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Soils are highly sensitive to the type of tillage practices used, as these practices influence soil properties and affect crops, the environment, and society. However, research on cassava production under different tillage systems during drought conditions in the Peruvian Amazon has not been reported. The objective of this study was to compare soil properties, cassava physiology, and yield under conservation agriculture (CA) and traditional agriculture (TA) practices, with and without mulch, in a water-scarce environment. Soil moisture, earthworm population (Ew), stomatal conductance, leaf area index, and commercial yield under CA were 5.26% (~105.2 m3 ha−1), 83%, 1.2 times, 1.14 times, and 7.3 t ha−1, respectively, higher than under TA. Hydraulic conductivity (Ks) in TA was 2.1 times higher than that in CA. However, Ks, bulk density, and Ew over time showed a gradual recovery under CA. The mulch factor only affected Ew, which was higher without mulch than with mulch. The results indicate that CA practices were superior to TA practices, improving soil properties, cassava physiology, and yield, and, therefore, offer significant benefits in resource conservation and higher production and profitability in a drought-prone environment.

The application of wool as mulch in strawberry cultivation was analysed to find a solution for the rational use of wool from mountain sheep. In the plantation, the experimental plots mulched with wool, straw, and bark were appointed. The plots were monitored during the experiment, while the soil temperature and moisture content were measured. The data collected in two-hour intervals were analysed, taking into account air temperature and falls registered in the local meteorological station. Additionally, the progress of mulch biodegradation was tracked. The changes in the wool morphology that occurred by biodegradation were observed during microscopic examinations using the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). It was stated that wool mulch plays an essential role in thermoregulation of the soil surface, prevents the overheating of the soil during the summer heat, and protects soil against excessive cooling during cold nights. The wool mulch minimizes the fluctuations between the soil’s day and night temperature. The fluctuations do not exceed 2–3 degrees on hot summer days, which are five times smaller than for the control plot. The wool retains large amounts of rainwater several times its weight. The water is then slowly released, providing the growing plants with a moist environment during a longer rainless period. Moreover, wool is difficult to biodegrade and maintains its properties for a long time, lasting longer than one vegetation season. Compared to straw and bark, the temperature fluctuations recorded for wool are two times smaller, and its effectiveness in water management is considerably better. The beneficial impact of the wool mulch ensuring favourable conditions for strawberry growth was explained by the specific wool structure and its unique properties.

The paper investigates for the first time the impact of a novel sprayable, biodegradable polyester-urethane-urea (PEUU) mulch on the microbial community composition of an agricultural soil. In this study changes to the composition of the soil microbial community and in soil enzyme activity involved in nutrient cycling were monitored on tomato plants grown under controlled greenhouse conditions. Particular attention was given to impacts on the relative changes in abundance of soil microbes. The PEUU mulch reduced the abundance of a small number of soil microbe taxa, but also provided an environment in which some taxa, which were comparatively rare in initial and unmulched soils, thrived. Importantly, the relative abundances of Azospirillum, Noviherbaspirillum, Exophiala, Phoma, Chaetomium and Clonostachys species all increased in soils treated with PEUU mulch. Principal coordinates analysis revealed the microbial community composition on PEUU films alone and in PEUU treated soil were most similar, while the PEUU films’ microbial community differed the most from the initial soil’s microbial community. These results indicate that from an agricultural productivity and an environmental safety standpoint the use of PEUU mulch may be preferable to PE and could provide additional plant growth benefits by increasing the abundance of soil microbes.

Excessive use of plastic mulches has triggered a series of environmental problems, primarily due to the large volumes generated and their low or non-existent degradability. For this reason, materials with similar characteristics to synthetic mulches but with a biodegradable character were sought. In this work, mulch films were produced from gelatin/glycerol/cellulose (GelC) and chitosan/glycerol/cellulose (ChiC). Their biodegradation time in soil and photographic analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were determined. The GelC sample presented a weight loss of 80% at 25 days, compared to 58% for the ChiC sample in the same exposure time. However, the latter was the only sample that could be evaluated up to 70 days, during which it presented its greatest weight loss (97%). The SEM results for both mulch films showed some color changes after 30 days; complete fracturing, growth of mycelium on the surface, and the presence of pores were observed. FTIR spectra revealed a decrease in hydroxyl groups, amides, and carbonyl bands as the number of degradation days increased. Obtaining polymers from waste materials, such as mango, represents an important task to obtain cellulose that can both reinforce and provide biodegradable properties to biobased materials, which can be degraded by microorganisms present in the soil.

