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The research was conducted to study the performance of cucumber under protected conditions with different plastic mulches. This experiment was conducted in a split plot design, having irrigation levels as main plot and mulches as subplots. The study revealed that mulching helped to maintain the soil moisture higher than bare soil and black mulch showed higher soil temperature and soil moisture (23.3%) under 100% irrigation. Plant height and yield was also influenced by mulching. Plant height and yield decreased in relation to reduction of the irrigation level. The highest water use efficiency (WUE) was found under 50% irrigation and black mulch plot (32 kg·m-3 ). In conclusion, black mulch with 100% irrigation performed well among the treatments because of higher moisture and favourable soil temperature. In consideration of WUE, black mulch with 50% irrigation performed well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The profitability and risk of onion cultivation in Costa Rica in a conventional production system and an alternative system with drip irrigation and mulch were compared. Production costs for both systems and real agricultural prices were estimated, which were important factors in the simulation of profitability scenarios. The results suggest that profitability improves in the alternative production system and risk decreases significantly, which allows mitigating the adverse conditions that the farmer usually faces. Despite the alternative production, onion growers are still exposed to high market risk due to price volatility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To identify, analyze, and synthesize the published research about the developments to replace synthetic plastics used in agriculture; to guide researchers and practitioners from various knowledge areas to identify gaps of information, the most prolific authors, and the influential scientific papers that have been published. Research Method: This paper presents a systematic review with a bibliometric analysis; the search was made on the SCOPUS® database up to November 2020. Subsequently, a selection of articles according to the criteria of inclusion and exclusion was carried out and, using bibliometric indicators, VOSviewer v. 1.6.15 and bibliometrix v. 3.0 software, information were obtained to answer the research questions. Findings: Results indicate low scientific production worldwide, only six articles per year as of 2005. Contributions concentrate on a few researchers and developments such as plastic film, mulching, and controlled release materials, and for raw materials polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), Polylactic acid (PLA), and Chitosan. The most prolific country is China, with only 13 articles. Siwek P. is the researcher with the most outstanding contribution and permanence with four documents. Dharmalingam S.; Hayes D.G. and, Wadsworth L.C. are the most prolific authors in the field in terms of the H index. Research Limitations: The analysis was done only employing the SCOPUS database, moreover the worldwide production of articles is changing every day. Originality/value: This type of review gives an overview of the knowledge and the development of a topic; this evidence can be helpful to establish a groundbreaking for future investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the suitability of different mulching materials for improving the yield of potato, a field experiment was conducted from January 2020 to May 2020 at Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments including: T1: silver plastic mulch, T2: black plastic mulch, T3: perforated black plastic mulch, T4: straw mulch, and T5: Control, with four replications. The experiment revealed that the highest tuber yield was obtained in silver plastic mulch (42.29tonne/ha) followed by perforated black plastic (41.04tonne/ha), black plastic (39.17tonne/ha), and straw (28.54tonne/ha) mulches, and the lowest yield was obtained in the Control treatment (21.46tonne/ha). Soil temperature was found to be influenced by the use of mulching materials with the highest soil temperature recorded under black plastic mulch, whereas the lowest soil temperature was detected under the Control treatment. The economic analysis of using different mulching materials showed the highest benefit/cost ratio by silver plastic mulch (3.63); followed by perforated black plastic mulch (3.53) and the lowest benefit/cost ratio was calculated for the Control (2.60). The present study, therefore, depicted silver plastic mulch followed by perforated black plastic mulch as the most effective mulching material for improving production of potato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is an important protein-rich food consumed by rural and urban communities of Africa and other countries. However, cowpea is vulnerable to attack by pests and diseases, especially, insect-transmitted viruses causing yield losses. The study investigated the susceptibility of two cowpea varieties and their associated weeds to three aphid-borne viruses. Neem and synthetic mulches were employed to control virus spread to cowpea in the field. Mulch type and planting time influenced aphid infestation and virus incidence. Positive and significant correlation occurred between virus incidence and severity. Similarly, there was a positive correlation between aphid infestation and virus severity. Commelina benghalensis was the most common weed and accumulated the highest virus titre. Our study shows that synthetic mulches have potential to control aphids and aphid-borne viruses. Appropriate measures must be taken to prevent the occurrence of C. benghalensis from planting sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study seeks to investigate the compounding effects of various practices such as mulch, no-tillage, tillage and nitrogen based fertilizer on CO2 emission and soil organic carbon (SOC) in three successive crop cycles in the region of Vacoas, Mauritius. Nitrogen based fertilizer (ammonium sulphate) was applied at 120 kg/ha to its corresponding treatment, and maize mulch was applied as full coverage (24 t/ha). Three treatments: Mulch (M), Fertilizer (F), Tillage (T), were tested at 2 levels each, and replicated 3 times. The 2 levels were mulch-no mulch, fertilizer-no fertilizer and tillage-no tillage. Results have shown a correlation between CO2 and pH, where increase in CO2 flux was due to addition of fertilizer. Furthermore, application of mulch did not increase SOC in the short term. A negative correlation was equally found between available phosphorous and temperature which was attributed to the interactions that exist between temperature, photosynthesis and nutrient availability. The present study revealed that reduction in CO2 emission and increase in soil fertility can be achieved at farmer level by adopting mulching and no-till. These practices are both economical and farmer friendly. This is a first study of such kind in the soils of Mauritius, a volcanic Island in the Indian Ocean latitude 20° 17′ 53″ South and longitude 57° 28′ 42″ East. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sprayable agricultural mulch suspensions were prepared from the combination of sodium alginate (Alg) and three different concentrations of the seaweed Undaria pinnatifida (A) microparticles: 0.5, 1, and 2 wt%. Growth parameters were measured in tomato plants cultivated under each type of mulches, including polyethylene (PE) as a control treatment. The aerial fresh and dry weights (FW and DW, respectively), chlorophyll (Chl) content, green canopy cover, and the anthocyanin content were determined in tomato plants at the end of the bioassays. The soil temperature and moisture were measured during the experiment. Besides, the impact of the different mulch treatments on soil microorganisms was assayed by measuring the relative abundance of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes. Results indicated that the percentage of A in the mulch formulation was crucial to confer it with biostimulant properties. Alg with 1 wt% of A provided a significant increment in FW and DW and the Chl level of tomato plants, demonstrating that the developed formulations represent a useful material for horticulture production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crops under cover constitute a very important production mode within the horticulture of northern Uruguay, but there is little information on the current state of these soils. The objective of this study was to characterize some physicochemical properties of soils under greenhouses with tomato cultivation (Solanum lycopersicum) and to relate them to soil management practices. For this, 30 commercial properties were selected from the horticultural area of northern Uruguay near the city of Salto. Soil samples were taken from the most representative greenhouse, at the end of the crop's productive period, from each farm. Additional information was collected such as area by production mode, number of consecutive crops in the same greenhouse, yield obtained in the harvest under study, and soil management. The high values observed for organic soil carbon (OSC), pH, available P, and mineral N suggest the need to decrease the application rates or frequency of organic amendments and/or fertilizers. The high concentrations of Na+ in the surface and NO3- in the subsurface horizons indicate the need to improve irrigation management. This information could be used as a basis to outline aspects to delve into, for rational management of amendments and nutrients, and irrigation water in soils under these production systems.

