected,and the economical of lack absence disposal systems. Paper mulches have been found in numerous studies to be just as effective as or even more successful than black plastic mulch at controlling weeds, as shown in Figs. (11 and 12).Cooling 14 discovered that butcher paper and kraft recycled paper coated with polyethylene were just as successful at controlling weeds in the first year as black polyethylene plastic mulch. Black plastic mulch outperformed the other mulches in the second year. He proposed that while paper mulches may be useful in inhibiting the growth of weeds, their efficacy is contingent upon the growth conditions and environment. Another study conducted over four consecutive farming seasons in the UK found that paper mulches suppressed weeds for up to 16 weeks throughout the growing season 43 . The only weeds that posed more issues than with plastic mulches were those that grew across the planting holes. 4.4. Effects of mulching practices on IWUE and water consumption It was found that mulching was crucial for maintaining soil moisture and lowering evaporation from the soil surface compared with the bare soil. The mulching significantly increased the irrigation water use efficiency (approximately 35%) at the soil surface; This outcome is comparable to earlier research findings (Mon and Oue , 15 ; Yan et al ., 34 ; Ge et al ., 35 ). Mulching significantly increased IWUE and subsequent the irrigation water consumption, in line with the finding that mulching improved soil moisture content. However, the Water consumption was near all mulching treatment and much greater than from of bare soil especially in two treatments kraft paper and then black polyethylene this agrees 31 , 33 . This due to the of tender Kraft paper mulch macro pores that do hinder direct sunlight from reaching soil surface, but do not stop the movement of gases with the soil and the atmosphere. Confined water in mulching was readily transformed into vapor to satisfy evaporative demand of the soil, kraft paper or straw, and the polyethylene mulch, depending on the energy balance on the soil surface. While some water vapor reaches the mulch and subsequently falls back, the majority of the water vapor in this process is lost by evaporation. However, all mulching treatments, especially kraft paper, resulted in the highest IWUE rate the entire growing period. Mon and Oue 15 stated that there could be two possible causes for this: first, grass mulching prevents direct sunlight from reaching the soil's surface, which lowers evaporation. Second, a significant amount of water vapor that has evaporated condenses into the mulch before returning to the soil surface and evaporating once more after irrigation. This repeated water cycle postpones the loss of soil moisture until the next irrigation. The results of this study showed that pepper plants grown under film mulching treatments had higher IWUE than those grown under the non-film mulching treatments (Figs. 11 and 12 ). Yan et al. 34 found similar results: film mulching increased IWUE by 35% on cucumber plants. According to our hypothesis, lower water consumption or water demand led to longer irrigation intervals under all mulching treatments as compared to bare soil. It indicates that the plant mulched has saved more water with IWUE‑20%and reduced the total ET over non-mulching. Therefore, our study using the kraft paper as organic mulch appears is positively impacted for water consumption and IWUE, these results are consistent with those of other researcher’s findings Mon and Oue 15 in which they recommended that keeping the soil's moisture content is the primary benefit of using kraft paper as organic mulch. 4.5. Effects of mulching practices on biochemical constituents Mulching can enhance plant uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus by plants, ameliorating the quality of their plants 44 . Plants take up phosphorus to equation the raise in nitrogen in the soil, allowing them to meet the need for rising productivity 45 . Increased nitrogen under mulch treatments can support enhanced chlorophyll and soluble protein synthesis 46 , while higher soil available phosphorus is associated to with sugar content accumulation to achieve increased production 47 .Furthermore, the remarkable effect of mulching on plant yield is particularly determined by the concentration of nutrients in the soil 48 . With the gradual release of nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium into the soil, and organic mulching materials, the nutrients in the soil are increasingly absorbed and transformed by plants, and thus the impact of mulching technology on improving productivity can be obvious 49 , 50 . Moreover, levels of phenolic antioxidants are evidence of their sensitivity to environmental conditions 51 . In the same vein, phenolic compounds have free radical scavenging capabilities, which rely on exposure to stresses such as water and temperature 52 , 53 and nutritional reduction 54 . Additionally, the antioxidant ability of vegetables generally depends on both the type and the time of harvest 55 , 56 .Vitamin C content is affected by plant growth and environmental modifications 57 , 58 . As for total indoles, El-Mergawi and Abd El-Wahed 59 showed that total indoles increase with improved plant growth and tend to bind to other compounds when their content increases. It can be accomplished that organic mulch improves leaf physiological parameters, such as photosynthesis and stomatal conductivity, in addition to enhancing plant growth, yield, and structure 60 , 61 . 5. Conclusions Overall, organic mulching tends to improve both soil temperature and moisture, water use efficiency, and pepper yield, which is very critical for the agricultural sector. In particular, the water retention of organic mulching was clear, and this influence extended to a depth of more than 10 cm. Based on the study results, the two organic mulching materials had advantages, especially kraft recycled paper. The kraft recycled paper mulching showed decreased soil temperature and water protection, good biomass and yield, and good fruit quality compared to two polyethylene mulching black, and transparent, in addition to wheat straw mulch. Our data indicated that organic mulches provide effective weed control if applied at a sufficient depth as does black polyethylene mulching. However, because so little plastic is recycled, the use of plastic in agriculture, particularly as mulches, has already resulted in irreparable soil degradation in many parts of the world. The plastic is not collected because of the high expense of labor of film removal and also because of the lack of economical disposal systems. Therefore, to find safe and eco-friendly substitutes for plastic mulch, kraft recycled paper can be utilized as an organic mulch. Declarations Author contributions: Mahmoud S.H. performed current field experiment, statistically analyzed data and contributed the most to writing the manuscript. S.D. Abou-Hussein; S.M. El-Sawy; Dina M. Salama performed field experiment, arranged data and samples collection, and paper revision. both samples chemical analysis and statistical analysis were done by all authors as well as reading and approving the final version of manuscript Funding: No financial support was received by anyone of the authors for research performance, authorship or for paper publication. Competing interests: all authors stated that they don’t have any competing interests. 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1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":563810,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eField layout of the experiment and setup of various devices under the different types of mulch.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7243124/v1/42f1f931cffb1d214d39a638.png"},{"id":96386775,"identity":"a69a1c84-63b0-4a5e-bf47-9c1926d54025","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-20 13:26:48","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1189300,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eField layout of the experiment and set up of various devices under the different types of mulch.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7243124/v1/e7b94a19f8b31b73ee4f6905.png"},{"id":96453241,"identity":"a0a23293-c1e8-4c72-8f79-d536fb242035","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-21 09:58:55","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":79623,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEffect of different mulches on soil temperature at time 10:00AMand 17:00PM for soil depth of 5 and 7 cm after 1 day from planting at the first season.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7243124/v1/8ba9757ffd689cfdf89ba567.png"},{"id":96386777,"identity":"ebbb721c-f9bd-480c-86bd-36de31483dd0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-20 13:26:48","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":70511,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEffect of different mulches on soil temperature at time 10:00and 17:00 for soil depth of 5 and 7 cm after 1 day from planting at the second season.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7243124/v1/a838894488308e214f6815e8.png"},{"id":96386780,"identity":"d5ef0f19-b7cf-4c8e-b38e-3056444faf54","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-20 13:26:48","extension":"png","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":83645,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEffect of different mulches on soil temperature at time 10:00 AM and 17:00 PM for soil depth of 5 and 7 cm after 30 days from planting at the first season.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e","description":"","filename":"5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7243124/v1/7d7f4b2edcfb6f1f462b9934.png"},{"id":96386782,"identity":"4b9a38be-b047-4f54-939f-c234bf67bc0c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-20 13:26:48","extension":"png","order_by":6,"title":"Figure 6","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":68005,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEffect of different mulches on soil temperature at time 10:00AM and 17:00 PM for soil depth of 5 and 7 cm after 30 days from planting at the second season.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"6.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7243124/v1/d6cb890a9763e69403b4a48f.png"},{"id":96453269,"identity":"0fcb7151-621a-4389-aa41-1b3b943f3433","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-21 09:59:00","extension":"png","order_by":7,"title":"Figure 7","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":85146,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEffect of different mulches on soil temperature at time 10:00AM and 17:00 PM for soil depth of 5 and 7 cm during the flowering stage of pepper plants at the first season.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"7.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7243124/v1/02c557b6ac4e24466bd2a673.png"},{"id":96453339,"identity":"31ab830b-aa26-4d64-aedf-50f0b698f64a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-21 09:59:21","extension":"png","order_by":8,"title":"Figure 8","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":72217,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEffect of different mulches on soil temperature at time 10:00AMand 17:00PM for soil depth of 5 and 7 cm during the flowering stage of pepper plants at second the season.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"8.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7243124/v1/da2779f5eb1f790f001a43a6.png"},{"id":96454207,"identity":"73170397-b38a-40b7-a923-145329365dba","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-21 10:02:28","extension":"png","order_by":9,"title":"Figure 9","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":40628,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEffect of different mulches on water consumption of pepper plants during two planting seasons.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"9.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7243124/v1/a15d4669bc884a70ff642f19.png"},{"id":96386787,"identity":"de4d007a-f4cb-4708-9eff-68891f1dd116","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-20 13:26:48","extension":"png","order_by":10,"title":"Figure 10","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":28325,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEffect of different mulches on irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) of pepper plants during two planting seasons.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"10.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7243124/v1/c11ac911fae55a937894d74c.png"},{"id":96386790,"identity":"c967c95f-11c2-4085-b685-52aabbc8cf4f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-20 13:26:48","extension":"png","order_by":11,"title":"Figure 11","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":44748,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEffect of different mulches on weed biomass during two planting seasons.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"11.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7243124/v1/2441133fcd6c2b173312f12c.png"},{"id":96453489,"identity":"4d1a1d69-5015-4da0-abec-3b8a80e05081","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-21 10:00:09","extension":"png","order_by":12,"title":"Figure 12","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":32070,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEffect of different mulches on weed percent during two planting seasons.