Recruitment failures of Serianthes nelsonii are among the threats to this species’ recovery, yet adaptive management research to understand the causes of seedling mortality is lacking. Insufficient available light in the in situ forest floor is one factor that may be involved, and below-plant reflection of incident light may improve seedling survival. Mirrors were placed beneath S. nelsonii, Serianthes grandiflora, and Serianthes kanehirae seedlings in container nursery conditions and S. grandiflora seedlings in a closed-canopy forest to determine the influence of the additional reflected light on seedling survival and growth. Below-plant mirrors increased nursery seedling survival for S. nelsonii and S. kanehirae, with 75% combined survival without mirrors and 88% combined survival with mirrors. Below-plant mirrors increased stem height by 51% for the three species, with greater stem diameter and ending leaf number also occurring for plants with mirrors. Below-plant mirrors increased S. grandiflora seedling survival to 161% and longevity to 236% compared to plants without mirrors under forest cover. The plants receiving mirrors also increased by 175% in height, 60% in stem diameter, and 117% in leaf number compared to the plants without mirrors. These findings indicate that passive solar engineering by exploiting below-plant light reflection may be used as a Serianthes conservation protocol to improve seedling survival and growth under shaded conditions.

Nowadays, legal regulations and social environmental concerns are converging towards the promotion of more sustainable agriculture based on organic compounds and soil preservation. These trends are fuelling the growth of the biofertilizers, which are beneficial preparations containing microorganisms able to enhance a plant’s ability to uptake essential nutrients. Their production and commercialization encompass a multitude of critical steps deeply reviewed in this manuscript through an exhaustive overview of the key stages, such as microorganism selection, new environmental sources, upscaling to field trials, encapsulation, current application systems and regulatory considerations. However, although the economical expectations are promising, several methodological, environmental, and legal concerns are undermining their advancement. The redefinition of international legal frameworks, their enhancement based on trending technologies, and the fostering of multidisciplinary collaboration across sectors are key players to promote biofertilizers as eco-friendly and cost-effective alternatives to chemical fertilizers.

Different types of mulch are often used in agricultural production to enhance soil moisture and improve crop yields. The question of which mulch provides superior water retention in arid regions, where water resources are scarce, is a major concern for agricultural production. We conducted observations and studies at a typical irrigated experimental station in an arid zone with four types of mulch, including liquid mulch (LM), biodegradable mulch (BM), ordinary black mulch (OBM), and ordinary white mulch (OWM), and plots with no mulch. Samples were collected and analyzed at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after each rainfall or irrigation to obtain soil moisture changes and to analyze the effect of different mulches on soil moisture retention. The results showed that mulch cover was effective in retaining soil moisture compared to plots without mulch cover. Specifically, soil moisture was highest in the farmland with OWM during the observation period. OWM, OBM, and BM were all effective in reducing soil water evaporation and maintaining soil moisture. LM and BM were capable of utilizing rainfall to recharge soil water in a superior way, and polyethylene mulches (OBM and OWM) had a significant barrier impact on rainfall.

Straw is an important by-product of crop production. It has been widely used as a feed as well as in fruit–vegetable production due to exerting a positive impact on soil and crop health and quality in the operated areas. On the other hand, applied crop-specific herbicides throughout the production stage, like aminopyralid (AP), may lead to significant plant injuries in sensitive vegetable plantations, even in very low concentrations. This study aims to optimize a short time, minimal consumables needed, and sensitive extraction and analytical method for AP residues in straw material using LC-MS/MS. For this purpose, standard AP signal response in acetonitrile (MeCN) and 1% of formic acid (FA) in methanol (MeOH) were tested; several chromatographic separation and mass spectroscopy (MS) parameters were improved and optimized. Subsequently, two different extraction methods were performed in AP spiked straw samples, and extraction efficacies were compared. Salting-out assisted liquid–liquid extraction (SALLE) by acidified MeCN combined with final dissolution in MeOH with 1% of FA prior to the analysis was chosen as the most appropriate method for the straw matrix. This method was then used for validation and real sample test analysis. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of AP in this optimized extraction method achieved 10 ng/g straw with a recovery rate of 71% and 13% RSD. The method was also tested on field straw mulch samples and 22.54 ± 0.8 ng/g of AP was detected.

