Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer

Vol. 22 No. 2 (2023)

Articles

Multifunctional living mulches for weeds control in organic apple orchards

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/asphc.2023.4473
Submitted: October 30, 2021
Published: 2023-04-28

Abstract

A trial assessing the suitability of multifunctional living mulch to maintain the soil and reduce weed infestation was carried out in an organic apple orchard in the years of 2019-2020. Perennial plants (Alchemilla vulgaris, Fragaria vesca, Mentha piperita) and annual crops (Tropaeolum majus and Cucurbita maxima) were grown in the in the rows of the apple trees. The weeds number and soil weeds coverage in tree rows were assessed. Regardless of the living mulch species utilized, the soil resulted to be mostly covered by perennial weed species such as: Equisetum arvense and Taraxacum officinale and annual species such as: Lamium purpureum, Stellaria media, Galinsoga parviflora, Capsella bursa-pastoris and Poa annua, which were the most common species also for the natural cover used as control. However, all living mulch species limited weed infestation and M. piperita, F. vesca  and T. majus most strongly limited weeds growth. It is concluded that living mulch species can be a feasible practice to manage the soil on the tree rows in organic orchards.

References

  1. Abbas, T., Zahir, Z.A., Naveed, M., Kremer, R.J. (2018). Limitation of existing weed control practices necessitate development of alternative techniques based on biological approaches. Adv. Agron., 147, 239–280. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2017.10.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2017.10.005
  2. Abouziena, H.F., Haggag, W.M., El-saeid, H.M., El-Moniem, E.A.A. (2016). Safe methods for weed control in fruit crops: challenges, and opportunities: review. Der Pharm. Lett., 8(5), 325–339.
  3. Bond, W., Grundy, A.C. (2001). Non-chemical weed management in organic farming systems. Weed Res., 41(5), 383–405. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3180.2001.00246.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3180.2001.00246.x
  4. Bugg, R.L., McGourty, G., Sarrantonio, M., Lanini, W.T., Bartolucci, R. (1996). Comparison of 32 cover crops in an organic vineyard on the north coast of California. Biol. Agric. Hortic., 13(1), 63−81. https://doi.org/10.1080/01448765.1996.9754766 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01448765.1996.9754766
  5. Byers, R.E. (1984). Control and management of vertebrate pests in deciduous orchards of the eastern United States. Hortic. Rev., 6, 253–285. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118060797.ch7
  6. den Hollander, N.G, Bastiaans, L., Kropff, M.J. (2007). Clover as a cover crop for weed suppression in an intercropping design. I. Characteristics of several clover species. Eur. J. Agron., 26(2), 92−103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2006.08.011
  7. Domaradzki, K., Badowski, M., Rola, H., Sekutowski, T. (2007). Zróżnicowanie florystyczne agrofitocenoz zbóż na Dolnym Śląsku w rożnych systemach gospodarowania. [Floristic differentiation of cereals agrophytocenosis under different farming system in Lower Silesia Region]. Pam. Puł., 145, 25–42 [in Polish].
  8. Faby, R. (2001). Wachstumsförderung bei Äpfeln durch Tagetes und Bodenaustausch [Improving apple growth using Tagetes and its effect on the soil]. Obstbau, 12, 617−620 [in German].
  9. Futch, S.H. (2000). Weed control in Florida citrus. In: Abstracts of the Third International Weed Science Congress. Foz do Iguassu, Brazil, 6–11 June 2000, 55.
  10. Granatstein, D., Mullinix, K. (2008). Mulching options for northwest organic and conventional orchards. HortScience, 43(1), 45−50. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.43.1.45 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.43.1.45
  11. Hartwig, N.L., Ammon, H.U. (2002). Cover crops and living mulches. Weed Sci., 50, 688−699. https://doi.org/10.1614/0043-1745(2002)050[0688:AIACCA]2.0.CO;2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1614/0043-1745(2002)050[0688:AIACCA]2.0.CO;2
  12. Hoagland, L., Carpenter-Boggs, L., Granatstein, D.M., Mazzola, M., Smith, J., Peryea, F., Reganold, J.P. (2008). Orchard floor management effects on nitrogen fertility and soil biological activity in a newly established organic apple orchard. Biol. Fertil. Soils, 45, 11−18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-008-0304-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-008-0304-4