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"12.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7243124/v1/d17d687d6eb1b43430d067b4.png"},{"id":108490650,"identity":"7ebaec0a-1c9a-43e9-937f-2d973374d9a7","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-05 09:45:58","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":3494028,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7243124/v1/a91729bb-9842-4bc7-9566-59ba26786c87.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Evaluation of Recycled Paper Mulch for Vegetables as an Alternative to Plastic Film Mulch","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003ePepper (\u003cem\u003eCapsicum annum L\u003c/em\u003e.), both fresh and processed, is widely used in human nutrition. The estimated global production is 35.9\u0026nbsp;million tons, with an average output of 17.5 t per hectare\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.It is the fourth largest crop in Egypt after tomato, potato and onion, with 10974 ha in 2021, with an average yield of 19 tons ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003eFAOSTAT 2021\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.California Wonder Sweet Pepper; this is one of the oldest and largest heirloom bell pepper available, distinguished by its green color, thinner walls, and thicker skin in the middle, is traditionally used in Egypt.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMulching is a technique used by horticulturists and farmers to improve the state of agricultural soils by covering the soil surface with various materials. Mulching with either organic or inorganic materials aims to cover soils and provide a physical barrier to prevent soil water evaporation, control weeds, maintain a healthy soil structure, and protect crops from soil contamination\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.Plastics are the most widespread mulching materials, and especially black polyethylene is used almost everywhere due to its low price and proven positive results in production\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.These factors have led to the usage of polyethylene mulches in agriculture for more than 50 years\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Thus, the traditional mulching method has been transformed by the use of plastic film as mulch\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.On the contrary, one of the primary disadvantages of polyethylene mulch is that it must be removed after use because it isn't biodegradable. According to evaluations by Hayes \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e,\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e and Mahmoud \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e,\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, among the current disposal choices, burning, incineration, recycling, composting, and landfilling have a substantial negative impact on the economy or ecological \u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther alternatives to using plastics have been created. Although biodegradable films can be safely left in the field after harvesting, their use is growing. However, they are far more costly than plastics and have poor durability\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. The process of covering the soil's surface with the organic remains of a previous crop is known as crop residue mulching\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, as palm fronds, maize stalks, wheat straw, or stubble of leafy organic material that can also be imported from another place\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Woody materials like sawdust or bark, as well as compost, are examples of organic mulches that are becoming more widely available in places where green waste recycling systems are in place \u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Coolong\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003edemonstrated how mulches made of paper may be used in vegetable production systems.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePaper mulch has the advantage of not posing the same disposal issues as plastic films, which are always and partially biodegradable after prolonged usage. Paper mulch decomposes organically and becomes part of the soil\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.Sanchez \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003ereported success growing organic high-tunnel cucumbers with shredded newspapers as weed-suppressing mulch. But, some paper mulches degrade quickly under field conditions, which lessen their usefullness. Paper mulch is hygroscopic by nature, expanding and contracting in response to variations in its moisture level, and thus tends to provide a more consistent temperature than other mulch treatments, in contrast to plastic polymer films \u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdditionally, due to their inability to heat the soil, a prior researcher suggested using paper mulch for hot-season crops. Furthermore, it was discovered that paper mulch decomposed spontaneously and degraded more quickly than straw mulch when added to the soil \u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Also, The ability of paper mulch to maintain plants in water-limited settings and plant water status is an additional advantage\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.Because paper mulches are biodegradable, made from a renewable resource, and don't need to be removed from the field after harvest, they have recently attracted attention. Paper constituents have been categorized as lower‑value recyclable material or equivalent municipal solid garbage \u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. So, it\u0026rsquo;s crucial to choose a certain kind of mulch for a given use. In this research, In order to reduce plastic waste and approach agricultural production sustainably, Kraft recycled paper was used. Nowadays, in Egypt, the accumulation of plastic garbage has increased due to increased plastic use and economic expansion. This article reviews the effect of biodegradable mulch such as wheat straw and kraft recycled paper mulch, and talks about the chances they present to deal with the issues of excessive plastic use in agriculture and the resulting environmental risk.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Material and Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.1 Site Description\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo field trials were conducted in newly reclaimed sandy soil field at the National Research Centre for Experimental Research in Nubaria, Beheira Governorate, Egypt (30◦29\u0026prime;50\u0026prime;\u0026prime; N 30◦19\u0026prime;16\u0026prime;\u0026prime; E) over two consecutive growth spring seasons of 2022 and 2023. The NRC approved the experiment to take place on its farm and gave its permission for all processes and for collecting plant samples as well. The whole experiment including collecting plant samples was conducted under the supervision and with the permission of the vegetable research department, agriculture, and biological institute, NRC in Cairo, Egypt, and according to its \u0026lsquo;Ethics approval and consent to participate\u0026rsquo; section. to study the feasibility of a recycled paper mulch in the production of pepper plant. The physical and chemical properties of the experimental soil are shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e. The soil under study was examined using the techniques outlined by Cottenie\u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhysical and chemical characteristics of the experimental soil (the data are the average for two seasons).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"14\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c12\" colnum=\"12\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c13\" colnum=\"13\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c14\" colnum=\"14\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"14\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoil physical properties\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTexture\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSand (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSilt (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eClay (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSandy\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e92.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.83\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.07\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"14\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSoil chemical properties\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCaCO\u003c/b\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cb\u003e3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e(%)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEC\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e(dS/m)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003epH\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOM\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e(%)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCa\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e(mg/L)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMg\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e(mg/L)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNa\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e(mg/L)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eK\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e(mg/L)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCL\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e(mg/L)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHCO\u003c/b\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cb\u003e3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e(mg/L)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"1\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.44\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e141.48\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.56\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e22.76\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.51\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e18.43\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e79.93\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"1\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.2Experimental Design\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe experiment included four treatments compared to the control (bare soil): 1 \u0026ndash; wheat straw mulch (thickness of layer 7 cm); 2 \u0026ndash;kraft paper; 3- black polyethylene mulch (60 \u0026micro;m thickness); 4 \u0026ndash; white polyethylene mulch (60 \u0026micro;m thickness). The experiment was organized into a complete randomized block system with 4 replications (10 experimental plots in total, 150 m\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e). The pepper plants, cv. California Wonder Sweet Pepper were grown from seedlings, the seedlings were acquired from the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Center nursery. These plants are not wild and according to Egyptian law, we do not have to deposit them in a public herbarium and this seeds sold commercially in the Egyptian market\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e. The transplantation date was the 10th of March in the field. The distance between the rows was 70 cm, and 25cm between the plants. Each experimental plot had 100 plants on a surface of 15 m2. During the growth period, custom agricultural practices were applied such as: drip irrigation, fertilization, and plant protection.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.3 Experimental Treatments\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe four mulches, i.e., wheat straw, kraft paper, black polyethylene and white polyethylene (Figs.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e), were put on shortly after the planting was completed.The soil under the control treatment was left bare. The organic and polyethylene mulches were hand-laid. Before planting, holes were cut in the black and white plastic mulch to match the emitters in the drip tape. The plastic mulch covering was 20 \u0026micro;m thick securely placed on the ground with drip tape underneath.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe soil temperature content was recorded during 10:00 Am (morning) and 15:00 PM afternoon at two depths (5 and 10 cm) under each mulch treatment at 10-minute intervals by a soil temperature (Instrument Co. Ltd, LvBo, RS485).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.4 Irrigation and Water Use\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eUsing a soil moisture sensor that displays the pick-out range, such as when it achieves 20% consumption at a depth of 5 cm from the soil surface, irrigation scheduling was suitably assessed based on soil water content (SWC).