Can Hydromulch Reduce the Emergence of Perennial Weeds?

Mas, M. T.; Sanclemente, Gabriel Pardo; Pueyo, Jorge; Verdú, A. M. C.; Ranzenberger, Alicia Cirujeda

doi:10.3390/agronomy11020393

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Additionally, the hydromulch treatment (12 weeks after planting) maintained the lowest weed cover (22%) compared to no mulch (36%), gin trash (52%), and wheat straw (72%) treatments (Henry and Hoyle, 2021). The results from the present study were also consistent with Mas et al (2021), where hydromulch treatments (rice husk and used mushroom substrate) suppressed weed rhizome sprouting (55% and 56%, respectively) compared to a non-mulch treatment (72% sprouting rate of weed rhizomes).…”

Section: Weed Suppression Efficacysupporting

confidence: 87%

Hydromulches suppress weeds and maintain fruit production in organically managed strawberry systems

Ahmad,

DeVetter,

McFadden

et al. 2024

Front. Agron.

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Polyethylene (PE) mulches are widely used in strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa Duch) production for weed suppression and crop growth optimization. However, PE mulches are not biodegradable and contribute to plastic pollution. Our objective was to develop and test biodegradable liquid-applied ‘hydromulches’ (HMs) as a sustainable alternative to PE mulch. HM weed suppression efficacy, strawberry plant growth, and yield were evaluated. HM formulations consisted of shredded newsprint paper (NP), water, and a tackifier, either guar gum (GG) or psyllium husk (PH) added at 2 or 6%. Experiments were conducted at two environmentally distinct locations: northwest Washington (WA) and eastern North Dakota (ND). Five HM formulations were compared to black PE mulch within a randomized complete block design with four replications. PE mulch suppressed weeds completely at peak weed emergence and peak weed vegetative growth at both locations. Formulations of HM containing GG provided superior weed suppression compared to other HM formulations at peak weed emergence (4–6 vs. 18–22 plants m-2, respectively). At peak vegetative growth, HM formulations containing GG had the lowest weed density compared to other HMs in ND (1 vs. 9–12 plants m-2), whereas these differences were not observed in WA. Total weed biomass did not differ among HMs across both locations. GG HM formulations deteriorated similarly to PE mulch (3–5% vs. 2%, respectively) in ND, whereas other HMs deteriorated more substantially. In WA, all HMs deteriorated more than PE mulch (6–12% vs. 1%, respectively). Fruit yield did not differ among treatments in weedy and weed-free subplots (194–254 g plant-1) in WA. In ND, yield was greater in all HM treatments compared to PE mulch in both weedy and weed-free subplots. Across both locations, strawberry canopy cover was greater in PE mulch (56.1% canopy cover) compared to 2%GG and NP (42.4 and 39.8% canopy cover). Strawberry plant biomass was similar among mulch treatments. However, strawberry leaf and crown biomass were slightly lower in 2%PH compared to other mulch treatments. Results demonstrate HMs with GG tackifier are a promising alternative to PE mulch in organic strawberry systems based on ability to suppress weeds, enhance strawberry growth, and maintain yield.

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Section: Weed Suppression Efficacysupporting

confidence: 87%

Hydromulches suppress weeds and maintain fruit production in organically managed strawberry systems

Ahmad,

DeVetter,

McFadden

et al. 2024

Front. Agron.

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“…The doses of the different components for the mixtures can be found in a previous paper [3], with the exception of the pistachio and the vineyard pruning wood chips, which were 1060 g m −2 in both cases.…”

Section: Trial Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…In the same crop, it was also found that hydromulch composed of mushroom by-products combined with the inoculation of a type of mycorrhizae improved the growth of escarole [10]. Using the same mixtures to test perennial weed emergence, it was observed that these materials reduced the appearance of certain weed species, confirming their potential to be used as a non-chemical weed control method [3]. From an economic point of view, it was concluded that the use of hydromulches in artichoke crop cultivation is more sustainable and profitable, as well as environmentally friendly, than traditional polyethylene mulching, although the availability of plant waste in the area where hydromulching is used is important for its economic viability [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…Hydromulch can be defined as a biodegradable mulch material that is applied to the substrate in a liquid form and that, once there, solidifies, creating a cover on the ground. Essentially, it consists of a mixture of water with a lignocellulosic organic material or polymers with a certain plasticity and, generally, agricultural waste materials or byproducts, as well as other additives for greater durability and stability over time, all of them in a correct proportion [1][2][3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Organic Hydromulches in Young Olive Trees in Pots: Effects on Soil and Plant Parameters