In this study, a special rice-energy willow/poplar agroforestry system was used to analyze the effects of reused water irrigation and mulching on soil salinity, earthworm biomass and abundance, soil organic matter (SOM) content and weed coverage in treerow-dependent habitats. After three-year-irrigation, we investigated the woody line (WL), the buffer zone (BZ) and the crop line habitats (CL). Between 2019 and 2021, we collected data on the distribution of soil-specific electrical conductivity (EC), ammonium-lactate soluble sodium (AL-Na) and exchangeable cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) and soil NO2− + NO3−-N contents from CL habitats irrigated with effluent water from an intensive catfish farm. Based on our results, significantly greater earthworm abundance (274 pc m−2) and earthworm biomass (54.0 g m−2) values were measured in WL than in BZ or CL habitats. There was no significant difference in weed coverage between the CL (0.61%) and BZ (1.91%), but weeds were significantly denser on the WL (12.3%). In the third year, the EC, AL-Na and ESP values were lower, but the SOM was higher in mulched soil (183.1 mS cm−1, 253.1 mg kg−1, 4.4 ESP% and 4.597%, respectively) than in un-mulched soil.

The main measures to improve potato cultivation in eastern China are film mulching and drip irrigation. However, the film can cause soil pollution and inhibit plant growth because of non-degradable polyethylene, which is the main component of the film. Whether drip irrigation without mulching can improve potato yield needs to be fully explored. Field experiments were conducted at the Special Potato Experimental Station, China Agricultural University, Rizhao City, Shandong Province, China, in 2019 and 2020 to investigate the effects of mulching and soil wetted percentage on soil water and temperature distribution, as well as potato growth. In 2019, three treatments with soil wetted percentage of 50% were set up: black plastic film mulching (BMP2), transparent plastic film mulching (TMP2), and no mulching (NMP2). In 2020, soil wetted percentage treatments were added to the existing mulching treatments: no mulching without irrigation (NMP0) and no mulching with soil wetted percentage of 25% (NMP1), 50% (NMP2), and 75% (NMP3); black plastic film mulching without irrigation (BMP0) and black plastic mulching with 50% soil wetted percentage (BMP2); and transparent plastic film mulching with no irrigation (TMP0) and transparent plastic film mulching with 50% soil wetted percentage (TMP2). The results indicated that mulching did not have a significant effect (p < 0.05) on soil temperature, potato growth, and yield. Irrigation reduced soil temperature by a range of 0.4 to 3.0 °C during the high air temperature season. Irrigation significantly increased potato plant height, stem thickness, and yield. The potato yield under the irrigation treatment could be 16.0–24.9% greater than that under the non-irrigation treatment. The highest irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) was achieved at soil wetted percentage P1 and P2, which were beneficial for water saving. The NMP1 and NMP2 treatments had 83.4% and 81.0% significantly higher IWUE than NMP3 treatment. Considering environmental protection, resource conservation, and economic efficiency, drip irrigation without mulching under soil wetted percentage P2 was suitable for potato cultivation in eastern China.

Soil compaction was largely studied in different scenarios with laboratory and field scale experiments, with various soil conditions and traffic intensities. However, a detailed analysis to better understand the protective role of plant residues or cover crop mulch is still required. A field test was conducted in Northeast Italy aiming to fill this gap. Rye was chosen as a winter cover crop, and growth on a controlled traffic random block experimental field. Four different cover crop mulch treatments were compared to study the effects of root systems: roller crimper, flail mower, bare soil control and harvested biomass control. Four different traffic intensities were used to evaluate the multiple passages with 0, 1, 3, 5 traffic events. During traffic events, the mean normal stress was measured. Penetration resistance was then evaluated after trafficking and soil samples were collected. The obtained results showed a 19.3% cone index increase in bare soil compared to flail mower treatment after the first traffic event, while low differences were found in harvested biomass bulk density during the first and third traffic events. Moreover, mean normal stress increased 16.5% on harvested biomass treatment compared to the flail mower. These findings highlight that the cover crop maintains a lower soil penetration resistance during compaction events, helping the subsequent field operations. Furthermore, roller crimper and flail mower cover crop termination impact soil bearing capacity differently due to different soil moisture content. However, the results showed a low contribution of cover crop mulch on mitigating soil compaction effects during the experiment.