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater use efficiency (WUE) = [the total dry matter yield (g/plant)]/[the respective total consumptive water use amount in mm for the whole crop period]\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003cdiv id=\"Equa\" class=\"Equation\"\u003e\u003cdiv format=\"TEX\" class=\"mathdisplay\" id=\"FileID_Equa\" name=\"EquationSource\"\u003e\n$$\\:\\varvec{W}\\varvec{U}\\varvec{E}=\\:\\:\\frac{\\varvec{Y}\\varvec{i}\\varvec{e}\\varvec{l}\\varvec{d}\\:}{{\\varvec{W}}_{\\mathbf{c}\\mathbf{o}\\mathbf{n}\\mathbf{s}\\mathbf{u}\\mathbf{m}\\mathbf{p}\\mathbf{t}\\mathbf{i}\\mathbf{o}\\mathbf{n}}}$$\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Equb\" class=\"Equation\"\u003e\u003cdiv format=\"TEX\" class=\"mathdisplay\" id=\"FileID_Equb\" name=\"EquationSource\"\u003e\n$$\\:{W}_{\\text{c}\\text{o}\\text{n}\\text{s}\\text{u}\\text{m}\\text{p}\\text{t}\\text{i}\\text{o}\\text{n}}=\\:{W}_{sowing}+P-\\:{W}_{harvest}$$\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eW\u003csub\u003econsumption\u003c/sub\u003e is the water consumption (mm), W\u003csub\u003esowing\u003c/sub\u003eis the soil water storage before sowing (mm), and P is the precipitation during the crop growth period (mm), W \u003csub\u003eharvest\u003c/sub\u003e is the soil water storage after the harvest (mm)\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.5 Measurements of Crop Parameters\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.5.1. Plant growth measurement\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlant height, leaf area index (LAI), number of branches were measured after 45 and 60 days from planted seedlings. Each leaf was measured five times, and the average values were noted. Also, root length was measured every 30, 45, and 60 from planted seedlings.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.5.2. Root length\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter carefully uprooting three plants from each plot, the soil was removed from the roots by gently washing them with water. At 30, 60, and 75 days (DAS), the plant was set out on white paper, and the diameter of its roots was noted and measured.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.5.2. Photosynthetic pigments\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLeaf Pigment Contents (chlorophyll a, b, and a\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;b) and carotenoid, examined in the samples of fresh leaves at 60 days after planting date, according to Moran\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Using an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer (T-60, PG instrument, Wibtoft Leicestershire, UK), 500 mg of fresh leaf disks were immersed in 10 mL of N, N-dimethyl formamide for an entire night. The extracts were then measured at 470, 647, and 663 nm for carotenoids, chlorophyll b, and chlorophyll a, respectively. N, N-dimethyl formamide served as a blank\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.5.3. Flowering and yield measurements\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe number of days since seedlings were sown was used to determine the earliness of blossoming (day), although Mature pepper fruits were collected twice a week throughout the 70\u0026ndash;80 day harvesting stage following transplantation, once the fruit achieved a minimum length of 5 cm, had a consistent shape and diameter, and had not yet begun to yellow on the blossom end. Each fruit's fresh weight, length, and width were measured. At the conclusion of the study, the total yield for the growing season was calculated (kg/plant).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.6 Weed biomass\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWeed fresh weight was assessed using quadrats that were positioned at random (60 by 60 cm) once in each experimental plot's center row, one 45 days after planting. Every weed in the quadrate was gathered. Weed biomass (fresh weight per g/m\u0026sup2;) and weed percentage were measured.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.7. Biochemical constituents\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.7.1 Phytochemical content\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe total antioxidant activity in pepper fruits was evaluated. The stock solution was prepared by dissolving 24 mg 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) with 100 ml methanol and then stored at 20\u0026deg;C until needed. The solution was obtained by mixing10 ml of the stock solution with 45 ml of methanol to an absorbance 1.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02 units at 515 nmusing a UV/VIS spectrophotometer (SPECTRONIC 20D, Milton Roy Co. Ltd., New York, USA). The extracts (750 \u0026micro;L) were allowed to react with 1,500 \u0026micro;L of the DPPH solution for 5 min in the dark. Then, the absorbance at 515 nm was evaluated using a UV/VIS spectrophotometer (SPECTRONIC 20D, Milton Roy Co. Ltd., New York, USA). The standard curve was linear between 25 and 800 \u0026micro;mol Trolox according to the method described by Brand-Williams \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal phenols content of pepper fruits was estimated based on dry weight using a spectrophotometric mode. Phenols were extracted using 80%ethanol. Phenols were evaluated by adding 1 ml of sample, 70 ml of distilled water nexttoFolin-Ciocalteau reagent, and 15 ml of saturated sodium carbonate solution, incubated at chamber temperature for 30 min and measured at 765 nm using a UV/VIS spectrophotometer (SPECTRONIC 20D, Milton Roy Co. Ltd., New York, USA). Gallic acid was used to create a calibration curve\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal indoles were assessed in pepper fruits on a dry weight basis by adding 1 ml of ethanol extract sample to a test tube followed by adding 2 ml of Salkowski reagent (consisting of H2SO4 concentrated (150 ml) and FeCl3.6H2O 0.5M (7.5 ml)\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. This solution was incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature in the dark. Next, total indoles were measured at a wavelength of 530 nm using a UV/VIS spectrophotometer (SPECTRONIC 20D, Milton Roy Co. Ltd., New York, USA) \u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. The concentration of total indoles was determined by constructing a standard curve using IAA.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eVitamin (C) content of pepper fruits was analyzed, on a fresh weight basis. The fruits were extracted with 1% oxalic acid and the extracts were titrated with a solution containing 295 mg L-1 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol(DPIP) and 100 mg L-1 sodium bicarbonate\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.7.2 Minerals content\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe content of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus content were evaluated the mode mentioned to in the AOAC\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, in the dry pepper fruits. The fruit samples were dried at 70\u0026deg;C in an oven before being milled into a fine powder.In order to aid in the wet digestion of 0.1 g of plant material, samples were treated with 5 mL of strong sulfuric acid. Ten minutes of heating the mixture was followed by the addition of 0.5 mL of perchloric acid. After heating the mixture once more until it turned into a clear solution, hydrogen peroxide and sulfuric acid were added to aid in the digesting process. The phosphorus content of the digested solution was confirmed utilizing a spectrophotometer (SPECTRONIC 20D, Milton Roy Co. Ltd., New York, USA), the nitrogen content determined using the Kjeldahl method (UDK 139 Semi Automatic Kjeldahl Distillation Unit, VELP Scientific, Inc., New York, USA), and the potassium and calcium concentrations were estimated utilizing the flame photometer system (JENWAY, PFP-7, ELE Instrument Co. Ltd., Staffordshire, UK).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec16\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.8. Statistical Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe obtained data were subjected to two-way analysis of variance using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 2008 release 17.0 for Windows, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Values were expressed as an average of three measurements\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;standard deviation. The least significant difference test was used to compare significant differences among treatment means at p\u0026thinsp;\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;0.05 level of significance in accordance with the procedures reported by Snedecor and Cochran\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3. Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec18\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.1 Effect of mulching on soil temperature\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe results showed that, in comparison to bare soil (uncovered soil) and organic mulches, all plastic films significantly increased soil temperature.The behavior of the temperature curves shown in Figs.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan refid=\"Fig8\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e over the course of a day showed that the soil temperature dropped until 10:00 AM (morning), at which point it began to rise and reached its peak at 17:00 PM. The soil temperature then dropped once more during the course of the pepper plant's various growth stages, reaching its lowest point at 17:00 PM. After planting seedlings, Figs.\u0026nbsp;(3 and 4) demonstrated that mulching types at the soil surface (0 cm depth) had an impact on the soil temperature. The differences in maximum soil temperature between plastic mulch and bare soil were 3 and 2 \u0026ordm;C in the case of black and transparent film, respectively. Meanwhile, in the case of organic mulch (straw) and kraft paper, the differences in maximum soil temperature were only 4 and 5 \u0026ordm;C compared with bare soil. So, the presence of plastic mulches led to rising soil temperature compared with the organic mulches and bare soil for all depths, as shown in Figs.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the vegetative growth period, being there of plastic mulches led to increasing the temperature of soil compared with bare soil for all depths, as shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e and Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e. For example, at time 10:00 AM, the soil temperatures were 38, 38 \u0026ordm;C and 37, 36 \u0026ordm;C at soil depths of 5 and 10 cm respectively under black film. This indicates that the black polyethylene rises the temperature of soil by 4 and 5 \u0026ordm;C for 5 and 7 cm soil depth, respectively, for the two seasons. Meanwhile, at 10:00AM, the soil temperatures were 33, 32 \u0026ordm;C at soil depths of 5 and 10 cm under kraft paper mulch, respectively, indicating that the black film increased the soil temperature by 4 and 5 \u0026ordm;C at these depths. Additionally, the findings demonstrated that as depth increased, the soil's daylight temperature (from dawn to sunset) dropped, while the soil temperature increased with increasing depth at night. For instance, at time of 10:00 AM, the soil temperatures were 32 and 33 \u0026ordm;C at soil depths of 5 cm, but the soil temperatures at the same time were 29 and 30 \u0026ordm;C at soil depths of 10 cm under kraft paper.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn flowering stage, The soil mulching had a direct effect on the temperature soil in both growing seasons the same effect of soil mulch could be deduced from Fig.\u0026nbsp;(7) and Fig.\u0026nbsp;(8). It is disclosed that the kraft paper mulch gave the highest difference in the greatest soil temperature compared with bare soil and other mulches for all depths. For example, at time 10:00AM, the soil temperatures were 32, 34 \u0026ordm;C and 33 and 36 \u0026ordm;C for soil depths of 5 and 10 cm, respectively, at the two seasons. While at time 17:00 PM, the soil temperatures were 33, 36 \u0026ordm;C and 31, 33\u0026ordm;C at soil depths of 5 and 10 cm, respectively, under kraft paper mulch. Also, the highest temperatures of soil were recorded at both depths (5 and 10 cm) in summer with black polyethylene mulch and bare soil .The highest surface temperature was recorded over the black plastic mulch at 40 and 39 \u0026ordm;C, followed by the transparent mulches. Perhaps as a result of trapping more solar radiation, the polyethylene mulched plots (black and transparent) maintained relatively higher air and canopy temperatures than the organic mulching and the control.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec19\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.2 Effect of mulching on plant growth\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, plant growth indices were differentiated by different mulching types, highlighting the instant impact of mulching on plant length and leaf area development. Overall plant length was tallest in plants under kraft paper, as organic mulch, and then closely followed by straw, then by black film treatments; it became clearer with the plant leaf area as well as the branch numbers of the plant. Over the whole season, the height of plant increased gradually until the vegetative growth and then quickly increased in the final growth periods after 45 planting. The largest leaf area index(LAI)was observed in organic mulching with kraft paper then followed by the straw and the smallest in bare soil (without mulch) within the growth stages. Although Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e shows statistical differences between all treatments, a larger LAI was detected in mulch treatments compared to no-mulch treatments. Mulch treatment had no effect on the LAI during the primary growth stage.