Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Cochran, Diana R.
• Gilliam, Charles H.
• Eakes, D. Joseph
• Wehtje, Glenn R.
• Knight, Patricia R.
• Olive, John

Titel

Mulch Depth Affects Weed Germination

Ist Teil von

• Journal of environmental horticulture, 2009-06, Vol.27 (2), p.85-90

Erscheinungsjahr

2009

Quelle

EZB Electronic Journals Library

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Abstract With environmental concerns increasing, non-chemical weed control in container plant production is increasing in the United States. Pine bark mini-nuggets were evaluated as a non-chemical weed control technique for two weed species; Chamaesyce maculata (L.) Small (spotted spurge) and Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk.(eclipta). On June 19, 2006, seed (25 per container) were directly placed on the potting substrate surface of #3 containers before mulching with pine bark mini-nuggets to a depth of either 0, 1.27 or 2.54 cm (0, 0.5 or 1.0 in). Additional treatments consisted of applying the mini-nugget mulch at either 1.27 or 2.54 cm (0.5 or 1.0 in) on the potting substrate then overseeding with either spotted spurge or eclipta. Eclipta number per container were 87% less 60 days after seeding (DAS) with the 1.0 in mulch depth compared to non-mulched. Furthermore, spotted spurge fresh weight (FW) was reduced by 45 and 87% (0.5 and 1.0 in, respectively) compared to the non-mulched treatment. The experiment was repeated on August 30 and spurge number per container was 90% less 60 DAS in the 1.0 inch mulch treatment compared to the non-treated containers. A third and fourth experiment also demonstrated that pine bark mini-nuggets have potential to provide non-chemical weed control in nursery crops grown in #3 containers. Results, suggest that with proper application pine bark mini-nuggets can enhance weed control in container nurseries.