Table 4 Root fresh weight and root dry weight of wheat as influenced by mulch treatments, varieties and their interactions under water stress

Control (unmulched and irrigated)

0.4267 ± 0.05^ij

0.4567 ± 0.00^ij

0.4417^e

0.2267 ± 0.03^gh

0.2467 ± 0.03^gh

0.2367^e

Mulch 1 Mg ha⁻¹ + water

0.8600 ± 0.06^gh

1.3800 ± 0.06^b−d

1.1200^c

0.5667 ± 0.03^ef

0.9267 ± 0.03^bc

0.7467^c

Mulch 3 Mg ha⁻¹ + water

1.2867 ± 0.09 ^cd

1.5267 ± 0.04^bc

1.4067^b

0.8367 ± 0.10 ^cd

1.0767 ± 0.05^ab

0.9567^b

Mulch 5 Mg ha⁻¹ + water

1.8967 ± 0.10^a

1.5867 ± 0.10^b

1.7417^a

1.3100 ± 0.06^a

1.1800 ± 0.02^a

1.2450^a

Water stress (40% soil field capacity)

0.2300 ± 0.01^j

0.2133 ± 0.01^j

0.2217^f

0.1600 ± 0.01 ^h

0.1533 ± 0.00 ^h

0.1567^e

Mulch (1 Mg ha⁻¹) + water stress

0.6900 ± 0.01^hi

0.8967 ± 0.12^f−h

0.7933^d

0.4600 ± 0.02 ^fg

0.6567 ± 0.05^d−f

0.5583^d

Mulch (3 Mg ha⁻¹) + water stress

0.9867 ± 0.03^e−g

1.1800 ± 0.16^d−f

1.0833^c

0.7000 ± 0.02^c−e

0.8533 ± 0.13^b−d

0.7767^c

Mulch (5 Mg ha⁻¹) + water stress

1.1700 ± 0.26^d−f

1.2333 ± 0.12^de

1.2017^bc

0.8567 ± 0.22^b−d

0.9067 ± 0.12^bc

0.8817^bc

Mean

0.9433^b

1.0592^a

0.6396^b

0.7500^a