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEffect of different mulches on plant growth of pepper plants during two growing seasons.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMulch types\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlant height\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(cm)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLeaf area index\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(cm\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e/ cm\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. of branches / plant after 60 DAS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e45 DAS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e60 DAS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e45 DAS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e60 DAS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"6\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst season\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBare soil\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23.80\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33.80\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.33\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWheat straw\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e34.59\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e48.33\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e15.36\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19.35\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKraft\u003c/b\u003e recycled\u003cb\u003epaper\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e36.75\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e49.67\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16.88\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e21.22\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBlack PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33.20\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e46.50\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14.02\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e17.35\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTransparent PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e31.20\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e43.30\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e15.20\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLSD 5%\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.22\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.11\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.02\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.21\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"6\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSecond season\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBare soil\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e22.30\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e31.22\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.21\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWheat straw\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e35.19\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e48.67\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16.37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19.85\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKraft\u003c/b\u003e recycled\u003cb\u003epaper\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e37.79\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50.17\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e17.80\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e21.88\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBlack PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e34.25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e46.50\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14.14\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e17.57\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTransparent PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30.45\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40.22\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.51\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e15.66\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLSDat 5%\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.26\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.06\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.02\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.11\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.2\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec20\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.3 Effect of mulching on root length\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe data on the root length of pepper were recorded at 30, 60, and 75 DAS after planting are given in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e.Mulches had notable main effects on root length. This may be due to the preservation of adequate soil moisture. After 30 days of sowing pepper seedlings, plants with the highest root length (27.36 cm) was observed in treatment organic mulch under kraft paper while lowest root length of 17.25 cm was observed with no mulch as bare soil. Eight weeks (60 DAS) after seeding, pepper root length at a 0:40 cm depth was high in all mulching treatments compared with bare soil treatment Table \u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e. However, maximum root elongation in the surface layer (0:40 cm) was observed in the kraft paper mulch treatment at length 39.36 cm equivalent to 12% more than the following treatment straw mulch 18% and black polyethylene mulch. Root length within the outermost layer of the un-mulched treatments was notably shorter than with the mulched treatments (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).Similar trends in root elongation were observed 10 weeks (75 DAS) after seeding. But, the greatest root elongation in the 40 cm depth was noted under kraft paper mulch. Under good soil temperature conditions, the elongation of root rate 4 cm/day was noticed under the kraft paper mulch and 3 cm/day with the straw treatment. The rate of elongation peaked four weeks after sowing, having been modest during the seedling stage. In general, the rate of elongation was inversely proportional to the highest soil temperature recorded at 5 and 10 cm depth\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEffect of different mulches on root length of pepper plants during two growing seasons.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMulch types\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRoot length (cm)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt 30 DAS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt 60 DAS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt 75 DAS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst season\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBare soil\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e17.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.05 f\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.68 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29.50\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.06 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWheat straw\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25.36\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.86 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e36.36\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.19 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39.26\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.12 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKraft paper\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e27.36\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.12 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39.36\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.73 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e42.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.20 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBlack PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.25 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e34.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.78 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e37.5 \u0026plusmn;2.29 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTransparent PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e21.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.36 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.12 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e36.20\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.73 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLSDat 5%\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.11\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.14\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.22\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSecond season\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBare soil\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.22 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e22.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.67 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e28.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.22 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWheat straw\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e26.36\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.85b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e37.58\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.22 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41.66\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.67 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKraft paper\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e28.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.36 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39.67\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.22 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e43.65\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.12 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBlack PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24.66\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.32 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e35.66\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.76 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40.95\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.93 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTransparent PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e22.67\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.63 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e34.67\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.22 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e38.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.12 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLSD at 5%\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.12\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.32\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.35\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec21\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.4 Effect of mulching on photosynthetic pigments\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is obvious from Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e that, the content of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll and carotenoids) of pepper leaves during both growing seasons. The statistical analysis showed significant differences (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) between the different mulches. Chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll and carotenoids appeared the highest content in plants that were grown under the organic mulch such as kraft paper then followed by the straw mulch. On the contrary, pepper grown in bare soil had significantly lower contents of photosynthetic pigments than other mulches. In general, all treatments under mulches enhanced the content of photosynthetic pigments compared with plants that grow without mulching as control.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEffect of different mulches on photosynthetic pigments of pepper plants during two seasons.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMulch types\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChl a\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003emg/g F.W.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChl b\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003emg/g F.W.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChl a\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;b\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003emg/g F.W.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCarotenoids\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003emg/g F.W.