  13. Hogue, E.J., Cline, J.A., Neilsen, G., Neilsen, D. (2010). Growth and yield responses to mulches and cover crops under low potassium conditions in drip-irrigated apple orchards on coarse soils. HortScience, 45(12), 1866–1871. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.45.12.1866 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.45.12.1866
  14. Hwang, K.S., Park, K.W. (2016). A survey of weed occurrence and management on apple orchard fields in Chungnam Province in Korea. Weed Turf. Sci., 5(1), 5–9. https://doi.org/10.5660/WTS.2016.5.1.5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5660/WTS.2016.5.1.5
  15. den Hollander, N.G, Bastiaans, L., Kropff, M.J. (2007). Clover as a cover crop for weed suppression in an intercropping design. I. haracteristics of several clover species. Europ. J. Agronomy, 26(2), 92−103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2006.08.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2006.08.011
  16. Jones, A.L., Sutton, T.B. (1996). Diseases of tree fruits in the east. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing, pp. 95.
  17. Licznar-Małańczuk, M. (2020). Occurrence of weeds in an orchard due to cultivation of long-term perennial living mulches. Acta Agrobot., 73(2). https://doi.org/10.5586/aa.7326 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5586/aa.7326
  18. Liebman, M., Davis, A.S. (2000). Integration of soil, crops and weed management in low-eternal input farming systems. Weed Res., 40(1), 27–47. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3180.2000.00164.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3180.2000.00164.x
  19. Linares, J., Scholberg, J.M., Boote, K.J., Chase, C.A., Ferguson, J.J., McSorley, R. (2008). Use of the cover crop weed index to evaluate weed suppression by cover crops in organic citrus orchards. HortScience, 43(1), 27−34. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.43.1.27 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.43.1.27
  20. Lisek, J. (2012). Synanthropic flora of strawberry plantations and their surroundings. J. Fruit Ornam. Plant Res., 77(1), 113–127. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10032-012-0020-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10032-012-0020-3
  21. Lisek, J. (2014). Possibilities and limitations of weed management in fruit crops of the temperate climate zone. J. Plant Protect. Res., 54(4), 318−326. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/jppr-2014-0048 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jppr-2014-0048
  22. Mia, M.J., Furmańczyk E.M., Golian J., Kwiatkowska J., Malusá E., Neri D. (2021). Living mulch with selected herbs for soil management in organic apple orchard. Horticulturae, 7(3), 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7030059 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7030059
  23. Mia, M.J., Massetani F., Murri G., Facchi J., Monaci E., Amadio L., Neri D. (2020a). Integrated weed management in high density fruit orchards. Agronomy, 10(10), 1492. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10101492 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10101492
  24. Mia, M.J., Massetani, F., Murri, G., Neri, D. (2020b). Sustainable alternatives to chemicals for weed control in the orchard. Hortic. Sci., 47(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.17221/29/2019-HORTSCI DOI: https://doi.org/10.17221/29/2019-HORTSCI
  25. Mika, A., Krzewińska, D., Olszewski, T. (1998). Effects of mulches, herbicides and cultivation as orchard ground cover management systems in young apple tree orchard. J. Fruit Ornam. Plant Res., 6(1), 1−13.
  26. Mika, A. (2004). The importance of biodiversity in natural environment and in fruit plantations. J. Fruit Ornam. Plant Res., 12 (special ed.), 11−21.
  27. Neilsen, G.H., Hogue, E.J. (2000). Comparison of white clover and mixed sodgrass as orchard floor vegetation. Canad. J. Plant Sci., 80(3), 617–622. https://doi.org/10.4141/P99-126 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4141/P99-126