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an important vegetative crop, which grow in the different parts of Iran. It is well-known for drought tolerance, but the quality and quantity of the plant suffer from severe water deficit. The current study objected to evaluate the effects of date straw and plastic mulches on biochemical, physiology, and quality characters in eggplant under water deficit. The experiment was performed as a split-split plot based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in Rodan, Hormozgan, Iran. The studied factors including crop water requirement at three levels (40, 70, and 100%), date straw mulch at two levels including control and date straw mulch, and plastic mulch at three soil depths (0, 100, and 120 cm), which were distributed in the main, sub, and sub-sub plots, respectively. ANOVA illustrated that the triple- interaction effects of the three studied factors were statically significant on the measured characters (P

Basal bulb rot (BBR) of shallot caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae is one of the highly deleterious diseases on shallot, Allium cepa L. var ascalonicum Backer. in Indonesia. This study aimed to assess the potency of organic mulch, composted plant residues, and endophytic Trichoderma asperellum to control this disease. Treatment with mulch alone, mulch plus compost, mulch plus T. asperellum, and combination of all the three provided the decrease of BBR incidence by 15%, 20%, 29%, and 39% and the increase of shallot productivity by 22%, 66%, 84%, and 125%, respectively. Observation of another treatment impact on the fungal occurrence at harvest time indicated that their population in soil increased by 671%, 771%, 257%, and 814% and the fungal colonization in root tissues mounted by 31%, 77%, 77%, and 74%, respectively. The introduced Trichoderma was found predominantly, especially in leaf tissues of inoculated shallot. These data showed that all the treatments were able to control BBR disease. However, the most effective was the mulch in combination with compost and T. asperellum. Therefore, large-scale disease control could take advantage of this integration.

Sorghum is a commodity which is expected to be an alternative food source to reduce the need for national rice. This plant has great potential to be developed in Indonesia because it has a large area of adaptation, including on degraded dry land. This study aims to analyse the growth and production of sorghum plants and changes in chemical soil properties due to the treatment of mulch and organic fertilizer in the first planting period. The study design uses a Split Plot Design, which the Main-Plots is mulching, consist of M0: None mulch, and M1: Straw mulch; Sub-Plot (organic fertilizer) consisting of: B0: None organic fertilizer (0 ton ha-1), B1: Cow manure (25 ton ha-1), B2: Compost (25 ton ha-1), B3: Cow manure (12.5 tons ha-1) + compost (12.5 tons ha-1). This study finding that organic fertilizer significantly increased vegetative and yield of sorghum. In addition, cultivating sorghum either without mulching or by applying mulch and organic fertilizers can improve soil chemical properties in dry land.