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"5\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst season\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBare soil\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.18\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.029 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.20\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.017 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.38\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.027 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.21\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.017 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWheat straw\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.83\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.009 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.52\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.011 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.005 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.38\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.010 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKraft paper\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.88\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.007 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.58\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.010 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.46\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.012 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.45\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.007 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBlack PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.72\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.019 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.47\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.023 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.29\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.019 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.36\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.022 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTransparent PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.67\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.011 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.37\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.014 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.04\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.017 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.023 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLSD at 5%\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.087\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.054\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.12\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.022\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"5\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSecond season\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBare soil\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.22\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.026 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.31\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.027 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.42\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.020 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.23\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.015 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWheat straw\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.81\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.014 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.53\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.012 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.34\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.013 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.44\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.010 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKraft paper\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.87\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.006 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.57\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.008 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.44\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.012 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.48\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.007 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBlack PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.70\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.019 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.49\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.023 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.019 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.022 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTransparent PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.67\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.010 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.40\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.024 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.06\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.022 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.31\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.022 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLSD at 5%\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.033\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.021\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.11\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.019\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec22\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.5Effect of mulching on flowering date, yield and fruit quality\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe growth stimulation led to acceleration of the flowering date. Typically, the days number from planting to 50% flowering was used to record the flowering date. Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e showed that the 50% flowering dates were 73, 81, 84, 88, and 98 days for kraft paper, wheat straw, black, transparent mulch, and bare soil, respectively. This finding showed that the kraft paper caused flowering to be accelerated by 7 and 11 days in the case of wheat straw and black mulch. On the contrary, For 10 days, polyethylene mulch delayed blossoming compared with organic mulch and its action of raising the soil temperature is what causes this delay in the blossoming date.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCompared to the control, mulching increased the number of fruits produced per plant (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e). It indicated that mulch has a favorable effect on pepper fruit setting. The greatest quantity of fruits per plant was noted in kraft paper (26.67 plant-1), followed by the black plastic mulch (24.36 plant\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), followed by wheat straw (24.00 plant\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), and clearmulch (23 plant\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e). Conversely, the control treatment displayed the fewest fruits per plant. (18.33 plant-1).Concerning the effect of mulching types on the pepper yield, the findings indicated that the pepper yield values were 3164, 3060, 2900, 2630, and 1955 g per plant. Under kraft paper, black, wheat straw, transparent and soil bare, respectively as shown in Table \u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e. With kraft paper mulch, the high root length and its elongation in the planting bed will encourage quicker crop growth and earlier yield. The fruit quality (fruit breadth, length and diameter) under kraft paper and black plastic mulch treatments did not significantly differ. Fruit quality was slightly lower wheat straw and transparent mulch compared to the kraft paper, and black plastic. The bare soil treatment had significantly lower the fruit quality than other treatments.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEffect of different mulches on flowering date, yield and fruit quality of pepper plants during two planting seasons.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"7\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMulch types\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDays to 50% flowering\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. of fruit / plant\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYield/ plant (g)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFruit breadth (cm)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFruit length (cm)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFruit diameter\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(cm)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"7\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst season\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBare soil\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e98.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.76 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e18.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.25 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1955\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.67 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.66 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.23\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.63 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.62 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWheat straw\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e81.36\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.25 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.39 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2900\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.00 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.38 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.55 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.41 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKraft paper\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e74.24\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.33 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e26.67\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.22 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3164\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.30 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.11 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.50\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.33 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.23\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.30 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBlack PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e84.36\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.42c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.25 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3060\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.35 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.88\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.25 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.50\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.42 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.37 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTransparent PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e88.39\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.55d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.76 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2630\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.76 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.67\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.44 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.54 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.50 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLSDat 5%\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.30\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.26\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e19.25\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.50\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.02\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.34\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"7\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSecond season\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBare soil\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e97.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.25e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e17.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.42 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1904\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.30 e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.67\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.58 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.12\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.67 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.16\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.67 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWheat straw\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e82.