Weed suppression with hydramulch, a biodegradable liquid paper mulch in development

Abstract

Cost-effective, laborsaving, and environmentally sound weed management practices are needed for sustainable vegetable production. Organic production, in particular, precludes the use of synthetic herbicides and requires that organic farmers utilize practices that reduce harmful environmental impact. Although polyethylene film mulch is used extensively in vegetable production in Florida, its use has a number of drawbacks, among which is the susceptibility of opaque polyethylene mulch to penetration by yellow and purple nutsedge. Appreciable labor and disposal/environmental costs are associated with its removal. A durable mulch material that would effectively control nutsedge and other weeds but with no associated environmental and disposal costs is highly desirable. Hydramulch, a paper-like material applied as a slurry consisting of cotton waste, newsprint, gypsum and a proprietary adhesive, was tested as a biodegradable alternative to polyethylene mulch during the spring of 2003. Experiments were conducted in southeastern and north-central Florida to compare the effects of three hydramulch formulations, polyethylene mulch and a no mulch control on soil temperature, soil moisture and weed infestation. Soil temperature under hydramulch was 1–4°C lower than that under polyethylene. In the absence of rain, the use of hydramulch resulted in soil moisture levels that were 1–4% lower than with polyethylene mulch. Higher soil moisture with hydramulch than polyethylene was coincident with rainfall. Hydramulch remained intact on most beds and suppressed broadleaf weeds and grasses, particularly at the north-central site where the mulch was applied at a greater thickness. However, purple nutsedge readily penetrated hydramulch. Therefore, hydramulch may be applicable for use for the suppression of broadleaf weeds and grasses at sites with little or no nutsedge pressure in fall or in crops for which cooler soils are desirable or crops that are rainfed or overhead irrigated.

Polyethylene and biodegradable mulches for agricultural applications: a review

“…More recently, studies have tested the performance of biodegradable materials applied as slurries. These include foam mulches, hydraulic mulches, and hydramulch (Warnick et al 2006). Those materials are fully degradable but are expensive, difficult to handle, and require specialized equipment for application.…”

“…It is estimated that 1 million tons of mulch film is used worldwide every year in agriculture (Halley et al 2001). In the USA alone, 130,000 tons of mulch film was used in 2004 (Warnick et al 2006). Fresh market vegetables that are grown mainly on plastic mulch include bell pepper (Capsicum annuum), muskmelon (Cucumis melo), eggplant (Solanum melongena), slicing cucumber (Cucumis sativus), summer squash (Cucurbita pepo), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) (Ngouajio et al 2008).…”

“…Those materials are fully degradable but are expensive, difficult to handle, and require specialized equipment for application. Also, they do not provide the level of weed suppression and soil warming generally achieved with plastic mulch (Warnick et al 2006). In the area of new technologies, preliminary studies have shown that baling used plastic may allow growers to reduce the volume and therefore the cost of disposal.…”

Reply of mulch systems on weeds and yield components in potatoes

“…Polyethylene foils are used for mulching in crop production, even though they have many disadvan- Values with the same letter are not significantly different at P ≤ 0.05. C -non-mulching control with mechanical cultivation; GM1 -grass mulch in a 25-mm thick layer after planting; GM2 -grass mulch on the 14 th day after planting; BTM -black textile mulch; HSD -honestly significant difference of Tukey's test; FW -fresh weight tages (Warnick et al 2006). Polypropylene textiles are (in contrast to polyethylene foils) permeable to precipitations (in dry areas so there is no need to lay a drip irrigation, thus increasing costs) and have higher strength.…”

Field Performance of Aliphatic-aromatic Copolyester Biodegradable Mulch Films in a Fresh Market Tomato Production System

“…It is estimated that 1 million tons of mulch film are used worldwide every year in agriculture (Halley et al, 2001). In the United States alone, 130,000 tons of mulch film was used in 2004 (Warnick et al, 2006). Fresh market vegetables that are grown mainly on plastic mulch include bell pepper (Capsicum annuum), muskmelon (Cucumis melo), eggplant (Solanum melongena), slicing cucumber (Cucumis sativus), summer squash (Cucurbita pepo), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus).…”