In order to achieve sustainable food production, non-chemical weed management practices need to be developed for fruit growing. Tailor-made floor management systems enable efficient weed regulation, but they also affect the soil quality in an orchard. In this article, the effects of various floor management systems in a ‘Red Jonaprince’ apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) orchard on the soil properties and the trees’ nutritional status and initial development during the first two years after the orchard’s establishment were assessed. The experiment was set up in the spring of 2017 in the Experimental Orchard of WULS. ‘Red Jonaprince’ cv. trees grafted on M.9 rootstock were planted with 3.5 × 1 m spacing between them. Different floor management systems were applied to the rows, including the selected organic mulches: Miscanthus × giganteus straw (MG1 and MG2), spent mushroom substrates (SMS1 and SMS2), herbicide strip (HS), clear mechanical soil cultivation (MC), and synthetic black mulch (BC). The organic mulches affected the soil properties significantly. Spent mushroom substrates (SMS1, SMS2) increased the P and K contents in the soil, increased the salinity 10-fold, and retarded the growth in terms of the trunk cross-section area (TCSA) and its increment compared with other systems. Miscanthus × giganteus straw mulch (MG1, MG2) was associated with a more vigorous shoot growth compared with other combinations in the first year of the study as it provided a better tree nitrogen nutritional status. The floor management system affected the generative development of the trees. Mulching with a spent mushroom substrate boosted the flower bud formation intensity, but it did not affect the yielding quantity. Moreover, due to the poor fruit set, the trees mulched with a spent mushroom substrate (SMS2) gave a low initial bearing. High crop loads were noted for the trees treated with black synthetic mulch (BC) and the trees mulched with Miscanthus × giganteus straw (MG1). This was an effect of the tree size rather than the blooming intensity, while there were no differences in the cropping efficiency index (CEI) parameter.

Mulching significantly increases the crop yield and quality by positively affecting the physical features of the soil. The effect of multiple mulching treatments on soil temperature, yield, and nutrient composition of green asparagus grown in a plastic tunnel was assessed. Two mulch materials: transparent plastic film (PF) and rice husk (RH), were applied and compared with non-mulching treatment (CK). The soil temperatures at the soil surface and 10 cm below it were generally higher in the PF mulch than in the CK during the spring. PF mulch accelerated early spear emergence and growth, which led to harvesting 16 days earlier than in the CK. Under the PF mulch, the early yield of spears increased by 26.6% from January to the end of March, and the annual gross income by 14.8% because of the higher price resulting from the significantly higher marketable spear length and diameter; however, they were reduced in the RH mulch. Most nutrient compositions, such as soluble sugar, ascorbic acid, rutin, flavonoid content, and total antioxidant activity, were significantly increased in the PF mulch treatment. PF mulch might benefit green asparagus production during early spring because of its ability to promote early spear emergence and growth.

Herbicide formulations can alter the herbicide performance, affecting the application safety and weed control efficiency. Thus, the objective of this work was to compare the dynamics of clomazone herbicide applied single and combined with sulfentrazone on sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) straw. Laminated polypropylene containers filled with sugarcane straw (10 t ha−1) were subjected to two clomazone formulations (microencapsulated and conventional formulations; 1200 g ha−1) applied single or combined with sulfentrazone (600 g ha−1) with four replications, and the experiment was duplicated. The application was performed indoors with an automated sprayer. After application, accumulated rainfall depths (0, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 mm) on the treated containers were simulated soon after the herbicide applications, and the percolated waters were subsequently collected for herbicide quantification by chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The microencapsulated formulation of clomazone applied single or combined with sulfentrazone enabled the recovery of higher quantity of clomazone (>80%), with the advantage that a large percentage remained encapsulated (>70%), thus decreasing losses and increasing the product efficiency. The 30 mm simulated rainfall efficiently carried the clomazone herbicide when its microencapsulated formulation was applied, whereas its conventional formulation required higher rainfall depths (60 mm). Sulfentrazone was easily carried through the sugarcane straw by the rainfall depths when it was combined with clomazone, regardless of the clomazone formulation. The clomazone formulation affect the percolation dynamics of this herbicide through the sugarcane straw.

