Abrasive Grit Application in Organic Red Pepper: An Opportunity for Integrating Nitrogen and Weed Management

Weeds are a top management concern among organic vegetable growers. Abrasive weeding is a nonchemical tactic using air-propelled abrasive grit to destroy weed seedlings within crop rows. Many grit types are effective, but if organic fertilizers are used, this could integrate weed and nutrient management in a single field pass. Our objective was to quantify the effects of abrasive grit and mulch type on weed suppression, disease severity, soil nitrogen availability, and yield of pepper (Capsicum annuum L. ‘Carmen’). A 2-year experiment was conducted in organic red sweet pepper at Urbana, IL, with four replicates of five abrasive grit treatments (walnut shell grits, soybean meal fertilizer, composted turkey litter fertilizer, a weedy control, and a weed-free control) and four mulch treatments (straw mulch, bioplastic film, polyethylene plastic film, and a bare soil control). Abrasive weeding, regardless of grit type, paired with bioplastic or polyethylene plastic mulch reduced in-row weed density (67 and 87%, respectively) and biomass (81 and 84%); however there was no significant benefit when paired with straw mulch or bare ground. Despite the addition of 6 to 34 kg N/ha/yr through the application of soybean meal and composted turkey litter grits, simulated plant N uptake was most influenced by mulch composition (e.g., plastic vs. straw) and weed abundance. Nitrogen immobilization in straw mulch plots reduced leaf greenness, plant height, and yield. Bacterial spot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. Vesicatoria) was confirmed on peppers in both years, but abrasive weeding did not increase severity of the disease. Pepper yield was always greatest in the weed-free control and lowest in straw mulch and bare soil, but the combination of abrasive weeding (regardless of grit type) and bioplastic or polyethylene plastic mulch increased marketable yield by 47% and 21%, respectively, compared with the weedy control. Overall, results demonstrate that when abrasive weeding is paired with bioplastic or polyethylene mulch, growers can concurrently suppress weeds and increase crop N uptake for greater yields.

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Evaluation of Organic and Inorganic Mulching as an Integrated Weed Management Strategy in Maize Under Rainfed Conditions

Planta Daninha ◽

10.1590/s0100-83582018360100143 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

T. MEHMOOD ◽

S.U. KHAN ◽

A. QAYYUM ◽

A.R. GURMANI ◽

W. AHMED ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wheat Straw ◽

Rice Straw ◽

Insect Pests ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Test Species ◽

Weed Density ◽

Straw Mulch ◽

Dry Biomass ◽

Black Plastic

ABSTRACT: Weeds affect crop growth, health and yield by competing for resources, and they serve as refuge for insect pests. Mulches of different materials have been found to control weeds and insect pests. A field study was conducted at the village of Mang, Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, to explore the effect of various mulch materials on weed suppression in maize fields under rain-fed conditions in 2013. Eight mulch materials treatments were used: control (no mulching), wheat straw mulch, dry leaves of eucalyptus, rice straw mulch, grass clippings, living mulch (soybean crop), black plastic mulch and the herbicide Primextra were investigated under a randomized complete block design with four replications. Statistical analysis of data showed maximum reduction in weed density, relative weed density, fresh biomass and dry biomass in all the test species at 25, 50 and 75 days after sowing (DAS) where Primextra and black plastic mulch were used, and this was statistically similar to where rice straw and wheat straw were used. Maximum weed density, relative weed density, fresh and dry biomass of all weed species were recorded where soybean was intercropped with maize and grass clippings were used. Based on these results, it was inferred that the mulch material of eucalyptus and rice straw can effectively be used for controlling weeds in maize fields under rain-fed conditions.

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Evaluation of the Agronomic Performance of Organic Processing Tomato as Affected by Different Cover Crop Residues Management

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9090504 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 504 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Abou Chehade ◽

Antichi ◽

Martelloni ◽

Frasconi ◽

Sbrana ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Nitrogen Availability ◽

Crop Residues ◽

N Uptake ◽

Total Yield ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Processing Tomato ◽

No Till

No-till practices reduce soil erosion, conserve soil organic carbon, and enhance soil fertility. Yet, many factors could limit their adoption in organic farming. The present study investigated the effects of tillage and cover cropping on weed biomass, plant growth, yield, and fruit quality of an organic processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L. var. Elba F1) over two seasons (2015–2017). We compared systems where processing tomato was transplanted on i) tilled soil following or not a winter cover crop (Trifolium squarrosum L.) and with/without a biodegradable plastic mulch; and ii) no-till where clover was used, after rolling and flaming, as dead mulch. Tomato in no-till suffered from high weed competition and low soil nitrogen availability leading to lower plant growth, N uptake, and yield components with respect to tilled systems. The total yield in no-till declined to 6.8 and 18.3 t ha−1 in 2016 and 2017, respectively, with at least a 65% decrease compared to tilled clover-based systems. No evidence of growth-limiting soil compaction was noticed but a slightly higher soil resistance was in the no-till topsoil. Tillage and cover crop residues did not significantly change tomato quality (pH, total soluble solids, firmness). The incorporation of clover as green manure was generally more advantageous over no-till. This was partly due to the low performance of the cover crop where improvement may limit the obstacles (i.e., N supply and weed infestation) and enable the implementation of no-till in organic vegetable systems.