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.20 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.66 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2837\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.63 c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.26\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.39 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.44 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.40 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKraft paper\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e73.36\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.30 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e27.40\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.10 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3088\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.27 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.19 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.65\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.30 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.20\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.26 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBlack PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e83.36\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.25c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.17 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2978\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.37 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.87\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.28 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.69\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.39 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.30 a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTransparent PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e93.67\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.48d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.70 d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2652\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.33d\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.41 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.53 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.20\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.44 b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLSD at 5%\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.06\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.31\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e20.20\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.60\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.03\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.31\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec23\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.6 Irrigation and water use\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater use efficiency (WUE) is strongly associated with mulching practices, and irrigation management. The logical combination of irrigation and mulching can enhance WUE in pepper, contributing significantly to agriculture that is sustainable. The results for of the bare soil treatment were insignificant, indicating that providing irrigation water without using organic mulch was ineffective (Figs.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig9\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan refid=\"Fig10\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e). Under the mulching treatments, significantly improved WUE with black polyethylene and kraft paper occurred over straw and transparent polyethylene. Finally, Fig.\u0026nbsp;(9) illustrated that the values of water use efficiency was 2.41, 6.63, 8.16, 9.28, and 9.50 kg/m\u003csup\u003e3\u003c/sup\u003e under uncovered soil, straw, transparent, kraft paper and black mulch respectively. The highest IWUE was obtained for mulching treatments, and the order of IWUE among the five treatments was black polyethylene\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;kraft paper\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;transparent polyethylene\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;straw\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;bare soil in both planting years. No significant difference was observed between black polyethylene and kraft paper in water use efficiency. Water consumption of the five treatments was in the order of black polyethylene\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;kraft paper\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;transparent polyethylene\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;straw\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;bare soil, indicating that polyethylene and kraft paper were the most effective in preventing water evaporation, as shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;(10).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec24\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.7 Weed biomass\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eData was gathered throughout the growth season on the fresh weeds weight that emerged in a quadratic. Results revealed that mulch treatments affected the weed biomass and weed percentage. The Results showed that the control (no mulch) treatment (Figs.\u0026nbsp;11and 12) had the highest weed biomass, weeds percentage and was deferred considerably from each mulch treatment. The no mulch as control had the maximum weed biomass and percentage density grasses (Figs.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig11\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan refid=\"Fig12\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e). In mulch treatments, weed biomass (the quantity of grasses) was greatly decreased. The findings indicated that the forms of mulching had an impact on the percentage of weeds. The average weed percentage for each treatment is shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;(12).The greatest decrease in the percentage of weeds of 99% was noticed under black polyethylene, and then followed by the kraft paper 82%, straw mulch 70%, and transparent polyethylene 65%, while the minimum reduction was 5% with bare soil. The black polyethylene and kraft paper seriously prevented light from penetrating to the soil surface; therefore, weed seedling cannot survive under these mulches.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec25\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.7 Biochemical constituents\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is obvious that the application of different types of mulches resulted in the amplification of the biochemical constituents i.e. nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, total antioxidant activity, total phenols, total indoles, and vitamin C in pepper fruits, as shown in Table\u0026nbsp;(6). The highest values of nitrogen (1.78 and 1.76%), phosphorus (0.35 and 0.33%), potassium (3.46 and 3.41%), total antioxidant activity(8.75 and 8.58\u0026micro;molTrolox/ g DW), total phenols (9.96 and 9.74mg GAE/g DW), total indoles (11.48 and 10.49mg IAA/g DW), and vitamin C (155 and 149mg/100 FW) were obtained using Kraft paper compared with other mulch types, during two sequentialseasons2022 and 2023.Utilization of Kraft paper as mulch recorded significant impact on the biochemical constituents except for vitamin, which did not show significant effect.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab6\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 6\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEffect of different mulches on biochemical constituents of pepper fruits, during two sowing seasons.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMulch types\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMinerals\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal antioxidant\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eactivity\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(\u0026micro;molTrolox/ g DW)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal phenols\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(mg GAE/g DW)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal indoles\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(mg IAA/g DW)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVitamin C\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(mg/100 FW)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eP\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eK\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"8\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst season\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBare soil\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.78\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.50\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.88\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.88\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.75\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.09\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e122\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWheat straw\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.69\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.32\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.34\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.79\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.01\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.84\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.38\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.09\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e142\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKraft paper\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.78\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.46\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.74\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.01\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.96\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.48\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.08\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e155\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBlack PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.58\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.08\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.20\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.57\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.07\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.10\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.53\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e139\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTransparent PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.52\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.28\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.09\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.18\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.08\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.74\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.09\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.20\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.20\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e132\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLSD at 5%\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.07\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.03\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.04\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.58\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.49\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.33\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNS\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"8\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSecond season\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBare soil\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.23\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.75\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.15\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.69\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.52\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e119\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWheat straw\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.64\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.31\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.64\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.77\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.50\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e138\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKraft paper\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.76\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.41\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.58\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.08\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.74\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.89\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e149\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBlack PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.58\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.28\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.15\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.49\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.22\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.22\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.21\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e136\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTransparent PE\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.50\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.27\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.01\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.14\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.14\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.61\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e`9.55\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e131\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLSD at 5%\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.05\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.02\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.05\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.06\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.13\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.08\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNS\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"8\"\u003eN.S\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Not Significant (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05)\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"4. Discussion","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec27\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e4.1. Effects of mulching practices on soil temperature\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe mulching treatments (kraft paper, wheat straw, black polyethylene and transparent polyethylene) reduced maximum daily temperature of soil but raised minimum daily temperature of soil compared to the bare soil. The reason might be because the organic mulching (kraft paper, straw, wood chips, and grass) raises the albedo and reduces surface conductivity of thermal soil, decreasing the amount of solar radiation that penetrates the soil\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, meanwhile decreasing the soil radiation dissipating, causing the daily soil temperature range to significantly decrease. Mulch protects soil from temperature extremes of by acting as aninsulator\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Additionally, Haapala \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003enoted that mulched soil displayed a higher soil temperature in colder weather and a lower soil temperature in warmer weather when compared to non-mulched soil. Furthermore, Wang \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e.\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003econcluded that organic mulch protects soil and roots from severe temperatures and helps to reduce temperatures. In contrast, plastic mulch plots retained comparatively higher air temperature and vegetation cover compared to organic mulch and bare soil which may be the result of more solar radiation being trapped. Among the mulches, there was minimal difference between the temperatures of surface and canopy. The plastic mulches, black polyethylene in particular retained heat from the sun and released it gradually at night, resulting in a greater the temperature of surface compared to organic mulch such as kraft paper and wheat straw. Midday air temperatures at the canopy level may be higher because of stomatal closure, which lowers transpiration cooling and let\u0026rsquo;s heat escape\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOur findings align with the conclusions of Wang \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. \u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003ewho demonstrated that the mean temperature of soil under polyethylene (i.e., black and transparent mulching on the surface) treatment in When maize was in its early development stage (April\u0026ndash;May), the 5 and 10 cm soil layer was 3.4\u0026deg;C greater than when straw mulching was in place. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the early phases of crop growth are more sensitive to the impacts of soil temperature than are the middle and late stages\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.Our studies have shown that, Despite the fact that mulching with straw and kraft recycled paper can enhance soil moisture levels and boost soil carbon storage in agricultural regions, Additionally, it causes the soil surface temperature to drop, particularly during the spring and summer months when the soil temperature is rising under plastic mulching, which is not helpful to the increase in pepper seedlings or the yield\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec28\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e4.2. Effects of mulching practices on growth and yield performances\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe primary purpose of kraft paper mulch is to enhance crop production parameters, and to help retain moisture in the soil. Leaf area index (LAI), plant height and leaf number are main indicators of energy conversion, radiation and precipitation interception and water balance. In this study, the pepper biomass, LAI, plant height and leaf number, chlorophyll, and yield under kraft paper treatment was notably greater than the other treatments. This might be as a result of the kraft paper smoother and lighter surface reflects more sunlight, which is consistent with both \u003cb\u003eHaapala\u003c/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eet al\u003c/b\u003e.\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"BoldUnderline\" class=\"BoldUnderline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e; Pengfei \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.In addition, improving vegetative growth andnutrients leads to improving the chlorophyll in the plant leaves, on a fresh weight basis\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSince mulch application affects LAI during the pre-flowering stage starting with DAT 60, mulched pepper treatments have a relatively higher LAI across all watering schedules than those without mulch. Given that standpoint of therate of photosynthetic pigments, leaves having a higher LAI might be exposed to more light. Over time, rising LAI may also result in increased canopy respiration\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.Because of its great light-transmission capacity, the film mulching isolates the soil from outside moisture exchange and reduces sensible heat exchange, and eliminating latent heat inter change, highlighting the warming effect noticeable\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.This could be the reason why the crop fared better in the early phases of growth when mulched with kraft paper as organic to polyethylene. Low temperatures were no longer a barrier to plant growth after the tassel stage, as the summer temperatures increased and the mulch was torn off. Also, the kraft paper and wheat straw mulch worked well to prevent evaporation, store rainwater, and control soil temperature. The plant growth's LAI, photosynthetic pigments, yield, composition, and WUE were higher than the ground cover treatment, but at this point the plants had transitioned from nutritional to reproductive growth, so they were essentially constant. The organic mulching decreases the temperature of soil and effects of the development of crop growth hence the swelling yield under kraft paper mulching\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.Furthermore, these findings imply that it is preferable to keep the kraft paper mulching and straw mulching treatment of pepper plants during the plant growth cycle, which should be intercepted rising temperatures in the soil during through the growth stage in addition to decrease soil evaporation. In general, to prevent raising the surface temperature, which could impact the crop's pre-growth and lengthen the growth period, mulching should be done after seedlings are sown. This could be the reason why the crop often fared better during the early growth phases when mulching was applied, especially under organic mulching than under polyethylene. After the first growth period, as Low temperatures were no longer a barrier to plant growth when the summertime temperatures increased and the mulch was torn up, and the straw mulch and kraft recycled paper worked well for controlling soil temperature, holding onto rainwater, and preventing evaporation. But at this point, the plants had progressed from the stage of nutritious growth to that of flowering, so the plant growth\u0026rsquo;s LAI, yield, and IWUE were essentially stable and were higher than the bare soil treatment. The organic mulching decreases the temperature of soil and effects crop growth and development, hence the high yield at organic mulching during the plant cycle\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec29\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e4.3. Effects of mulching practices on weed biomass\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSignificantly higher weed biomass and weed populations were recorded in the control (bare soil) treatment (Figs.\u0026nbsp;11and 12) compared to the other treatments, only because weeds grow greater without the mulch's inhibition and more weed seeds may spread into the plots when no mulch wrapping was placed. The findings indicated that the types of mulching had an impact on the percentage of weeds and weed biomass. The average weed percentage for each treatment was shown in Figs.\u0026nbsp;(11 and 12). Under transparent film, the weed percentage decreased by 9%, whereas under black film, it decreased by up to 98%. Weed seedlings cannot thrive beneath the mulch because of the black film's significant inhibition of light penetration into the soilOur findings corroborate earlier research showing that, when applied deeply enough, organic mulches effectively suppress weeds\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR42\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e42\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.The black plastic mulch blocked off light,which prevented weed development and growth and leadsaboutabout 100% control of allweed\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Inorganic mulches, like black plastic mulch, are effective in controlling weeds, but they don't decompose, must be removed by hand after usage, and may necessitate soil moisture management\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBecause only a small portion of plastic is recycled, the use of plastics in agriculture, particularly as mulches, has already resulted in permanent soil degradation in many regions of the world. Due to the considerable labor costs associated with removing the films, plastic is not collected,and the economical of lack absence disposal systems. Paper mulches have been found in numerous studies to be just as effective as or even more successful than black plastic mulch at controlling weeds, as shown in Figs.\u0026nbsp;(11 and 12).Cooling\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e discovered that butcher paper and kraft recycled paper coated with polyethylene were just as successful at controlling weeds in the first year as black polyethylene plastic mulch. Black plastic mulch outperformed the other mulches in the second year. He proposed that while paper mulches may be useful in inhibiting the growth of weeds, their efficacy is contingent upon the growth conditions and environment. Another study conducted over four consecutive farming seasons in the UK found that paper mulches suppressed weeds for up to 16 weeks throughout the growing season\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e43\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. The only weeds that posed more issues than with plastic mulches were those that grew across the planting holes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec30\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e4.4. Effects of mulching practices on IWUE and water consumption\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt was found that mulching was crucial for maintaining soil moisture and lowering evaporation from the soil surface compared with the bare soil. The mulching significantly increased the irrigation water use efficiency (approximately 35%) at the soil surface; This outcome is comparable to earlier research findings \u003cb\u003e(Mon and Oue\u003c/b\u003e,\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"BoldUnderline\" class=\"BoldUnderline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e;\u003cb\u003eYan\u003c/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eet al\u003c/b\u003e., \u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"BoldUnderline\" class=\"BoldUnderline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e;\u003cb\u003eGe\u003c/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eet al\u003c/b\u003e.,\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"BoldUnderline\" class=\"BoldUnderline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u003cb\u003e).