This study was initiated to observe the performance of yuzu (Citrusjunos Sieb. ex Tanaka) fruit trees when affected by a late freezing in 2018 and to evaluate the recovery of frost-damaged trees during post management under protected cultivation. A—4.9 °C of minimum daily temperature and 40-day drought occurred during dormancy, which then received heavy precipitation between early- and mid-March, with 15 m s−1 more than maximum instantaneous wind speeds frequently observed. This resulted in observed decreases in height, width and volume as well as in fruiting, fruit weight and yield, as well as yield index in 60–90% defoliated yuzu trees, in addition to higher rates of shoot dieback compared to trees that experienced only 0–30% defoliation. Lower performance and recovery rates of trees grown on flat land compared to trees on sloped land were also observed. Tree and net windbreaks did not significantly affect tree vegetative growth and fruit productivity but were found to have lowered shoot mortality in 2018 and 2019. Mulch with an irrigation after freezing or foliar urea application was shown to effectively increase vegetative tree growth and fruit productivity and reduce shoot mortality.

Reducing tillage intensity and increasing crop diversity by including perennial legumes is an agrotechnical practice that strongly affects the soil environment. Strip tillage may be beneficial in the forage legume–cereals intercropping system due to more efficient utilization of biological nitrogen. Field experiments were conducted on a clay loam Cambisol to determine the effect of forage legume–winter wheat strip tillage intercropping on soil nitrate nitrogen (N-NO3) content and cereal productivity in various sequences of rotation in organic production systems. Forage legumes (Medicago lupulina L., Trifolium repens L., T. alexandrinum L.) grown in pure and forage legume–winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) strip tillage intercrops were studied. Conventional deep inversion tillage was compared to strip tillage. Nitrogen supply to winter wheat was assessed by the change in soil nitrate nitrogen content (N-NO3) and total N accumulation in yield (grain and straw). Conventional tillage was found to significantly increase N-NO3 content while cultivating winter wheat after forage legumes in late autumn (0–30 cm layer), after growth resumption in spring (30–60 cm), and in autumn after harvesting (30–60 cm). Soil N-NO3 content did not differ significantly between winter wheat strip sown in perennial legumes or oat stubble. Winter wheat grain yields increased with increasing N-NO3 content in soil. The grain yield was not significantly different when comparing winter wheat–forage legume strip intercropping (without mulching) to strip sowing in oat stubble. In forage legume–winter wheat strip intercropping, N release from legumes was weak and did not meet wheat nitrogen requirements.

Herbicide weed control is difficult in the first years of perennial crop establishment or in minor crops, and plastic sheet mulches can leave persistent residues. Liquid spray-on mulch (hydromulch) might be a solution in these cases. To test three hydromulch formulations on perennial weed emergence, greenhouse assays were conducted for two years in two localities to evaluate their rhizome sprouting and shoot emergence. Data, obtained from a completely randomized block design, were analyzed by means of generalized linear mixed models with binomial distribution and logit link function; the effects of hydromulch, species, and their interaction were considered fixed, while the other sources of variation (i.e., locality, year, block and rhizome length) were considered random. All three hydromulches, based on wheat straw, rice husk, and used substrate for mushroom cultivation, were capable of reducing rhizome sprouting of all four species tested when compared to the non-mulched treatment. Many rhizomes sprouted but were trapped under the mulch layer, especially those of Paspalum dilatatum (87%), Cynodon dactylon, and Sorghum halepense (around 50%), while Cyperus rotundus was least affected by the hydromulch treatments (16%). All three blends showed promising results in the reduction of perennial weed emergence, warranting field trials to test combined weed management strategies.