IntroductionChickpea is the second important legume crops and because of high protein level (18-30 percent), has a key role in human diet. Chickpea is a weak competitor with weeds because of its slow growth at the seedling stage, lower height and slow canopy closer. Growing chickpea in weedy condition can suffer yield reduction up to 40 to 90 percent and weed management is one of the most important management methods in chickpea farming. Like another legumes, chickpea is more tolerate to pre-emergence herbicides compare to post-emergence herbicides. Experiments indicated using of one weed control method, can not have a proper and sustainable control on weeds and for this purpose we should integrate weed control methods for sustainable weed management. Mulches is one of the effective weed control method and reduced weed damages. In many cases, pre-emergence herbicides are used in combination with different mulches provide longer duration of weed control and suppress a broad spectrum weed species. Pre-emergence herbicides uses for combining with mulches mostly members of dinitroanilines such a trifluralin and pendimethalin or another pre-emergence herbicides like isoxaben and dichlobenil. In this regard, the goal of this study is evaluating the application of mulch-herbicide combination as a method in chickpea weed control. Materials & MethodsThe experiment was conducted in completely randomized blocks design with three replications at research farm of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran, during 2015. Treatments were included the pre-emergence application of trifluralin, imazethapyr and wood shaving mulch and two ways of mulch-herbicide mixtures application (application of herbicide under the mulch and application of pre-mixed herbicide with mulch) with full season hand weeding and full season weed interference as control treatments. For making pre-mixed mulch and herbicide, mulch is sprayed with herbicide in another place on plastic foil and mixed together with rake completely then transported to the field experiment and was spread in field experiment. Studied mulch is a carpentry wood shaved mulch and was spread on the field experiment in 3 centimeter height with rake. For application of herbicides under the mulch, herbicides applied on the soil surface first, then mulch would be spread on the soil surface. The data statistical analysis were performed by Mini Tab Ver 17 and draw the figures with Excel 2013. Means were also compared by LSD (Last Significant Difference) test at 5% probability level. Results & DiscussionResults indicated that, application of imazethapyr injured chickpea hardly and stopped chickpea growth. Application of trifluralin and wood shaving mulch alone, decreased weed density and weed biomass and increased chickpea yield significantly. Combination of wood shaving mulch and trifluralin indicated that two different results, trifluralin-mulch mixed had the higher chickpea seed yield (1450 Kg.ha-1) and biomass (3700 Kg.ha-1). Although application of mulch after trifluralin application as pre-emergence, controlled weeds significantly and provide the longer weed duration control in growing season, but also injured chickpea, and decreased it’s suitable density and indicated that the lowest chickpea seed yield and biomass. There was not significantly difference between the trifluralin application alone and trifluralin-mulch combination in three periods of sampling in weed density and biomass it seems the mulch prevent the trifluralin to achieve to the soil surface and decrease weed control efficacy but when trifluralin applied under mulch, weed control efficacy increased and controlled weeds during the growing season significantly. Trifluralin is decomposable when is applied in day light but when it is under mulch it be more stable and increase efficacy compare with application alone.ConclusionThrough the experiment, mulch is suppress weeds and reduced weed density and biomass significantly and increased chickpea biomass and seed yield. Chickpea is very sensitive to pre-emergence application of imazethapyr and it caused chickpea injury, although this herbicide is labeled for chickpea in Turkey and controlled weeds significantly but in this experiment it caused chickpea injury. Chickpea is less sensitive to trifluralin and trifluralin application, increased chickpea yield significantly and decreased weed density and biomass. It seems that to be trifluralin-mulch combination, when trifluralin applied under the mulch, is suitable and increase the efficacy weed control and decrease the costs with this regard but it caused injury crop and decreased chickpea yield. Pre-mixed combination trifluralin with mulch decreased trifluralin efficacy compare to application Trifluralin under the mulch.

Los incendios forestales suelen incrementar la escorrentía superficial, la erosión del suelo y de la materia orgánica asociada. Técnicas como el labrado o el acolchado de restos forestales han sido realizadas en Portugal para mitigar estos efectos, pero sus efectividades no han sido nunca comparadas directamente. En este estudio se analiza la efectividad de estas técnicas en el control de la erosión hídrica y de las pérdidas de materia orgánica en dos plantaciones de eucalipto quemadas por el mismo incendio en Agosto de 2015 en el Centro de Portugal. En una ladera se instalaron seis parcelas de 2 m x 8 m, divididas en dos bloques con un tratamiento por bloque: control (sin intervención) y labrado del suelo a 20 cm de profundidad con una retroexcavadora. En la otra ladera se instalaron nueve parcelas en tres bloques, con tres tratamientos por bloque: control (sin intervención), acolchado (mulching) con restos forestales triturados aplicados a una tasa reducida (2.6 Mg ha-1) y otra estándar (8.0 Mg ha-1). El acolchado fue aplicado un mes después del incendio, mientras que el labrado ocurrió once meses después del incendio. La erosión del suelo fue monitorizada entre Julio 2016 y Mayo 2017, coincidiendo con el segundo año post-incendio. La erosión del suelo para este periodo relativamente seco fue de 1.6 y 0.6 Mg ha-1, respectivamente para las parcelas control de las laderas labrada y acolchada. La erosión de suelo en las parcelas labradas fue un 19% menor que la erosión en las parcelas sin labrar, mientras que la erosión en las parcelas con acolchado a tasas reducida y estándar fue, respectivamente, un 67 y 93% menor que la erosión medida en las parcelas sin acolchado. El contenido de materia orgánica en los sedimentos fue de un 22% en el caso de las parcelas sin labrar. En el caso de las parcelas labradas esta cantidad se redujo a la mitad, lo que puede ser atribuido a la inversión de los horizontes edáficos por acción del labrado. El acolchado con tasa de aplicación estándar parece inducir un claro enriquecimiento en el contenido de materia orgánica de los sedimentos, especialmente si lo comparamos con la tasa reducida y con las parcelas sin acolchado (25 vs. 16 y 14%). Se concluye que: i) las pérdidas de suelo excedieron el umbral tolerable de 1 Mg ha-1 durante el segundo año después del incendio, lo que indica que hay que tomar medidas de mitigación de la erosión, ii) el labrado fue claramente menos efectivo para mitigar la erosión post-incendio que el acolchado de residuos forestales, incluso a tasas de aplicación tan bajas como las utilizadas típicamente en operaciones post-incendio con acolchados de paja.

