Effect of roller-crimper technology on weed management in organic zucchini production in a Mediterranean climate zone

Abstract

Integrating cover crops into vegetable cropping systems can provide a wide range of ecological services, of which weed management is a key component. Cover crop effects on weed control, however, are dependent on termination methods and weed species present in specific cropping seasons. A 2-year weed management experiment with two cultivars of organic zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) in central Italy was carried out to compare the effect of a barley (Hordeum distichum L.) cover crop terminated with a modified roller-crimper (RC) to incorporated barley as green manure (GM) and a tilled control left fallow (FA) in the off-season. The effects of cover-crop management on crop competitiveness, yields and weed populations were evaluated by direct measurement, visual estimation and competition index methods. Results showed a significant reduction in weed biomass (>80%) and weed abundance with the RC compared to the GM and FA treatments. Moreover, the RC barley mulch maintained weed control in zucchini plots even under high weed pressure, as determined by the agronomic tolerance to competition (ATC) value of 67% in the RC treatment compared to 40 and 34% in the FA and GM treatments, respectively, averaged over both years of the experiment. The competitive balance (Cb), which quantified the ability of the zucchini crop to compete with weed populations, was also greater (+0.37) in the RC treatment compared to FA (−0.87) and GM (−0.69) treatments over the same period. Zucchini crop biomass was greatest in the RC treatment in 2011. Zucchini fruit yields varied from an average over both years of 1.4 Mg ha−1 in the RC treatment to 0.7 Mg ha−1 in the GM treatment, but yields in the FA treatment, 1.2 Mg ha−1, did not differ from the RC treatment. No differences in yield between ‘Dietary’ and ‘Every’ zucchini, or any significant interactions between cultivar and cover management related to fruit biomass, were observed. Our findings suggested the viability of the modified RC in creating a barley cover-crop mulch to effectively manage weeds and enhance yields in transplanted zucchini.

No Tillage and Strip Tillage Effects on Plant Performance, Weed Suppression, and Profitability in Transitional Organic Broccoli Production

“…This narrow tillage pass with a shank to loosen soil ahead of transplanting may inevitably disturb a wider band of soil than is desired for minimization of weed seed germination, yet this disturbance may be necessary for proper functioning of a conventional transplanter. Use of a mechanical transplanter equipped with a coulter and shank mounted ahead of the planting unit, or a roller-crimper with a shank mounted behind it, as described by Ciaccia et al (2016), may allow for establishment of vegetable transplants with minimal disturbance to the mulch, thus maximizing the suppressive effect of the rolled cover crop.…”

Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Horticultural Systems: A Multi-Criteria Evaluation Approach Applied in a Case Study in Mediterranean Conditions

“…Moreover, the same authors [23] pointed out that the introduction of the ASC termination by the roller crimper reduces the energy cost, compared with the traditional cover crops termination (green manure), thus increasing the economical sustainability of this practice. However, even if the ASC could have some other beneficial aspects, the DEXi-met model evaluated only environmental sustainability by giving a quantitative output to this important topic that should be taken into account.…”

“…As suggested by Canali et al [6], the ASC introduction in sustainable organic farming systems represents a powerful tool for farmers to positively influence the agro-ecosystem, by promoting the whole soil-plant system equilibrium in space and time. Moreover, the same authors [23] pointed out that the introduction of the ASC termination by the roller crimper reduces the energy cost, compared with the traditional cover crops termination (green manure), thus increasing the economical sustainability of this practice. However, even if the ASC could have some other beneficial aspects, the DEXi-met model evaluated only environmental sustainability by giving a quantitative output to this important topic that should be taken into account.…”

“…In the RC-ASC management, most of these attributes scored "high" or "medium-high", whereas in NO-ASC, the most frequent score was "medium-low". These differences were likely due to the mulching effect that occurred in the RC-ASC crop management, which can determine better weeds control [23], better N balance [28] and higher production than NO-ASC [6].…”

Organic no-till and strip-till systems for broccoli and pepper production

“…This narrow tillage pass with a shank to loosen soil ahead of transplanting may inevitably disturb a wider band of soil than is desired for minimization of weed seed germination, yet this disturbance may be necessary for proper functioning of a conventional transplanter. Use of a mechanical transplanter equipped with a coulter and shank mounted ahead of the planting unit, or a roller-crimper with with a shank mounted behind it, as described by Ciaccia et al, 2015, may allow for establishment of vegetable transplants with minimal disturbance to the mulch, thus maximizing the suppressive effect of the rolled cover crop.…”