\u003c/b\u003e Mulching significantly increased IWUE and subsequent the irrigation water consumption, in line with the finding that mulching improved soil moisture content. However, the Water consumption was near all mulching treatment and much greater than from of bare soil especially in two treatments kraft paper and then black polyethylene this agrees\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. This due to the of tender Kraft paper mulch macro pores that do hinder direct sunlight from reaching soil surface, but do not stop the movement of gases with the soil and the atmosphere. Confined water in mulching was readily transformed into vapor to satisfy evaporative demand of the soil, kraft paper or straw, and the polyethylene mulch, depending on the energy balance on the soil surface. While some water vapor reaches the mulch and subsequently falls back, the majority of the water vapor in this process is lost by evaporation. However, all mulching treatments, especially kraft paper, resulted in the highest IWUE rate the entire growing period. Mon and Oue\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e stated that there could be two possible causes for this: first, grass mulching prevents direct sunlight from reaching the soil's surface, which lowers evaporation. Second, a significant amount of water vapor that has evaporated condenses into the mulch before returning to the soil surface and evaporating once more after irrigation. This repeated water cycle postpones the loss of soil moisture until the next irrigation. The results of this study showed that pepper plants grown under film mulching treatments had higher IWUE than those grown under the non-film mulching treatments (Figs.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig11\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan refid=\"Fig12\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e). Yan et al.\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e found similar results: film mulching increased IWUE by 35% on cucumber plants. According to our hypothesis, lower water consumption or water demand led to longer irrigation intervals under all mulching treatments as compared to bare soil. It indicates that the plant mulched has saved more water with IWUE‑20%and reduced the total ET over non-mulching. Therefore, our study using the kraft paper as organic mulch appears is positively impacted for water consumption and IWUE, these results are consistent with those of other researcher\u0026rsquo;s findings Mon and Oue\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e in which they recommended that keeping the soil's moisture content is the primary benefit of using kraft paper as organic mulch.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec31\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e4.5. Effects of mulching practices on biochemical constituents\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMulching can enhance plant uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus by plants, ameliorating the quality of their plants \u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e44\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Plants take up phosphorus to equation the raise in nitrogen in the soil, allowing them to meet the need for rising productivity\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e45\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Increased nitrogen under mulch treatments can support enhanced chlorophyll and soluble protein synthesis \u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e46\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, while higher soil available phosphorus is associated to with sugar content accumulation to achieve increased production\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR47\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e47\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.Furthermore, the remarkable effect of mulching on plant yield is particularly determined by the concentration of nutrients in the soil\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e48\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. With the gradual release of nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium into the soil, and organic mulching materials, the nutrients in the soil are increasingly absorbed and transformed by plants, and thus the impact of mulching technology on improving productivity can be obvious\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR49\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e49\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e50\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Moreover, levels of phenolic antioxidants are evidence of their sensitivity to environmental conditions\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In the same vein, phenolic compounds have free radical scavenging capabilities, which rely on exposure to stresses such as water and temperature\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR52\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e52\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR53\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e53\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e and nutritional reduction\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e54\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e Additionally, the antioxidant ability of vegetables generally depends on both the type and the time of harvest\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR55\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e55\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR56\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e56\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.Vitamin C content is affected by plant growth and environmental modifications \u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR57\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e57\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR58\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e58\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. As for total indoles, El-Mergawi and Abd El-Wahed\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e59\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e showed that total indoles increase with improved plant growth and tend to bind to other compounds when their content increases. It can be accomplished that organic mulch improves leaf physiological parameters, such as photosynthesis and stomatal conductivity, in addition to enhancing plant growth, yield, and structure\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR60\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e60\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR61\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e61\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"5. Conclusions","content":"\u003cp\u003eOverall, organic mulching tends to improve both soil temperature and moisture, water use efficiency, and pepper yield, which is very critical for the agricultural sector. In particular, the water retention of organic mulching was clear, and this influence extended to a depth of more than 10 cm. Based on the study results, the two organic mulching materials had advantages, especially kraft recycled paper. The kraft recycled paper mulching showed decreased soil temperature and water protection, good biomass and yield, and good fruit quality compared to two polyethylene mulching black, and transparent, in addition to wheat straw mulch. Our data indicated that organic mulches provide effective weed control if applied at a sufficient depth as does black polyethylene mulching. However, because so little plastic is recycled, the use of plastic in agriculture, particularly as mulches, has already resulted in irreparable soil degradation in many parts of the world. The plastic is not collected because of the high expense of labor of film removal and also because of the lack of economical disposal systems. Therefore, to find safe and eco-friendly substitutes for plastic mulch, kraft recycled paper can be utilized as an organic mulch.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor contributions:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMahmoud S.H. performed current field experiment, statistically analyzed data and contributed the most to writing the manuscript. S.D. Abou-Hussein; S.M. El-Sawy; Dina M. Salama performed field experiment, arranged data and samples collection, and paper revision. both samples chemical analysis and statistical analysis were done by \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;all authors as well as reading and approving the final version of manuscript\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo financial support was received by anyone of the authors for research performance, authorship or for paper publication.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eall authors stated that they don\u0026rsquo;t have any competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData Availability Statement:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe article includes all original contributions presented for this study. As for any further inquiries it could be declared by contacting the corresponding author. Datasets which were used and/and analyzed during our present study would be available from the co. author if needed on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSteduto, P., Hsiao, T. C., Fereres, E. \u0026amp; Raes, D. \u003cem\u003eCrop yield response to water\u003c/em\u003e. Vol. 1028 (fao Rome, 2012).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFAOSTAT, F. Agriculture organization of the united nations FAO statistical database. \u003cem\u003eFAO: Faro, Portugal\u003c/em\u003e (2023).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKumar, M. et al. Microplastics as pollutants in agricultural soils. \u003cem\u003eEnvironmental Pollution\u003c/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e265\u003c/strong\u003e, 114980, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114980 (2020).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eQi, Y. et al. Effects of plastic mulch film residues on wheat rhizosphere and soil properties. \u003cem\u003eJ. Hazard. 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Organic mulches as an alternative for under-vine weed management in Mediterranean irrigated vineyards: Impact on agronomic performance. \u003cem\u003eEuropean Journal of Agronomy \u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e145\u003c/strong\u003e, 126798, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2023.126798 (2023).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Capsicum annuum L., kraft recycled paper, wheat straw, polyethylene mulch, weed control, soil temperature","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7243124/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7243124/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eMulch is considered beneficial for controlling weeds, water conservation, and encouraging plant growth. However, not much research has been done on how pepper growth is affected by Kraft recycled paper mulch. For this reason, Field trials conducted in 2022 and 2023 aimed to investigate the effects of different mulches on morphological parameters of pepper plants, weed management, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), and soil temperature. Four mulches: wheat straw, kraft recycled paper as organic mulch (biodegradable mulch) and black polyethylene mulch, and transparent polyethylene, along with a control treatment (no mulch). Organic mulching variously improved soil temperature and pepper yield, and biochemical constituents, which are very important for pepper cultivation. Organic mulching managed the soil temperature, the daily soil temperature ranges of Kraft recycled paper and wheat straw treatments being 3\u0026deg;,2\u0026deg;C and 4\u0026deg;, 3\u0026deg;C lower than for bare land at soil depths 5 and 10 cm ,respectively. Results revealed that mulch treatments affected the weed biomass and weed percentage, which confirms that Mulch was effective for weed management, especially black polyethylene and kraft recycled paper. Also, compared to bare soil, mulch enables roots to spread and establish farther beyond the trunk at the rate of 21% and 24% at 75 DAS, so plants thus become more stable. Root enlargement and chemical quality of pepper fruits are most excellent under organic mulches compared to plastic or bare soil. Hence, Kraft recycled paper, as organic mulch that was used, might be a good substitute in this investigation for polyethylene mulch to control soil temperature, weeds, and irrigation water use efficiency in pepper production.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Evaluation of Recycled Paper Mulch for Vegetables as an Alternative to Plastic Film Mulch","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-11-20 13:26:43","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7243124/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"72a00db0-5ff5-485e-a2b5-5aaaaa577943","owner":[],"postedDate":"November 20th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":58061409,"name":"Biological sciences/Ecology"},{"id":58061410,"name":"Earth and environmental sciences/Ecology"},{"id":58061411,"name":"Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental sciences"},{"id":58061412,"name":"Biological sciences/Plant sciences"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-09T08:58:30+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-11-20 13:26:43","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7243124","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7243124","identity":"rs-7243124","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}