Abstract Background Different mulches have variable effects on soil physicochemical characteristics, bacterial and fungal communities and ecosystem functions. However, the information about soil microbial diversity, community structure and ecosystem function in tea plantation under different mulching patterns was limited. In this study, we investigated bacterial and fungal communities of tea plantation soils under polyethylene film and peanut hull mulching using high-throughput 16S rRNA and ITS rDNA gene Illumina sequencing. Results The results showed that the dominant bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi, and the dominant fungal phyla were Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota and Basidiomycota in all samples, but different mulching patterns affected the distribution of microbial communities. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Nitrospirae in peanut hull mulching soils (3.24%) was significantly higher than that in polyethylene film mulching soils (1.21%) in bacterial communities, and the relative abundances of Mortierellomycota and Basidiomycota in peanut hull mulching soils (33.72, 21.93%) was significantly higher than that in polyethylene film mulching soils (14.88, 6.53%) in fungal communities. Peanut hull mulching increased the diversity of fungal communities in 0–20 cm soils and the diversity of bacterial communities in 20–40 cm soils. At the microbial functional level, there was an enrichment of bacterial functional features, including amino acid transport and metabolism and energy production and conversion, and there was an enrichment of fungal functional features, including undefined saprotrophs, plant pathogens and soils aprotrophs. Conclusions Unique distributions of bacterial and fungal communities were observed in soils under organic mulching. Thus, we believe that the organic mulching has a positive regulatory effect on the soil bacterial and fungal communities and ecosystem functions, and so, is more suitable for tea plantation.

Sugar beet field trials were conducted at two sites in Southern Lower Saxony to compare mechanical (hoeing), chemical (herbicide spraying) and combined mechanical-chemical weed control operations in their weed control efficacy, and in their effect on mulch coverage and soil erosion by water. Three treatments were tested in four replications at both sites. To measure runoff and soil erosion, rainfall simulations were carried out for mechanical and chemical treatments after completion of the last weed control operation. The cumulative soil loss was twice higher in mechanical than in chemical treatment in Sieboldshausen (p-value=0.03) but was eight times lower in mechanical than in chemical treatment in Obernjesa (p-value=0.004). The cumulative runoff was not significantly different between treatments in Sieboldshausen but was again significantly lower for hoeing than for spraying in Obernjesa. Also the effect on weed control efficacy by second weed control operation (2-4- leaf-stage) was site-specific, with no effect in Sieboldshausen and significantly reduced efficacy of mechanical weed control in Obernjesa. Mulch coverage loss due to the second weed control operation was significantly higher for mechanical than for chemical treatment at both sites.

Family farms, predominantly reliant on family labour, produce approximately three-quarters of the World's food. Maize (Zea mays) is the world's most produced cereal. Yet in much of the tropics, actual maize yields are far below those attainable with best-bet practices. While any advantage of adding mulch might depend on soil fertility level, mulch quality, amount of rainfall, irrigation, and other factors, no ranking of their importance has been found. Our objectives were to disentangle these influences to assess how mulch affects yields on different fertility soils under different precipitation regimes. We conducted a systematic review in Web of Science, obtaining 50 papers on experiments from the tropics. Fewer trials have been conducted in Asia and Pacific (n = 10) than in Africa (n = 20) or Latin America and the Caribbean (n = 20). Twenty mulches had been tested of which Leucaena leucocephala had been used in 25% of trials. Mulch was more commonly applied after (n = 15) than before (n = 18) sowing or at sowing (n = 14); three trials did not mention application timing. Mulch increased grain yield and biomass. The positive effect of mulch was greater when combined with mineral fertilizer, implying a synergistic rather than a substitutional effect and demonstrating its applicability, even for farmers able to afford inputs. Mulch increased both maize grain yield and total biomass so is recommended as a sustainable practice in general, but particularly on low fertility soils in lower rainfall areas. Future work should model mass loss and nutrient release of different mulch types under different agroecological conditions.

This paper reports on the effect of seedling thickness on stem height and leaf number of oilseed sunflower. According to him, the local Dilbar (st) variety compared to foreign Buzuluk and Rodnik varieties, when the seedling thickness was set at 50, 60, and 70,000 per hectare, the plant was superior in terms of height and number of leaves, but when the number of seedlings was increased to 80,000, the growth slowed down and reached an average of 226.4 cm. and while the height of the plant in the Buzuluk variety is average, it was determined that the height of the plant in the Rodnik variety is high, i.e. 234.3 cm, at the thickness of 80,000 seedlings per hectare.

The present experiment was conducted at Research Farm and in Laboratory of the CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during spring summer 2014–15 and 2015–16 to study the influence of low plastic tunnels, transplanting dates and mulching on quality characteristics of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The treatments comprise two types tunnels, three transplanting dates and three types mulching materials which were laid out in factorial RBD design with three replications. Results of the study showed that pericarp thickness (3.02 mm), acidity (0.48%), ascorbic acid (26.61 mg/100 g) and TSS (5.68%) content in tomato fruits were recorded significantly higher when seedlings were transplanted under low plastic tunnel on 30 November using black polyethylene as mulch materials compared to other treatments. Moreover fruit firmness (4.66 kg/cm) was recorded significantly higher value when seedlings were transplanted under plastic low tunnel on 20 December with black polyethylene mulch during both the years.

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.