An experimental fire was conducted in one-year-old mulched (masticated) boreal fuels, where all aboveground biomass was mulched with no stems removed or left standing. Typical mulching practices remove remnant biomass; leaving biomass in situ reduces overall management input. While fuel quantities were not explicitly reduced, availability of fuels to fire was reduced. Infrared imagery was obtained to quantify rate of spread and intensity to a 1 m resolution. In-stand totalizing heat flux sensors allowed for the observation of energy release near the surface. When compared with the pre-treatment fuel-type M-2 (mixedwood, 50% conifer), rates of spread were reduced 87% from an expected 8 m min−1 to observed values 1.2 m min−1. Intensity was also reduced from 5000 kWm−1 to 650kWm−1 on average. Intermittent gusts caused surges of fire intensity upwards of 5000 kW m−1 as captured by the infrared imagery. With reference to a logging slash fuel type, observed spread rates declined by 87% and intensity 98%. Independent observations of energy release rates from the radiometers showed similar declines. As mulching is a prevalent fuel management technique in Alberta, Canada, future studies will contribute to the development of a fire behaviour prediction model.

The potential benefits of different types of soil amendments and mulch ground covers on soil chemical and biological properties, crop development and yield, and disease and pest issues in organic vegetable production, as represented by legume (green snap bean), cucurbit (green zucchini squash), and brassicaceous (turnip) vegetable crops, were evaluated in a two-year field trial in Maine, USA. Soil amendments evaluated (following an initial fertilizer base) included a commercial organic fertilizer alone, composted dairy manure, compost plus fish meal, and compost plus Wollastonite, a natural source of silicon (Si). A paper mulch was also compared with a woven polypropylene fabric mulch for their performance and effects as weed barriers within these systems. Mulch type significantly affected soil properties, with the fabric mulch associated with increases in soil moisture, organic matter, and other soil chemical and biological properties relative to the paper mulch. The fabric mulch also resulted in earlier emergence and earlier harvests for bean and zucchini. Soil amendments affected soil properties and crop growth and yield of bean and zucchini, with compost amendments increasing soil pH, organic matter, and several nutrient concentrations, as well as crop emergence and yield relative to a fertilizer-only treatment. Compost treatment also reduced the infestation and damage caused by mites on beans in 2018. Addition of fish meal increased most nutrient element concentrations and microbial respiration, and Si amendment increased emergence of beans, and reduced powdery mildew on squash and late season browning of beans. These results help define specific management practices to improve organic vegetable production and provide useful information and options for growers.

This paper explores the effect of agroecological service crops (ASCs), i.e., crops included in the crop rotation for their ecosystem services, terminated with an in-line tillage roller crimper (ILRC) on weed community composition and their functional traits in comparison to a tilled control without ASC. A two-year study was performed in a long-term experiment with vegetables under organic management. Four different cereal crops were introduced as ASCs. Weed abundance and richness and the functional traits were assessed at three different stages, i.e., before and after ASC termination and before harvest of the following crop, melon. All the ASCs showed strong weed suppression, with few differences between the cereals tested. Weed communities with ASCs had later flowering onset and wider flowering span compared to the control, which positively affects weed dispersal and attraction of beneficial insects. However, weed communities with ASCs had higher values for traits related to competition (specific leaf area, seed weight and more perennials). A trade-off between weed suppression and selection of more competitive weed communities by the introduction of ASCs managed with the ILRC should be evaluated in the long-run. The use of the ILRC alternating with other soil management practices seems the more effective strategy to benefit from the minimal soil tillage while avoiding the selection of disservice-related traits in the weed community.

Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is an increasingly high-valued niche vegetable crop among small organic growers in North Carolina, due to its increasing demand among diverse immigrant groups. Production is however hampered by insect pests such as the flea beetle (FB), Disonycha glabrata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), that cause significant yield reduction. Chemical insecticides are generally applied for pest control despite their known risks to health and the environment. Integrated pest management (IPM), which is a cost effective and environmentally friendly approach is still under-exploited in vegetable production by small growers. We studied IPM approaches, suitable for organic production of amaranth by screening nine amaranth varieties for resistance to the flea beetle (FB), D. glabrata, grown with, and without, mulch. D. glabrata population was 60% higher in plots with mulch compared to plots without. The amaranth varieties Molten fire and Green Callaloo recorded the lowest and the highest beetle population commensurate with low, and high leaf damage, respectively. Conversely, leaf yields in the mulched plots were 50% less than recorded in the zero-mulch counterpart, with Green Callaloo variety recording the lowest. These findings will serve as building blocks for a sustainable pest management plan that is appropriate for organic production of Amaranthus spp. in North Carolina.