Moreno,

González-Mora,

Villena

et al. 2023

Agriculture

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Organic hydromulches (liquid spray-on mulches) have been used traditionally in land rehabilitation, mainly to mitigate post-fire runoff and erosion. However, in recent years, a new application of these materials as an eco-friendly alternative to the widely used polyethylene mulch, both in vegetable and woody crops, has been studyied. This work analyzes the effects of six hydromulches, based on organic by-products, on different soil parameters (water content, temperature, and CO2 flux), plant–water relations (stem water potential, leaf gas exchange, and leaf temperature), and the growth (trunk diameter) of young olive trees planted in large pots in the open field over a 2-year trial. The hydromulches tested were: rice husk (RH), rice husk with linen oil (RHL), mushroom substrate (MS), wheat straw (WS), pistachio (PW), and vineyard (VW) pruning wood chips, mixed with different additives (gypsum, recycled paper paste, and Kraft fiber). A non-mulched manual weeding control (NM) was included. The results indicated that hydromulches, in comparison with NM, resulted in increased volumetric soil water content (on average, 22.9% in hydromulches and 19.5% in NM), reduced soil temperature fluctuations (4.97 °C in hydromulches and 6.13 °C in NM), and increased soil CO2 fluxes (0.80 and 0.49 g CO2 m−2 h−1, respectively). Although the differences in the soil water content did not have an obvious effect on the plant–water status, crop growth was reduced in NM (≈23% lower than PW, MS, RHL, and WS), suggesting that vegetative growth, especially in young olive trees, is extremely sensitive to water deficit. The overall study leads to considering hydromulches as a good alternative to mulching in large pots, especially PW, which would be useful for nursery crops before their final establishment in the field.

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“…Hydromulching can be useful for the suppression of weed growth, where mechanical and chemical weeding are very difficult [31,32]. Hydromulches can persist for a long time on the ground, although this depends on environmental factors (temperature and moisture) [33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Use of Hydromulching as an Alternative to Plastic Films in an Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus cv. Symphony) Crop: A Study of the Economic Viability

López‐Marín¹,

Romero²,

Gálvez³

et al. 2021

Sustainability

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The use of mulching in agriculture suppresses the weeds around crop plants, enhances the nutrients status of soil, controls the soil structure and temperature, and reduces soil water evaporation. Excessive use of low-density polyethylene mulches is contributing to the accumulation of high amounts of plastic wastes, an environmental problem for agricultural ecosystems. Fragments of plastic from such wastes can be found in soils, in water resources, and in organisms, including humans. The objective of this work was to study the economic viability of the use of different hydromulches in an artichoke crop. Three blends were prepared by mixing paper pulp (recycled from used paper) and cardboard (from paper mills) with different additives: wheat straw (WS), rice hulls (RH), and substrate used for mushroom cultivation (MS). These were compared with low-density polyethylene (Pe), a treatment without mulching on bare soil where hand weeding was performed (HW), and a treatment without mulching on bare soil where herbicide was applied (H). The results indicate that the use of hydromulch in an artichoke crop represents a good alternative for reducing plastic waste in agriculture. The net profits of the hydromulch treatments (MS, WS, RH) were higher than for HW and H, and slightly lower than for Pe. The most profitable treatment was Pe (€0.69 m−3), followed by RH (€0.59 m−3), WS (€0.58 m−3), MS (€0.47 m−3), HW (€0.36 m−3), and H (€0.32 m−3). A sensitivity analysis showed a probability of negative results of 0.04 in Pe, 0.13 in SM, 0.08 in WS, and 0.07 in RH, so the probability that the grower will make a profit is greater than 0.9 with the use of mulch (except mushroom substrate) or polyethylene.

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Can Hydromulch Reduce the Emergence of Perennial Weeds?

Cited by 7 publications

References 28 publications

Hydromulches suppress weeds and maintain fruit production in organically managed strawberry systems

Hydromulches suppress weeds and maintain fruit production in organically managed strawberry systems

Organic Hydromulches in Young Olive Trees in Pots: Effects on Soil and Plant Parameters

The Use of Hydromulching as an Alternative to Plastic Films in an Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus cv. Symphony) Crop: A Study of the Economic Viability

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