Mulches weed control

Study 2. The effects of wheat, oats, barley and rye mulches on three broadleaf weed species and crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) are shown in Table VI. Weed control data for the corn test at Kinston are not presented because of poor cover crop kill by the paraquat treatment. 

Table VI. Effect of Small Grain Mulch and Tillage on Weed Control in Corn and Soybeans...

Table VII. Mean broadleaf weed control of mulched and unmulched treatments averaged over location, crop, and weed species...

Mulch tillage or mulch ripping the soil is tilled prior to planting with chisels, disks, sweeps or blades weed control is obtained with herbicides and/or cultivation... 

Jacobsohn R, Greenberger A, Katan J, Levi M, Alon H (1980) Control of Egyptian broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca) and other weeds by means of solar heating of the soil by polyethylene mulching. Weed Sci 28 312-316... 

Allelopathic interactions of plants can provide weed control by (a) use of allelopathic crops as cover crops, mulches or green manure, (b) use of allelopathic plants in crop rotations, (c) crop mixtures and intercropping, (d) varieties with strong allelopathic potential, and (e) use of allelopathic crop water extracts and other agents. 

Except direct use of allelopathic crops as cover crops, smother crops, and intercrops, applications of allelopathy for weed control include the use of allelopathic residues as an herbicide agent, e.g., pellets flours, water extracts, etc. The most common example of crop residue utilization is application of straw on the soil surface (mulching), e.g., rice straw inhibited germination of field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.), winter wild oat (Avena ludoviciana Durieu), and little-seed canarygrass (Phalaris minor Retz.) (Lee et al. 1991 Tamak et al. 1994 Young et al. 1989). 

Tabaglio V, Gavazzi C, Schulz M, Marocco A (2008) Alternative weed control using the allelopathic effect of natural benzoxazinoids from rye mulch. Agron Sustain Dev 28 397-401... 

On weed-free ground, a loose mulch, 4 in (10 cm) deep, will provide effective weed control. Any weeds that may appear are easily removed. An organic, biodegradable material is the preferred organic option as a bonus, this sort of mulch will attract beetles, centipedes, and other pest-eating creatures that enjoy the dark, moist conditions. 

A mulch membrane, weed barrier, or weed control fabric is simply a sheet of synthetic or biodegradable material that forms a physical and light-excluding barrier to weed growth. Membranes can be used to clear annual and perennial weeds from open ground and beds. They are also used to prevent weeds from growing on ground that has been cleared. 

Synthetic spun fabrics these materials may also be sold as "landscape fabrics" or occasionally "geotextiles," for long-term weed control. They allow water to permeate through them into the soil, but can degrade where exposed to the sun, so cover with a loose mulch to protect them from the light. 

Woven plastic provides medium-term weed control and allows water to penetrate. Cover with loose mulch to extend life. 

Mulch for weed control and water retention. Water in dry weather during the first year. 

Bulky soil improvers spread over vegetable beds to condition and feed the soil applying water correctly at the roots of plants, rather than pouring it over the leaves the need for hoeing is reduced in these close-planted beds shallots growing through a mulch membrane for moisture retention and weed control. 

Brandsseter, L.O. and Riley, H. 2002. Cover crops and mulches for weed control in organically grown vegetables. In Cloutier, D.C. (ed.) Proceedings of the 5th EWRS Workshop on Physical and Cultural Weed Control. European Weed Research Society, Pisa. p. 174. 

Hutchinson, C.M. and McGiffen, M.E. 2000. Cowpea cover crop mulch for weed control in... 

Monks, C.D., Monks, D.W., Basden, T., Selders, A., Poland, S. and Rayburn, E. 1997. Soil temperature, soil moisture, weed control, and tomato Lycopersicon esculentum) response to mulching. Weed Technology 11(3) 561-566. 

---