Crop cultivation in the coastal saline area of Bangladesh during rabi season is limited due to late harvest of Aman rice, shorter winter period, difficulty in tillage, soil salinity, lack of fresh irrigation water etc. Zero tillage potato cultivation with mulching could minimize these obstacles and thereby increase system productivity. However, selection of mulching material is crucial for higher yield and economic return. An experiment was conducted at coastal saline area of Bangladesh during rabi 2018−19 to observe zero tillage potato performance under different mulch materials. Three locally available mulch materials were employed in the trial viz. rice straw (T1), rice husk (T2) and compost (T3) as control. Additionally, treatment T1 and T2 also received same amount of compost as T3. Results from single factor randomized complete block design with three replications showed that leaf dry matter, leaf area index and number of tuber per plant did not varied significantly. Significantly highest stem and root dry matter were found from T1 (69.56 kg ha−1) and T3 (138.92 kg ha−1), respectively. Rice husk (T2) produced numerically highest leaf dry matter (372.74 kg ha−1) and significantly lowest root dry matter (87.92 kg ha−1), which ultimately produced highest tuber yield (13.99 t ha−1) followed by rice straw (T1) (11.08 t ha−1). However, weed growth was highest in rice husk (1.16 t ha−1). Mulch treatments conserved 3.5 to 7.45% more moisture and 4.3% less salinity than control. Between two mulches rice straw is suggested for its profitability since it remains unused and readily available.

A three-year experiment evaluated the beneficial effects of independent and combined practices on thermal conditions inside high tunnels (HTs), and further investigated the temperature impacts on lettuce production. Specific practices included mulching (polyethylene and biodegradable plastic films, and vegetative), row covers, cover crops, and irrigation with collected rainwater or city water. The study conducted in eastern Tennessee was a randomized complete block split-split plot design (RCBD) with three HTs used as replicates to determine fall lettuce weight (g/plant) and lettuce survival (#/plot), and the changes in soil and air temperature. The black and clear plastic mulches worked best for increasing plant weight, but when compared to the bare ground, the higher soil temperature from the plastics may have caused a significant reduction in lettuce plants per plot. Moreover, the biodegradable mulch did not generate as much soil warming as black polyethylene, yet total lettuce marketable yield was statistically similar to that for the latter mulch treatment; while the white spunbond reduced plant weight when compared with black plastic. Also, row covers provided an increased nighttime air temperature that increased soil temperature, hence significantly increased lettuce production. Cover crops reduced lettuce yield, but increased soil temperatures. Additionally, irrigation using city water warmed the soil and provided more nutrients for increased lettuce production over rainwater irrigation.

Organic farming relies heavily on tillage for weed management, however, intensive soil disturbance can have detrimental impacts on soil quality. Cover crop-based rotational tillage (CCBRT), a practice that reduces the need for tillage and cultivation through the creation of cover crop mulches, has emerged as an alternative weed management practice in organic cropping systems. In this study, CCBRT systems using cereal rye and triticale grain species are evaluated with organic soybean directly seeded into a rolled cover crop. Cover crop biomass, weed biomass, and soybean yields were evaluated to assess the effects of cereal rye and winter triticale cover crops on weed suppression and yields. From 2016 to 2018, trials were conducted at six locations in Wisconsin, USA, and Southern France. While cover crop biomass did not differ among the cereal grain species tested, the use of cereal rye as the cover crop resulted in higher soybean yields (2.7 t ha−1 vs. 2.2 t ha−1) and greater weed suppression, both at soybean emergence (231 vs. 577 kg ha−1 of weed biomass) and just prior to soybean harvest (1178 vs. 1545 kg ha−1). On four out of six sites, cover crop biomass was lower than the reported optimal (−1) needed to suppress weeds throughout soybean season. Environmental conditions, in tandem with agronomic decisions (e.g., seeding dates, cultivar, planters, etc.), influenced the ability of the cover crop to suppress weeds regardless of the species used. In a changing climate, future research should focus on establishing flexible decision support tools based on multi-tactic cover crop management to ensure more consistent results with respect to cover crop growth, weed suppression, and crop yields.