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Weed Suppression in Pumpkin by Mulches Composed of Organic Municipal Waste Materials

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.51.6.720 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 51 (6) ◽

pp. 720-726 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Caitlin E. Splawski ◽

Emilie E. Regnier ◽

S. Kent Harrison ◽

Mark A. Bennett ◽

James D. Metzger

Keyword(s):

Soil Temperature ◽

Bare Soil ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Control Measures ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Small Scale ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Weed Biomass ◽

Squash Bug ◽

Black Plastic

Field studies were conducted in 2011 and 2012 to compare mulch treatments of shredded newspaper, a combination of shredded newspaper plus turfgrass clippings (NP + grass), hardwood bark chips, black polyethylene plastic, and bare soil on weeds, insects, soil moisture, and soil temperature in pumpkins. Newspaper mulch or black plastic reduced total weed biomass ≥90%, and woodchip or NP + grass mulch each reduced total weed biomass 78% compared with bare soil under high rainfall conditions in 2011. In 2012, under low rainfall, all mulches reduced weed biomass 97% or more compared with bare soil. In both years, all mulches resulted in higher squash bug infestations than bare soil. The woodchip, newspaper, and NP + grass mulches retained higher soil moistures than bare soil or black plastic over the course of each growing season, and the woodchip and NP + grass mulches caused greatest fluctuations in soil temperature. Pumpkin yields were abnormally low in 2011 and did not differ among treatments. In 2012, all mulches produced greater total marketable pumpkin fruit weights compared with bare soil, but only black plastic, newspaper, and NP + grass mulches resulted in greater total numbers of marketable pumpkins. Overall results indicate that shredded newspaper or NP + grass mulches may be useful for organic and/or small-scale urban crop producers as sustainable alternatives to black plastic mulch; however, their weed suppression efficacy may require higher application rates with increasing moisture conditions, and they may require greater squash bug control measures than under bare soil conditions.

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Comparison of Weed Suppression and Mandarin Fruit Yield and Quality Obtained with Organic Mulches, Synthetic Mulches, Cultivation, and Glyphosate

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.43.3.795 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 43 (3) ◽

pp. 795-799 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

H.F. Abouziena ◽

O.M. Hafez ◽

I.M. El-Metwally ◽

S.D. Sharma ◽

M. Singh

Keyword(s):

Rice Straw ◽

Fruit Quality ◽

Weed Management ◽

Crop Production ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Residual Effects ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Straw Mulch

Organic crop production, whether for export or local consumption, is increasing to avoid the residual effects of synthetic herbicides in foods, soil, and water, toxicity to other nontarget organisms, and herbicide-resistant weed populations. Organic farmers consistently ranked weed management as one of their most important production problems. Therefore, a 2-year study was conducted under 15-year-old mandarin trees to compare the effects of rice straw mulch, cattail mulch, black plastic mulch, hand hoeing, cultivation, glyphosate, and unweeded control treatments on weed control, fruit yield, and fruit quality. The greatest control (94%–100%) of weeds occurred with the plastic mulch (200 or 150 μm) and three mulch layers of rice straw or cattail. Covering soil with cattail or rice straw mulch (two layers) gave 85% to 98% control of weeds. Uncontrolled weeds in the weedy control caused significant reduction in yield and fruit quality and decreased the yield/tree by 62% compared with hand hoe treatment. Plastic mulches of 200 and 150 μm, cattail (Cyprus articulatus L.) mulch (two or three layers) and two mulch layers of rice (Oryza sativa L.) straw treatments significantly increased the fruit yield/tree by 24%, 18%, 20%, 11%, and 12% more than cultivation treatment, respectively, without significant differences among these superior treatments. Soil mulching with three layers of rice straw, cultivation, glyphosate, and 80-μm plastic mulch treatments caused a significant reduction in weed density and weed biomass, but gave lower yield than superior treatments. Total soluble solids of fruits was unaffected by any of the weed management strategies, whereas values of total acidity and vitamin C were significantly lower in the unwedded control than most weeded treatments. These results demonstrate that two layers of cattail or rice straw mulch could be used effectively for controlling weeds in citrus groves. Their effectiveness in controlling weeds may increase their use in agriculture systems with a concomitant decrease in the need for synthetic herbicides. Further studies are needed to evaluate their side effects on beneficial organisms, diseases, and insects.

