The practice of applying mulches for the production of vegetables dates back thousands of years ( Coolong, 2012 ; Rowe-Dutton, 1957 ). A primary purpose for using mulches is for weed suppression in the crop to be grown. Mulches typically function
John Wilhoit and Timothy Coolong
Borut Gosar and Dea Baričevič
international markets. Ridge and furrow rainwater-harvesting (RFRH) systems with mulches were first researched in the flat, lowland, semiarid conditions of northwest China ( Li et al., 2000 , 2001 ) to improve water availability and to increase crop production
Lynn Brandenberger and Bob Wiedenfeld
acknowledge the assistance of Juan Bernal, Carlos Rodriguez, Venancio Gonzalez and Eden Hinojosa for assistance in all aspects of this study and to Marvin Baker for help in measuring mulch strengths; we would like to clarify that they are co-authors in as much
Eugene J. Hogue, John A. Cline, Gerry Neilsen and Denise Neilsen
through the use of mulches has been previously demonstrated on apple ( Reuther and Boyton, 1940 ; Wander and Gourley, 1943 ) and peach ( Baker, 1949 ). This response is related in part to actual K contained in the mulch, increased exchangeable K in the
Nader Soltani, J. LaMar Anderson and Alvin R. Hamson
`Crimson Sweet' watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai] plants were grown with various mulches and rowcovers and analyzed for relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area index (LAI), and crop growth rate (CGR). Spunbonded polyester fabric (SB-PF) and perforated polyethylene film (PCP) rowcovers generally showed greater mean RGR, SLA and CGR than spunbonded polypropylene polyamide net (SB-PP), black plus clear combination plastic mulch and black plastic mulch alone. Plants on mulches and under rowcovers showed significant increases in RGR, NAR, and SLA over plants grown in bare soil. Carbon dioxide concentration inside the transplanting mulch holes was nearly twice the ambient CO, concentration. Growth analysis of sampled watermelon plants during early stages of development under various treatments was predictive of crop yield. Plants under SB-PF and PCP rowcovers produced the earliest fruit and the greatest total yield. An asymmetrical curvilinear model for watermelon growth and development based on cardinal temperatures was developed. The model uses hourly averaged temperatures to predict growth and phenological development of `Crimson Sweet' watermelon plants grown with and without rowcovers. Early vegetative growth correlated well with accumulated heat units. Results indicate a consistent heat unit requirement for the `Crimson Sweet' watermelon plants to reach first male flower, first female flower and first harvest in uncovered plants and plants under rowcovers. Greater variability was observed in predicting date of first harvest than first bloom.
S. Christopher Marble, Andrew K. Koeser and Gitta Hasing
current practices could potentially be improved. Mulching The cornerstone of a landscape weed control program is the use of organic or inorganic mulches. Mulches serve several functions in the landscape including moisture retention ( Iles and Dosmann, 1999
Mark G. Hutton and David T. Handley
profitable crop in northern New England and other regions characterized by short growing seasons and variable temperatures. Early and total yields of bell peppers can be increased through the use of plastic mulches, rowcovers, and low plastic tunnels
Levi Fredrikson, Patricia A. Skinkis and Ed Peachey
suppression of weeds may be obtained when alleyway vegetation is mowed at strategic times during vine development and the residue transferred into vine rows as mulch. This method of mulching, known as “mow-and-throw,” has been shown to reduce germination of
David M. Eissenstat, Denise Neilsen, Gerry H. Neilsen and Thomas S. Adams
conditions. In this article, we examine the effects of mulching and restricting irrigation for a 45-d period late in the growing season (August and September) in each of three years on ‘Gala’ apples on M.9 rootstock in sandy soils in southern British Columbia
Bert M. Cregg and Robert Schutzki
Landscape mulches are an important component to improving the sustainability of landscape systems. Mulches, particularly organic mulches, can enhance sustainability by reducing chemical inputs and the use of fossil fuels to maintain healthy and