Weeds are a challenge, particularly in organic agriculture, due to restrictions on the application of synthetic herbicides and chemicals. A preliminary cultivar evaluation trial of organic sweetpotato was conducted in 2015 at Tennessee State University certified organic farm. Three mulches: wheat straw, pine needle, and black plastic mulch, along with a control (no mulch), were evaluated for their weed management abilities in a sweetpotato field. Four cultivars of sweetpotato were planted in 0.91 m wide mulch beds with 0.3 m row spacing anddrip irrigated with four replications. Data was collected during the growing season on the dry weight of weeds that emerged in a quadrat and yield components at harvest. Results of two-way ANOVA revealed that mulch treatments affected the weed biomass, weed density, and cull yields. Though the use of mulches had no significant effect on other yield components of sweetpotato in this study; it was beneficial for weed management.

Adding mulch biomass prior to crop seeding may improve production of tropical soil. We evaluated the response of four bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes to the addition of mulch biomass from Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) Gray and Cajanus cajan L. Millsp. The addition of mulch did not result in significant differences (p < 0.05) in soil characteristics when compared to a control (no mulch addition) except for soil potassium (K), which was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the T. diversifolia mulch biomass treatment. Bean yield and shoot biomass were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the mulch biomass treatments compared to the control (no biomass added). In these treatments, Phosphorus (P)-efficient bean genotypes had a significantly greater (p < 0.05) yield and shoot biomass. Bean shoot nutrient concentrations were significantly different (p < 0.05) between mulch biomass treatments and between bean genotypes (P, K and magnesium (Mg) only). Phosphorus utilization and uptake efficiencies were significantly different (p < 0.05) between mulch biomass treatments and between bean genotypes. Bean root biomass was not significantly different (p < 0.05) between mulch biomass treatments, but was significantly different (p < 0.05) between bean genotypes. The number of root nodules was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the T. diversifolia mulch biomass treatment and was significantly different between bean genotypes.

Natural rubber (NR) is currently sourced from a single species Hevea brasiliensis, which is primarily grown in Southeast Asia and Africa. The Taraxacum kok-saghyz (L.E. Rodin) (TK) plant, which grows in temperate climates and has NR in its roots, has been identified as an additional source for NR in the future. A major challenge to TK becoming a crop is direct seeding. This paper presents research on determining strategies for improving establishment of TK through direct seeding. Field trials were conducted in 2014 and 2015 in Ohio on a Wooster silt loam soil (2.4–2.9% OM) using “wild” TK seed. The study evaluated the impacts of different planting dates (April and May), planter types (broadcasting raw seed and drilling pelleted seed), companion crops, and compost mulch strips on plant stands (i.e., visible TK plant/TK seed drop). Results indicated that drilling of pelleted seed to a depth of 0.6 cm into a thin layer (

Intensive tillage, high fertiliser inputs, and plastic mulch on the soil surface are widely used by vegetable growers. A field investigation was carried out to quantify the impact of alternate land management and fertiliser practices designed to improve offsite water quality on the productivity of vegetable rotations within a sugarcane farming system in a coastal region of subtropical northeast Australia. Successive crops of capsicum and zucchini were grown in summer 2010–2011 and winter 2011, respectively, using four different management practices. These were ‘Conventional’—the current conventional practice using plastic mulch, bare inter-rows, conventional tillage, and commercial fertiliser inputs; ‘Improved’—a modified conventional system using plastic mulch in the cropped area, an inter-row vegetative mulch, zonal tillage, and reduced fertiliser rates; ‘Trash mulch’—using cane trash or forage sorghum residues instead of plastic mulch, with reduced fertiliser rates and minimum or zero tillage; and ‘Vegetative mulch’—using Rhodes grass or forage sorghum residues instead of plastic mulch, with minimum or zero tillage and reduced fertiliser rates. During the second vegetable crop (zucchini), each management practice was split to receive either soil test-based nutrient inputs or a common, luxury rate of nutrient addition. The ’Trash mulch’ and ‘Vegetative mulch’ systems produced up to 43% lower capsicum and zucchini yields than either of the plastic mulch systems. The relative yield difference between trash systems and plastic mulch management systems remained the same for both the soil test-based and high nutrient application strategies, suggesting that factors other than nutrition (e.g., soil temperature) were driving these differences.