Table 3 Shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight of wheat as influenced by mulch treatments, varieties and their interactions under water stress

Control (unmulched and irrigated

7.007 ± 0.43^c−f

6.737 ± 0.19^d−f

6.872^c

2.4367 ± 0.18^c−e

2.3900 ± 0.27^c−e

2.4133 ^cd

Mulch 1 Mg ha⁻¹ + water

7.107 ± 0.51^c−e

7.717 ± 0.36^b−d

7.412^c

2.5367 ± 0.11^c−e

2.7800 ± 0.03 ^cd

2.6583^c

Mulch 3 Mg ha⁻¹ + water

8.327 ± 0.40^bc

10.490 ± 0.02^a

9.408^ab

2.7633 ± 0.10 ^cd

3.2000 ± 0.05^bc

2.9817^bc

Mulch 5 Mg ha⁻¹ + water

8.737 ± 0.34^b

11.710 ± 0.89^a

10.223^a

2.8000 ± 0.16 ^cd

3.9867 ± 0.65^b

3.3933^ab

Water stress (40% FC)

5.497 ± 0.64 ^fg

4.890 ± 0.87 ^g

5.193^d

2.0567 ± 0.18^de

1.7700 ± 0.28^e

1.9133^d

Mulch (1 Mg ha⁻¹) + water stress

5.777 ± 0.17^e−g

6.877 ± 0.81^c−f

6.327^c

2.1700 ± 0.14^de

2.8300 ± 0.39 ^cd

2.5000 ^cd

Mulch (3 Mg ha⁻¹) + water stress

6.060 ± 0.44^e−g

6.997 ± 0.52^c−f

6.528^c

2.1967 ± 0.10^de

3.0900 ± 0.62^c

2.6433^c

Mulch (5 Mg ha⁻¹) + water stress

6.107 ± 0.39^e−g

11.380 ± 0.67^a

8.743^b

2.3300 ± 0.14^c−e

4.9900 ± 0.46^a

3.6600^a

Mean

6.8271^b

8.3496^a

2.4113^b

3.1296^a