Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T02:45:56.892Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Soil Temperature, Soil Moisture, Weed Control, and Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Response to Mulching

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

C. Dale Monks ,
David W. Monks ,
Tom Basden ,
Arthur Selders ,
Suzanne Poland  and
Edward Rayburn
C. Dale Monks
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy and Soils and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849
David W. Monks
Affiliation:
Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7620
Tom Basden
Affiliation:
Kingwood, WV 26537
Arthur Selders
Affiliation:
West Virginia University Cooperative Extension Service, Morgantown, WV 26506
Suzanne Poland
Affiliation:
West Virginia University Cooperative Extension Service, Morgantown, WV 26506
Edward Rayburn
Affiliation:
West Virginia University Cooperative Extension Service, Morgantown, WV 26506
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Shredded newspaper (2.5, 7.6, 12.7, and 17.8 cm depth), chopped newspaper (2.5 and 7.6 cm), wheat straw (15.2 cm), black plastic, and plastic landscape fabric were evaluated during 1993 and 1994 in West Virginia for their effect on soil temperature, soil moisture, weed control, and yield in tomato. Shredded newspaper and wheat straw applied at 0, 2, 4, or 6 weeks after transplanting (WAT) and napropamide (2.1 kg ai/ha) plus metribuzin (0.28 kg ai/ha) applied at transplanting were evaluated during 1992 and 1993 in North Carolina for effect on weed control and tomato yield. Results from West Virginia indicated that shredded (7.6 cm) and chopped (7.6 cm) newspaper conserved moisture similar to higher application rates of the shredded material. Higher newspaper mulching rates reduced soil temperature compared to black plastic and bare ground. Chopped newspaper controlled weeds more consistently than other treatments. At least 7.6 cm of chopped newspaper mulch was required to control weeds at least 90%. Wheat straw was not as effective in controlling weeds as 7.6 cm or greater of newspaper mulch. Chopped newspaper provided higher tomato yields than shredded newspaper applied at the same rates. Mulches applied at 0, 2, or 4 WAT resulted in weed control similar to the chemical treatment. In North Carolina, mulches applied 2 or 4 WAT resulted in tomato yields similar to the chemical treatment. Shredded and chopped newspaper have potential as a mulching material but may vary in effect in different environments and vegetable crops.

Keywords

Metribuzin, 4-amino-6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-3-(methylthio)1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-onenapropamide, N,N-diethyl-2-(1-naphthalenyloxy)propanamidetomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. ‘Celebrity’ and ‘Mountain Pride’Newspaper mulchorganic mulchstraw mulchbarnyardgrassEchinocloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. # ECHCGcommon lambsquartersChenopodium album (L.) # CHEALgoosegrassEleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. # ELEINlarge crabgrassDigitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. # DIGSAWAT, weeks after transplanting
Type
Research
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 11 , Issue 3 , September 1997 , pp. 561 - 566
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

Ashworth, S. and Harrison, H. 1983. Evaluation of mulches for use in the home garden. HortScience 18:180–182.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barker, A. V., O'Brien, T. A., and Neal, J. C. 1995. Weed control in establishment of wildflower sod and meadows. In Proceedings of the 49th Annual Meeting Northeastern Weed Science Society. Riverhead, NY: Northeast Weed Science Society. pp. 56–60.Google Scholar
Bonanno, A. R. and Lamont, W. J. Jr. 1987. Effect of polyethylene mulches, irrigation method, and row covers on soil and air temperature and yield of muskmelon. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 112:735–738.Google Scholar
Clarkson, V. A. 1960. Effect of black polyethylene mulch on soil and microclimate temperature and nitrate level. Agron. J. 52:307–309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ennis, R. S. 1987. Plastigone™ a new, time-controlled, photodegradable, plastic mulch film. In Proceedings of the 20th National Agricultural Plastics Congress. Peoria, IL: National Agricultural Plastics Association. pp. 83–90.Google Scholar
Hurd, G. 1993. New agricultural uses found for old newsprint. Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers Association Press. p. 7.Google Scholar
Lamont, W. J. Jr. 1993. Plastic mulches for the production of vegetable crops. HortTechnology 3:35–39.Google Scholar
Munn, D. A. 1992. Comparison of shredded newspaper and wheat straw as crop mulches. HortTechnology 2:361–366.Google Scholar
Ricotta, J. A. and Masiunas, J. B. 1991. The effects of black plastic mulch and weed control strategies on herb yield. HortScience 26:539–541.Google Scholar
Schales, F. D. and Sheldrake, R. Jr. 1966. Mulch effects on soil conditions and muskmelon response. Proc. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 88:425–430.Google Scholar
Selders, A. 1995. Recycling newspaper for mulch in home gardens. W. Va. Ext. Ser. Managing Solid Waste Bull. 8:1–2.Google Scholar
Unger, P. W. 1978. Straw mulch effects on soil temperatures and sorghum germination and growth. Agron. J. 70:858–864.Google Scholar
Wooldridge, J. and Harris, R. E. 1991. Effect of organic mulches and plastic sheet on soil temperature. Deciduous Fruit Grower 41:118–121.Google Scholar