Alternative strategies to control weeds are required at the field level to reduce herbicides and derived pollution. As cover crop, rye (Secale cereale L.) is adopted mainly because of its allelopathic weed control, which takes place through a strong inhibition of germination and seedling growth in several types of grass and broad-leaved weeds. The present study consisted of: i) a field trial, focused on the evaluation of biomass production and allelochemical concentration in the biomass, and in situ weed control at 30 days after termination (with two termination timings: T1 - heading phase and T2 - 10 days later) of 8 rye varieties; ii) a pot experiment, focused on the inhibition effect of mulches derived by those 8 rye varieties on four summer weeds: velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Med.), lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), and common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L). Results showed that biomass production was the highest with Protector, closely followed by Primizia, Sito 70, Hellvus, Forestal, and Hymonta. In any case, rye mulching always reduced the weed biomass, especially with Fasto and Forestal. The allelochemical concentration in the biomass was the highest with Fasto and Forestal and decreased on average from T1 to T2 (--38% for total benzoxazinoids and --57% for isovitexin). Conversely, the rye biomass production increased (on average + 77%), passing from T1 to T2. We also found that the reduction of weed biomass, compared with the control, is highly correlated with the allelochemical content in rye biomass in the case of T1 termination, while with the biomass production in the case of T2. In pots, a strong inhibitory effect on seedling growth due to rye mulching was observed for C. album (--76%), A. retroflexus (- 56%), and P. olearcea (--84%), while not for A. theophrasti. We concluded that, regardless of the variety, adopting rye as a cover crop may be considered as a suitable practice to reduce weed pressure at the field level. Among all the varieties tested, Forestal and Protector showed the most significant weed suppression potential, due to the high amount of allelochemicals production for Forestal and high biomass production for Protector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sistan region in south-east Iran is subject to highly active wind erosion and is considered one of the most important sources of dust in south-west Asia. This research was concerned with the assessment of the efficiency of mulches in stabilising sand dunes. The mulches are mixtures of local silty loam soil and hydrated lime in different concentrations, which were sprinkled on plots on the surface of sand dunes. The amount of wind erosion was measured at two-month intervals from January to September 2015. The results showed a significant increase in the shear strength of the substrate where the soil content of mulches had been increased. The mulch containing 15% local soil and 1% hydrated lime demonstrated the best performance against wind erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were carried out during rabi seasons of 2015-16 and 2016-17 at the Research Farm, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Wheat variety PBW 621 was sown on three dates (D1: 4th week of October, D2: 2nd week of November and D3: 4th week of November) with two irrigation levels (I1: IW/CPE = 0.9, I2: At CRI, 5-6 weeks after 1st irrigation, 3-4/5-6 weeks after 2nd irrigation, 2/4 weeks after 3rd irrigation as per dates of sowing) and mulch application (M1: without mulch, M2: straw mulch @ 5 t ha-1). Earlier sown mulch applied crop with four post-sowing irrigations produced highest (5312.5 kg ha-1) and late sown without mulch application crop with irrigation @IW/CPE = 0.9 produced lowest grain yield (3900.5 kg ha-1). Simulation results depicted -1.1 to 16.8 per cent deviation in crop yield, -1.4 to -21.0 per cent in water use and 12.7 to 45.5 per cent in water productivity. Increase in temperature from 1oC to 3oC decreased wheat yield by 6.3 to 27.0 per cent under D1 and 3.3 to 17.6 per cent under D2, however, it increased from 8.1 to 16.2 per cent under D3, indicating D3 as most appropriate under future warming scenarios. Increase in CO2 concentration decreased water use and increased yield and water productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were carried out during rabi seasons of 2015-16 and 2016-17 at the Research Farm, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Wheat variety PBW 621 was sown on three dates (D1: 4th week of October, D2: 2nd week of November and D3: 4th week of November) with two irrigation levels (I1: IW/ CPE = 0.9, I2: At CRI, 5-6 weeks after 1st irrigation, 3-4/5-6 weeks after 2nd irrigation, 2/4 weeks after 3rd irrigation as per dates of sowing) and mulch application (M1: without mulch, M2: straw mulch @ 5 t ha-1). Earlier sown mulch applied crop with four post-sowing irrigations produced highest (5312.5 kg ha-1) and late sown without mulch application crop with irrigation @IW/CPE = 0.9 produced lowest grain yield (3900.5 kg ha-1). Simulation results depicted -1.1 to 16.8 per cent deviation in crop yield, -1.4 to -21.0 per cent in water use and 12.7 to 45.5 per cent in water productivity. Increase in temperature from 1oC to 3oC decreased wheat yield by 6.3 to 27.0 per cent under D1 and 3.3 to 17.6 per cent under D2, however, it increased from 8.1 to 16.2 per cent under D3, indicating D3 as most appropriate under future warming scenarios. Increase in CO2 concentration decreased water use and increased yield and water productivity.

In newly reclaimed coastal soil, saline conditions and nutrient deficiency are the restraining factors for crop yield. Manure and plastic film mulch are proved to play a vital role in reducing soil salt, increasing soil water, and improving soil nutrients and plant growth. A field experiment was carried out with plastic film mulch, manure, and their combinations in the Tiaozini reclamation area; four treatments were set up as (1) control treatment (CK), (2) plastic film mulch (PM), (3) farmyard manure (FM), and (4) combined application of plastic film mulch and farmyard manure (PM+FM). The main results showed that, compared with CK treatment, the average soil water content under the FM+PM treatment was increased by 5.8% and 3.6%, and the average soil salt content was reduced by 20.2% and 10.0% at 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil layers, respectively. This was because of the decrease in soil bulk density and increase in saturated hydraulic conductivity and saturated water content. Meanwhile, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, and available phosphorus were significantly increased under the PM+FM treatment, except that for AN, which was significantly decreased at the 0–10 cm soil layer owing to plant uptake. Based on the decrease in soil salt, there was an improvement in soil hydraulic properties and soil nutrients, which resulted in summer maize biomass and yield being increased by 106% and 137%, respectively, and barley biomass and yield were increased by 133% and 106%, respectively, under FM+PM treatment. Consequently, combined manure and plastic film mulch application was better at reducing soil salt; increasing soil water content; and improving soil nutrients, plant growth, and yield production in newly reclaimed salt-affected soils.