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Evaluating Cover Crop Mulches for No-till Organic Production of Onions

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.45.1.61 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

pp. 61-70 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Emily R. Vollmer ◽

Nancy Creamer ◽

Chris Reberg-Horton ◽

Greg Hoyt

Keyword(s):

Soybean Meal ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

N Uptake ◽

Organic Production ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Soil Mineral N ◽

Soil Mineral ◽

Mineral N ◽

No Till

Cover crops of foxtail millet ‘German Strain R’ [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.] and cowpea ‘Iron & Clay’ [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] were grown as monocrops (MIL, COW) and mixtures and compared with a bare ground control (BG) for weed suppression and nitrogen (N) contribution when followed by organically managed no-till bulb onion (Allium cepa L.) production. Experiments in 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 were each conducted on first-year transitional land. Mixtures consisted of cowpea with high, middle, and low seeding rates of millet (MIX-70, MIX-50, MIX-30). During onion production, each cover crop treatment had three N rate subplots (0, 105, and 210 kg N/ha) of surface-applied soybean meal [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]. Cover crop treatments COW and BG had the greatest total marketable onion yield both years. Where supplemental baled millet was applied in 2006–2007, onion mortality was over 50% in MIL and MIX and was attributed to the thickness of the millet mulch. Nitrogen rates of 105 and 210 kg N/ha increased soil mineral N (NO3– and NH4+) on BG plots 2 weeks after surface application of soybean meal each year, but stopped having an effect on soil mineral N by February or March. Split applications of soybean meal could be an important improvement in N management to better meet increased demand for N uptake during bulb initiation and growth in the spring.

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A Comparison of Alternative Weed Management Strategies for Field-grown Specialty Cut Flowers in Maine

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.30.4.865c ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 865C-865

Author(s):

Diana George Chapin ◽

Lois Berg Stack

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Weed Management ◽

Material Selection ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Bare Soil ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

First Year ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Hand Control ◽

Economic Analyses

A 2-year field study was initiated in May 1994 to show the effects of alternative weed control methods on weed suppression and cut flower yield. Cultural and economic analyses evaluate the feasibility of various management decisions. Gomphrena globosa cv. Woodcreek Pink seedlings were transplanted at 12-inch spacings with the following treatments: 10 mm chopped straw mulch, 10 mm shredded paper mulch, 1.25 mm black plastic mulch, bare soil with postemergent herbicide (Glyphosate) and bare soil with hand weed control. First-year results of the study show weed control was statistically equal between plastic, herbicide, and hand control. These methods provided significantly better barriers to weed growth than shredded paper and oat straw. Economic analyses show variation in the cost efficiency of these methods, however. It is expected that the results of the first year will be corroborated in 1995 for the herbicide, hand control, and plastic treatments, but will reflect change in the chopped straw and shredded paper treatments due to improved focus on experimental design and material selection.

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Canopy Shade and Soil Mulch Affect Yield and Solar Injury of Bell Pepper

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.29.4.258 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 258-260 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

B. Warren Roberts ◽

Jeffrey A. Anderson

Keyword(s):

Capsicum Annuum ◽

Bare Soil ◽

Bell Pepper ◽

Plant Canopy ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Straw Mulch ◽

Southern Oklahoma ◽

Black Plastic

Experiments were conducted from 1989 to 1991 to compare the effectiveness of various cultural techniques in reducing solar injury (SI) and increasing yield of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum var. annuum `California Wonder') in southern Oklahoma. Treatments included black plastic mulch, white plastic mulch, straw mulch, living rye, spunbonded polypropylene used as a plant canopy shade, and bare soil. Marketable yields from plots shaded with spunbonded polypropylene rowcovers were equal to or greater than those from other treatments each year. Two out of 3 years, plots with a black plastic soil mulch had marketable yields lower than those from other treatments. SI was reduced by rowcover shade.

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Transparent, Black and Organic Mulches Effect on Weed Suppression in Green Pepper (Capsicum annuum) in Western Kenya

Journal of Agricultural Studies ◽

10.5296/jas.v5i1.10807 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 67

Author(s):

Ocharo N. Edgar ◽

Joseph P. Gweyi-Onyango ◽

Nicholas Kibet Korir

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Management Practices ◽

Bare Soil ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Weed Species ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Transparent Plastic ◽