  28. Neri, D., Polverigiani, S., Zucchini, M., Giorgi, V., Mia, M.J. (2021). Strawberry living mulch in organic vineyards. Agronomy 11(8), 1643. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081643 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081643
  29. Paradowski, A. (2017). Atlas chwastów roślin rolniczych, sadowniczych i warzywnych [Weed atlas of agricultural, pomology and vegetable crops]. Wyd. Hortpress, pp. 224 [in Polish].
  30. Petit, S., Cordeau, S., Chauvel, B., Bohan, D., Guillemin, J.P., Steinberg, C. (2018). Biodiversity – based options for arable weed management. A review. Agron. Sustain. Dev., 38, 48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-018-0525-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-018-0525-3
  31. Rodrigues, M., Arrobas, M. (2020). Cover cropping for increasing fruit production and farming sustainability. In: Srivastava, A.K., Hu, C. (eds.). Fruit crops. Elsevier, 279–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818732-6.00020-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818732-6.00020-4
  32. Rola, H. (1982). Zjawisko konkurencji wśród roślin i jej skutki na przykładzie wybranych chwastów występujących w pszenicy ozimej [The cooperation among plants and its effects on example of selected weeds occurring in winter wheat]. Wyd. IUNG Puławy, 139, pp. 64 [in Polish].
  33. Ross, S.M., King, J.R., Izaurralde, R.C., O’Donovan, J.T. (2001). Weed suppression by seven clover species. Agron. J., 93(4), 820–827. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2001.934820x DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2001.934820x
  34. Sanchez, J.E., Edson, C.E., Bird, G.W., Whalon, M.E., Willson, T.C., Harwood, R.R., Kizilkaya, K., Nugent, J.E., Klein, W., Middleton, A., Loudon, T.L., Mutch, D.R., Scrimger, J. (2003). Orchard floor and nitrogen management influences soil and water quality and tart cherry yields. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., 128(2), 277–284. https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS.128.2.0277 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS.128.2.0277
  35. Schumacher, R., Stadler, W., Krebs, Ch., Kobelt, M. (1988). Einfluss verschiedener Bodenpflege-massnahmen auf Ertrag und Qualität von Cox Orange [The influence of various treatments on the yield and quality of Cox Orange]. Zeitschrift für Obst – und Weinbau, 124, 298−305 [in German].
  36. Teasdale, J.R. (1993). Interaction of light, soil moisture, and temperature with weed suppression by hairy vetch residue. Weed Sci., 41(1), 46−51. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0043174500057568 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0043174500057568
  37. Teasdale, J.R., Mohler, C.L. (2000). The quantitative relationship between weed emergence and the physical properties of mulches. Weed Sci., 48(3), 358−392. https://doi.org/10.1614/0043-1745(2000)048[0385:TQRBWE]2.0.CO;2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1614/0043-1745(2000)048[0385:TQRBWE]2.0.CO;2
  38. Teravest, D., Smith, J.L., Carpenter-Boggs, L., Hoagland, L., Granatstein, D., Reganold, J.P. (2010). Influence of orchard floor management and compost application timing on nitrogen partitioning in apple trees. HortScience, 45(4), 637−642. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.45.4.637 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.45.4.637
  39. Tworkoski, T.J., Glenn, D.M. (2012). Weed suppression by grasses for orchard floor management. Weed Tech., 26(3), 559–565. https://doi.org/10.1614/WT-D-11-00044.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1614/WT-D-11-00044.1
  40. Wardle, D.A., Yeates, G.W., Bonner, K.I., Nicholson, K.S., Watson, R.S. (2001). Impacts on ground vegetation management strategies in a kiwifruit orchard on the composition and functioning of the soil biota. Soil Biol. Biochem., 33(7–8), 893–905. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-0717(00)00235-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-0717(00)00235-2
  41. Żelazny, W., Licznar-Małańczuk, M. (2018). Soil quality and tree status in a 12-year-old apple orchard under three mulch-based floor management systems. Soil Till. Res., 180, 250–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2018.03.010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2018.03.010

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Similar Articles

<< < 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.