Present field research work of different resource conservation practices on cropping systems was studied in both the season i.e. Kharif and Rabi season during 2010- 2012 at Research Farm, J.N. KrishiVishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P). Research Farm of Kymore plateau and Satpura hill region of Madhya Pradesh which is located at Central India. Results received from the experiment indicated that the Conventional tillage has demonstrated its supremacy over limited tillage with more total production in terms of rice equivalent yield (REY) and economic point of view. The mulch application significantly promotes the production of the tillage system without the mulch, but no mulch has a higher Net Monetary Return (NMR) than the applied mulch. The application of recommended dose of fertilizers, in which 25% Nitrogen supplied through organic sources resulted in greater total production in term of REY of cropping system of the area than the recommended dose of fertilizers alone, but economically greater Net Monetary Returns was observed in 100% recommended dose of fertilizers. The existing cropping system Rice-Berseem purely not only gave higher total production in term of REY, but the most selective choice for the conservation of resource in the Kymore plateau region, and fetched the maximum NMR and B:C ratio.

Highlights - One month after rye termination, the weed biomass under mulching is reduced by 4 times, compared with the control. - When rye is terminated early, the weed biomass production is reduced by the allelochemical content in rye tissues. - When rye is terminated late, the weed biomass production is reduced by the amount of rye biomass. - Lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, and purslane growth is inhibited by rye mulching, while velvetleaf is not affected. Abstract Alternative strategies to control weeds are required at field level to reduce herbicides and derived pollution. Rye (Secale cereale L.) cultivation as cover crop is adopted mainly because of its allelopathic weed control, which takes place throughout a strong inhibition of germination and seedling growth in several grass and broad-leaved weeds. The present study consisted of: i) a field trial, focused on evaluation of biomass production and allelochemical concentration in the biomass, and in situ weed control at 30 days after termination (with two termination timings: T1 - heading phase and T2 - 10 days later) of 8 rye varieties; ii) a pot experiment, focused on the inhibition effect of mulches derived by those 8 rye varieties on four summer weeds: velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Med.), lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), and common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L). Results showed that biomass production was the highest with Protector, closely followed by Primizia, Sito 70, Hellvus, Forestal, and Hymonta. In any case, rye mulching always reduced the weed biomass, especially with Fasto and Forestal. The allelochemical concentration in the biomass was the highest with Fasto and Forestal, and decreased on average from T1 to T2 (-38% for total BX and -57% for isovitexin). Conversely, the rye biomass production increased (on average + 77%) passing from T1 to T2. We found also that the reduction of weed biomass, compared with the control, is highly correlated with the allelochemical content in rye biomass in the case of T1 termination, while with the biomass production in the case of T2. In pots, a strong inhibitory effect on seedling growth due to rye mulching was observed for C. album (-76%), A. retroflexus (-56%), and P. olearcea (-84%), while not for A. theophrasti. We concluded that, whatever the variety, adopting rye as cover crop may be considered as a suitable practice to reduce weed pressure at the field level. Among all the varieties tested, Forestal and Protector showed the greatest weed suppression potential, as a consequence of high amount of allelochemicals production for Forestal, and high biomass production for Protector.

