Light conditions and mulch modulates the damask rose ( Rosa damascena Mill.) yield, quality, and soil environment under mid hill conditions of the western Himalaya

Damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) is an important aromatic crop used in the flavor, fragrance, and pharmaceutical industries worldwide. The environmental and health problems related to chemicals have contributed to a rise in environmentally friendly practices. Microclimate modification usually guarantees sustainable crop and higher productivity; however, this does not always happen. A two-year field study with three shade levels (control, 25 % shade, and 50 % shade) and three types of mulches (without mulch, organic mulch, and black polyethylene mulch) was conducted during 2016-17 and 2017-18 in a split-plot design. Yield attributes and yield of damask rose were significantly higher in black polyethylene mulch under open sunny conditions (control). Moisture content and soil nutrients viz., available N, P, K were maximum in black polyethylene mulch under 50 % shade level. The relationship between photosynthetic active radiation, soil and air temperature, and microbial community with fresh flower yield revealed that with the increase in solar radiations, soil and air temperature increases the microbial population, which ultimately increased the fresh flower yield and essential oil yield. A positive and significant correlation between soil nutrient status and fresh flower yield was recorded. Our finding demonstrated that the combined application of appropriate light intensity and mulch could be considered for sustaining soil fertility and enhancing the damask rose crop?s productivity. It can be recommended to farmers and industrialists as an alternative, sustainable, and cleaner cultural system under the western Himalayas conditions.