Title: Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) control with paper mulch in processing tomato

Abstract: Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) is a serious weed capable of piercing polyethylene (PE) plastic mulch used in horticulture. A biodegradable plastic, PE and four different papers were tested for 2 years in fields highly-infested with C. rotundus in Zaragoza (Spain). All four papers were able to withstand all weed species. C. rotundus plants penetrated the biodegradable plastic mulch most, possibly because this material had least resistance to slow perforation. Differences in weed biomass between mulching materials were lower because of small size and weight of C. rotundus. Therefore all mulching treatments had a similar impact on weed biomass reduction 63 days after transplanting; biodegradable plastic had most biomass and papers the least, the differences being significant some years, only. Tomato yield was very similar for all mulching treatments and significantly higher than in the non-mulched plots. No effect of treatment was observed on fruit quality parameters. Commercial paper used as mulch without special additives can satisfactory control C. rotundus in processing tomato provided that climate is appropriate to maintain the paper dry during most of the time. Also the crop needs to cover the soil fast enough before the buried part of the mulch degrades allowing wind to lift and tear the mulch. [A. Cirujeda, A. Anzalone, J. Aibar, M.M. Moreno & C. Zaragoza (2012). Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) control with paper mulch in processing tomato. Crop Protection, 39, 66-71. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2012.03.028] Comment

Keywords: Polyethylene; Biodegradable plastic film; Paper; Tomato yield; Weed biomass

Original source



Article: WeedsNews3551 (permalink)
Categories: :WeedsNews:mulch, :WeedsNews:non-chemical control, :WeedsNews:research alert, :WeedsNews:vegetable crops
Date: 18 July 2012; 8:42:39 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time

Author Name: David Low
Author ID: adminDavid