High temperatures, low average rainfall, drought, and high evapotranspiration are limiting factors in arid lands. Therefore, when constructing landscapes (green spaces) in these regions, strategies should be developed to mitigate these climatic influences. One practical strategy is utilizing different types of mulches on the surface of the soil. This study was conducted as a randomized complete block design experiment with four replications during 2014 and 2015 to examine the performance of organic and inorganic mulches as non-living mulches and ground cover plants as living mulches. Ground cover plants were Carpobrotus sp., Potentilla reptans, Vinca minor, Frankenia sp. and a mixed turfgrass. Nonliving mulches were turfgrass clippings, wood chips, sawdust, gravel, rubble and scoria (volcanic rock). Bare soil was used as the control treatment. The results demonstrated the application of mulches could modify soil temperature at 5 and 15 cm depths in different seasons of the year. The living mulches especially Carpobrotus sp. and turfgrass reduced the temperature more than the non-living mulches. The soil covered with sawdust and wood chips preserved soil moisture content over the soil covered with other types of mulches. It would appear the selected mulches could decrease the irrigation intervals through increased water holding capacity of the soil. The outcomes of this research could assist landscape managers operating in extreme climate conditions of arid and semi-arid regions to advance the management of soil moisture and temperatures with the objective to improve sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted during 2019-20 and 2020-21 at College of Agriculture, Sumerpur, Rajasthan, India on maize comprises 6 organic weed management and 5 organic nutrient management treatments implemented in split plot design with 3 replications. Among the various weed management treatments, the minimum total in weed dry matter (215.7 kg ha-1) and maximum weed control efficiency was observed in weed free check as against weedy check while the stale seedbed+ hoeing once at 20 DAS + straw mulch at 30 DAS was found at par to weed free check and gave minimum weed index. The grain, stover and biological yields of maize was significantly higher in weed free check as compared to weedy check and almost at per treatment stale seedbed+ hoeing once at 20 DAS + straw mulch at 30 DAS. The weed free check recorded maximum grain yield of 3,358 kg ha-1 and stover yield of 6,258 kg ha-1 and recorded significantly higher maximum net return while the treatment stale seedbed + hoeing once at 20 DAS + straw mulch at 30 DAS recorded maximum benefit to cost ratio (1.59). The 75% of recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN i.e. 90 kg N equivalent) through vermicompost in two splits (75% at sowing+25% as top dressing at 30 DAS) along with seed treatment with fermented organic manure i.e. beejamurt and two spray of jeevamurt significant lowered the weed dry matter as compared to 100% RDN through FYM at harvest in pooled analysis and recorded maximum grain yield (3,169 kg ha-1), net return (Rs. 26,373 ha-1) and benefit to cost ratio (1.49) as compared to 100% RDN through FYM. Similar trend was also reported in various yield attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arctic fishes contain a type of “antifreeze compound” a protein that protects them from cold damage. “Natural plant antifreezes” have been recently developed to offer the same protection to plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of applying this new antifreeze to lettuce grown under different growing systems. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was grown under four different growing systems; open-field, mulch, low-tunnel, low-tunnel + mulch systems and open-field control (antifreeze not applied). The plant properties, such as height, head circumference, number of leaves, root length, root collar diameter, mean plant weight, and yield were examined. The measurements and statistical analyses revealed significant differences. Our results suggested that applying antifreeze to the plants during autumn under different growing conditions improved lettuce yield and number of leaves per plant in addition to other plant properties. Heavy metal and nitrogen/protein analyses after harvest revealed that the elements contained in the plant antifreeze increased the amounts of nitrogen/protein and other beneficial minerals such as magnesium, iron, and zinc in the plants. These results also suggested that natural plant antifreeze applied under greenhouse growing systems can be beneficial to lettuce cultivation under low temperature conditions. Thus, it is possible to grow lettuce, which is known to have a short vegetation period, in autumn under low temperature conditions in most of the regions of Turkey and or other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Organic mulches are widely used in crop production systems. Due to their benefits in improving soil fertility, retention of soil moisture and weed control. Field experiments were conducted during wheat growing seasons of 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 to evaluate the effects of Jatropha leaves mulch on the growth of wheat varieties 'Wadan-17' (rainfed) and 'Pirsabaq-2013' (irrigated) under well irrigated and water stress conditions (non-irrigated maintaining 40% soil field capacity). Jatropha mulch was applied to the soil surface at 0, 1, 3 and 5 Mg ha−1 before sowing grains in the field. Under conditions of water stress, Jatropha mulch significantly maintained the soil moisture content necessary for normal plant growth. Results: We noted a decrease in plant height, shoot and root fresh/dry weight, leaf area, leaf relative water content (LRWC), chlorophyll, and carotenoid content due to water stress. However, water stress caused an increase in leaf and root phenolics content, leaf soluble sugars and electrolytes leakage. We observed that Jatropha mulch maintained LRWC, plant height, shoot and root fresh/dry weight, leaf area and chlorophyll content under water stress. Moreover, water stress adverse effects on leaf soluble sugar content and electrolyte leakage were reversed to normal by Jatropha mulch. Conclusion: Therefore, it may be concluded that Jatropha leaves mulch will minimize water stress adverse effects on wheat by maintaining soil moisture and plant water status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In organic crop farms, growing crop yields are limited by insufficient nitrogen supply to plants and crop weediness. In such farms, legume swards are proposed as a service crop to improve nitrogen cycling. However, a positive effect of nitrogen is not only on cereals but also on weeds. In crop rotation, legume swards can stimulate the competition of cereals using the above-ground mass of legume to control the spread of weeds. The effects of the following methods for weeds control were analyzed: (i) forage legumes (Trifolium pratense L. and T. repens) undersown in cereals, (ii) forage legumes (T. pratense L., Medicago sativa L.) and their mixture with festulolium (x Festuliolium) and their above-ground mass management methods, and (iii) plant-based fertilizers (red clover above-ground mass fermented and composted). Results: Oat with red clover undersown reduced weediness more than red clover monocrops, pea, and their mixture with oats. Incorporated undersown white clover mass increased spring barley competitiveness with weeds. When growing legume swards for a longer period of time (green fallow), red clover and their mixture with festulolium are the most suitable for this purpose. The lowest weed dry weight (average 34%, compared with the removal from the field) was obtained while using the mixed management. The cultivation of cereals after forage legumes and their mixtures with festulolium (as a preceding crop) increases its grain yield and competitive ability