Green Pepper ◽

Physical Methods ◽

Black Plastic

Weed suppression through physical methods in cultivation constitutes of many methods but this experiment focused on application of various mulches. Recently, herbicide-free weed control methods in the world are getting more attention due to environmental and ecological factors. Green pepper production requires good management practices in order to attain potential yields. Most of the known physical practices of weed control cause both positive and negative effects. Therefore, great attention should be paid when selecting the appropriate mulch with the aim of weed suppression in any specific cultivation. Three types of mulches were examined for weed control namely; black plastic mulch, transparent plastic mulch, straw mulch and bare soil as control during the 2015 short and long raining seasons in Busia County. In both seasons, the black plastic mulch treatment significantly (P<0.05) showed the lowest number of weed species (3) per m2 quadrat while the control had the highest with a maximum of 8 and 7 during the long and short raining seasons respectively. The number of species reduced after four weeks from transplanting when the first sampling was carried out. The lowest weed vigor was exhibited in the plastic treatments for both seasons at 4, 6 and 8 weeks after transplanting. Control had the highest weed fresh biomass for both seasons at all the sampling stages with the highest observed during the short raining season with 1626 g/m2 at 4 weeks after transplanting. This also translated to the highest weed dry biomass for both seasons in the control plots with the lowest recorded in the black plastic mulch. Out of several physical methods of weed control, mulching seems to be the most appropriate with the black plastic mulch being the best.

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Growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) grown in the marginal upland area of Sta. Rita, Samar as influenced by different planting densities and mulching materials

Annals of Tropical Research ◽

10.32945/atr39sa4.2017 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 44-54

Author(s):

Zenaida Gonzaga ◽

Warren Obeda ◽

Ana Linda Gorme ◽

Jessie Rom ◽

Oscar Abrantes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bare Soil ◽

Abelmoschus Esculentus ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Planting Density ◽

Rice Hull ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Lady’S Finger ◽

Materials Used ◽

Set Up ◽

A Minor

Okra or Lady’s finger, botanically known as Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, is a tropical and sub-tropical indigenous vegetable crop commonly grown for its fibrous, slimy, and nutritious fruits and consumed by all classes of population. It has also several medicinal and economic values. Despite its many uses and potential value, its importance is under estimated, under-utilized, and considered a minor crop and little attention was paid to its improvement. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different planting densities and mulching materials on the growth and yield of okra grown in slightly sloping area in the marginal uplands in Sta. Rita, Samar, Philippines. A split-plot experiment was set up with planting density as main plot and the different mulching materials as the sub-plot which were: unmulched or bare soil, rice straw, rice hull, hagonoy and plastic mulch. Planting density did not significantly affect the growth and yield of okra. Regardless ofthe mulching materials used, mulched plants were taller and yielded higher compared to unmulched plants. Moreover, the use of plastic mulch resulted to the highest total fruit yield. The results indicate the potential of mulching in increasing yield and thus profitability of okra production under marginal upland conditions.

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PENGARUH POPULASI TANAMAN DAN PENGGUNAAN MULSA TERHADAP POPULASI GULMA DAN HASIL PUCIL JAGUNG MANIS (ZEA MAYS SACCHARATA STURT) DI LAHAN KERING

AGRICA ◽

10.37478/agr.v6i2.433 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 124-133

Author(s):

I Ketut Arsa Wijaya

Keyword(s):

Zea Mays ◽

Block Design ◽

Plant Population ◽

Cyperus Rotundus ◽

Corn Kernel ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Rice Plants ◽

Straw Mulch ◽

Combination Treatments ◽

Randomized Block Design

This study was conducted in Balai Benih Induk (BBI) Luwus, Baturiti District, Tabanan Regency, with the high of place 506m above sea level occurring in March to May 2014. This research used randomized block design arranged per factor, namely population of plants (P) including three steps: P1=80.000 plants per hectare, P2= 100.00 plants per hectare, P3= 120.000 per hectare; and mulch (M) that include: M0= without mulch and without cleaning, M1= without mulch with clean weeding, M2= rice plants straw mulch (5 ton per hectare) and M3= black silver plastic mulch. Eventually, there were 12 combination treatments, each of which was repeated 3 times to obtain 36 land slots. The research indicates that there was no real interaction between the treatment of plant population and mulch usage in all variables observed. The 100.000 plant population per hectare can produce the weight of dry and fresh oven corn kernel without highest cornhusk that was to say 4.79 tons and 0.53 tons or 11.66 % and 20.45% higher compared to 120.000 plant population per hectare. The use of black silver plastic and rice plants straw mulch can produce the weight of fresh and dry oven corn kernel without cornhusk per hectare each of which is 4.69 tons, 4.57 tons, and 0.54 tons, 0.47 tons or 26.76%, 38.46 %, and 23.51 %, 20.51 % higher than without mulch and without clean weeding. Clean weeding treatment can produce the weight of fresh and dry oven corn kernel without cornhusk per hectare with its weight of 4.63 tons and 0.51 tons or 25.35 % and 35.90 % higher than without mulch and cleaning. Clean weeding treatment was not obviously different from mulch treatment. The identification of weed types were 19 kinds of weeds and Cyperus rotundus L. Weeds. They have the highest density and each absolute frequent of 1249.333 stems m-2 and 1.00.

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