against weeds. Fermented red clover and fermented pea and spring wheat mixture mass, as a manure, did not increase weediness. Conclusions: It was concluded that the effectiveness of the perennial forage legumes is determined by the uses of the above-ground mass: soil cover, mulching, application of green manure, and intensity of mass mineralization. Type of activity of forage legumes on weeds were competition for environmental resources, disruption/promotion of germination, destruction of above-ground mass, reduction of the amount of matured seeds, creation of a physical barrier (mulch), and increase of competitiveness of cereals. Growing forage legumes in pure crops usually leads to a loss of marketable production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field investigations were conducted to assess the effect of conservation agricultural practices on soil biological properties and yield of cotton during the kharif season of 2018 and 2019. The experiments were laid out in a split plot design with four main factors viz., conventional tillage with irrigation schedule of 0.8 IW/CPE ratio (M1), conventional tillage with irrigation schedule of 0.6 IW/CPE ratio (M2), minimum tillage with irrigation schedule of 0.8 IW/CPE ratio (M3) and minimum tillage with irrigation schedule of 0.6 IW/CPE ratio (M4). Sub plot had six treatments of weed and nutrient management viz., crop residue mulch with 100% RDF (S1), crop residue mulch with 75% RDF (S2), pre-emergence application of pendimethalin fb one hand weeding with 100% RDF (S3), pre-emergence application of pendimethalin fb one hand weeding with 75% RDF (S4), mechanical weeding twice with 100% RDF (S5) and mechanical weeding twice with 75% RDF (S6). Total microbial populations viz., bacteria, fungal, and actinobacteria were higher in cotton rhizosphere soil with the minimum tillage of irrigation at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio (M3) in the main plot treatments. Cotton rhizosphere soil with crop residue mulch with 100% RDF (S1) recorded a higher microbial population and it was statistically similar with pre-emergence application of pendimethalin fb one hand weeding with 100% RDF (S3) in the sub plot treatments. Among the treatment combination, minimum tillage with irrigation at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio (M3) and crop residue mulch with 100% RDF (S1) recorded a higher microbial population. Similarly, a higher seed yield of cotton was also recorded with minimum tillage and irrigating the crop at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio and pre-emergence application of pendimethalin fb one hand weeding along with application of 100% RDF (M3S3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On low-lying land in the Ganges Delta, waterlogging, salinity, and poor soil structure are constraints to intensifying cropping systems. Early sowing of dry season (rabi) crops in this area is hypothesized to increase yield potential because the current late sowing exposes the crop to less favourable temperature conditions, soil dryness, and salinity stresses. Field experiments were conducted over 2 years to identify the opportunities and challenges of early sowing between mid-November and mid-December for maximizing sunflower yield in Southern Bangladesh. Sunflower was dibbled into untilled wet soil on five occasions (23 and 30 November and 10, 20, and 30 December in 2016–2017 and 25 November, 14 and 25 December, and 10 and 25 January in 2017–2018), with two mulching treatments (rice straw at ~ 5 t ha−1 and 15–20% rice residue retention). Sowing before 15 December was associated with larger heads, more seeds per head, greater seed weight, and higher grain yield (3.5–4 t ha−1) in the first year, but early sowing was also risky since, in the second year, the sunflower sown on 25 November was hampered by heavy rainfall, which depressed yield compared to crops sown on 15 December. Increased yield from early sowing before 15 December was associated with higher soil water, lower soil salinity, and higher solute potential compared to sowing after 15 December. Lower yield in late sown crops was also associated with increased temperature at grain-filling stage. The rice straw mulch significantly improved soil water availability, reduced soil salinity, increased soil solute potential, and increased yield in the second year. In this paper, we show for the first time that sunflower sown before 15 December in the Ganges Delta has higher yield potential, but to gain the benefits of the earliest sowing, growers will need to manage the increased risk of yield loss due to waterlogging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulching is fastest strategy to control sand dune movement in arid and semiarid areas. In the present study the effect of micro silica- cement mixture was evaluated as mulch. For this purpose, an experiment was carried out as a factorial arrangement and a completely randomized design with 3 replicates. Three studied factors included 6 micro silica rates (0 as control, 0.5, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 12.5 percent), 2 rates of mulch thickness (one and two mm layers) and 2 time series (7 and 60 days). Prepared mulches based on different mixtures of micro silica + sand (400 g) and cement were sprayed on sand trays. Then 4 parameters including shear strength, penetration resistance, threshold friction velocity and soil losses at a wind speed of 15 ms−1 were measured on the studied treatments. Results obtained from the analysis of variances revealed that the effect of micro silica rates, thickness of mulch and time on the studied properties were significant. Mean comparisons also showed that shear strength, penetration resistance and threshold friction velocity increased and soil losses of treatments significantly decreased when the micro silica rates increased. The addition of micro silica to sand- cement mixture increased shear strength and penetration resistance by 76% and 82.5% respectively and decreased soil losses by 100%. The erodibility and mechanical properties of the treatments improved by increasing the thickness of the mulch. Moreover, in all studied treatments more improvements occurred in the mentioned properties of mulches during time. The application 7.5% of micro silica after 60 days was the optimal mulch to improve the soil erodibility and to increase the mechanical resistance against wind erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Currently, no clear guidance exists for ISO and EN standards of calculating, verifying, and reporting the climate impacts of plants, mulches, and soils used in landscape design and construction. In order to optimise the potential of ecosystem services in the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment, we unequivocally propose their inclusion when assessing sustainability. Methods: We analysed the life cycle phases of plants, soils, and mulches from the viewpoint of compiling standard-based Environmental Product Declarations. In comparison to other construction products, the differences of both mass and carbon flows were identified in these products. Results: Living and organic products of green infrastructure require an LCA approach of their own. Most importantly, if conventional life cycle guidance for Environmental Product Declarations were to be followed, over time, the asymmetric mass and carbon flows would lead to skewed conclusions. Moreover, the ability of plants to reproduce raises additional questions for allocating environmental impacts. Conclusions: We present a set of recommendations that are required for compiling Environmental Product Declarations for the studied products of green infrastructure. In order to enable the quantification of the climate change mitigation potential of these products, it is essential that work for further development of LCA guidance be mandated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]