Abstract
Hydromulch, used primarily for erosion control, is now being studied as a weed control method in perennial crops and public gardens where weed control is especially difficult; the most challenging species are perennials having powerful shoots that emerge from subterranean propagules. In a previous article, we considered rhizome sprouting capacity through three experimental hydromulches based on wheat straw (WS), rice husk (RH) and used mushroom substrate (UMS). Here, we present data for the number of emerged shoots and their biomass to test whether the mulches were able to influence outcomes affecting weed-crop competition. In addition, the mechanical resistance of these hydromulches was characterized in terms of punching stress or resistance, considering two air humidity levels and applying an artificial ageing test (AAT) to simulate an average spring rainfall for Mediterranean areas. All three mulching types were effective in reducing the weed biomass (60–85%) and RH and UMS also the number of shoots (39–64%) of the four tested weed species compared to the non-mulched control. Cyperus rotundus was capable of generating the largest shoot number and biomass, regardless of the mulch treatment. In comparison, all three hydromulches provided a more effective control of Cynodon dactylon, Sorghum halepense and Paspalum dilatatum. Air humidity levels did not cause consistent changes in the physical properties of the hydromulches, while all three showed a weakening after the AAT, more pronounced in UMS than in WS or RH-based mulches, which could compromise the duration of effective weed control. Field trials are envisaged to confirm the duration of the perennial weed control associated with these hydromulches.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
References
Alegre Prats S, CortizoMalvar M, Simoes Vieira DC, MacDonald L, Keizer JJ (2016) Effectiveness of hydromulching to reduce runoff and erosion in a recently burnt pine plantation in central Portugal. Land Degrad Dev 27:1319–1333. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.2236
Arle HF, Everson EH (1955) Johnson Grass Control; College of Agriculture, University of Arizona: Tucson. AZ, USA
Ceseski A, Al-Khatib K, Dahlberg JA (2017) Biology and management of Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense). Agriculture and Natural Resources. University of California, California. https://doi.org/10.3733/ucanr.8569
Cirujeda A, Anzalone A, Aibar J, Moreno MM, Zaragoza C (2012a) Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) control with paper mulch in processing tomato. Crop Prot 39:66–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2012.03.028
Cirujeda A, Aibar J, Anzalone A, Martín-Closas L, Meco R, Moreno MM et al (2012b) Biodegradable mulch instead of polyethylene for weed control of processing tomato production. Agron Sustain Dev 32:889–897. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-012-0084-y
Claramunt J, Mas MT, Pardo G, Cirujeda A, Verdú AMC (2020) Mechanical characterization of blends containing recycled paper pulp and other lignocellulosic materials to develop hydromulches for weed control. Biosyst Eng 191:35–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2019.12.012
França DC, Almeida TG, Abels G, Canedo EL, Carvalho LH, Wellen RMR et al (2018) Tailoring PBAT/PLA/Babassu films for suitability of agriculture mulch application. J Nat Fibers 16:933–943. https://doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2018.1441092
Gerowitt B, Baraibar B (2022) Advances in managing arable weed propagules. In: Kudsk P (ed) Advances in Integrated Weed Management. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, pp 47–84. https://doi.org/10.19103/AS.2021.0098.03
Hagner M, Hyvönen T, Mikola J, Kemppainen R, Lindqvist B, Suojala-Ahlfors T et al (2020) Efficiency of a novel biodegradable liquid-amended mulch in weed control. Weed Res 60:182–193. https://doi.org/10.1111/wre.12411
Hammermeister AM (2016) Organic weed management in perennial fruits. Sci Hortic-Amsterdam 208:28–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2016.02.004
Holm LG, Plucknett DL, Pancho JV, Herberger JP (eds) (1977) The world’s worst weeds. distribution and biology. University Press of Hawaii, USA
Hosseinabadi F, Zebarjad SM, Mazinani M (2011) Investigation on perforation mechanism of medium density polyethylene. Mater Sci Forum 675–677:387–390. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.675-677.387
Hussain M, Farooq S, Merfield C, Jabran K (2018) Mechanical weed control. In: Jabran K, Chauhan BS (eds) Non-chemical weed control. Academic Press, Cambridge, pp 133–155. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809881-3.00008-5
Hussain MI, Abideen Z, Danish S, Asghar MA, Iqbal K (2021) Integrated weed management for sustainable agriculture. Sustain Agricult Rev 52:367–393. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73245-5_11
Immirzi B, Santagata G, Vox G, Schettini E (2009) Preparation, characterisation and field-testing of a biodegradable sodium alginate-based spray mulch. Biosyst Eng 102:461–472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2008.12.008
Kijchavengkul T, Auras R, Rubino M, Ngouajio M, Thomas Fernandez R (2008) Assessment of aliphatic–aromatic copolyester biodegradable mulch films. Part II: laboratory simulated conditions. Chemosphere 71:1607–1616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.01.037
Lanini WT, McGourty GT, Thrupp LA (2011) Weed management for organic vineyards. In: Winegrowing O (ed) McGourty G. University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Manual. Richmond, pp 69–82
Lee G, McLaughlin RA, Whitely KD, Brown VK (2018) Evaluation of seven mulch treatments for erosion control and vegetation establishment on steep slopes. J Soil Water Conserv 73:434–442. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.73.4.434
Li AL, Han JH, Ren SY, Zhang Y, Zhang FW, He Q (2021) Study on anti-aging properties of modified ZnO-SiO2 superhydrophobic coated paper mulch film. Colloids Surf, A 629:127430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.127430
Liebman M, Gallandt ER (1997) Many little hammers: ecological management of crop-weed interactions. In: Liebman EM, Gallandt ER (eds) Ecology in Agriculture. Academic Press, Cambridge, pp 291–343
López-Urrea R, Sánchez JM, Montoro A, Mañas F, Intrigliolo DS (2020) Effect of using pruning waste as an organic mulching on a drip-irrigated vineyard evapotranspiration under a semi-arid climate. Agr Forest Meteorol 291:108064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2020.108064
MAPA, Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación (2022) Registro de Productos Fitosanitarios. https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/agricultura/temas/sanidad-vegetal/productos-fitosanitarios/registro/menu.asp. Accessed 27 January 2022.
Marí AI (2019) Mulches and their effect on control and biology of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.). Chapter 1: Physical characterization of biodegradable paper mulches. PhD. University of Lleida, Spain.
Marí AI, Pardo G, Aibar J, Cirujeda A (2019) Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) control with biodegradable mulches and its effect on fresh pepper production. Scie Hortic-Amsterdam 263:109111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2019.109111
Mas MT, Pardo G, Pueyo J, Verdú AMC, Cirujeda A (2021) Can hydromulch reduce the emergence of perennial weeds? Agron 11:393. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11020393
Micó M, Claramunt J, Verdú AMC, Mas MT (2019) Development and characterisation of biodegradable mulches for weed control. In: Proceedings 2019 XVII Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Malherbología (eds Pedrol Bonjoch N, González Puig C) (8–10 October 2019, Vigo, Spain). Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain: Linckia pp 73–77
Montull JM, Torra J (2023) Herbicide resistance is increasing in Spain: concomitant management and prevention. Plants 2023(12):469. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12030469
Mosnackova K, Slosar M, Kollar J, Janigova I, Siskova A, Chmela S et al (2019) Ageing of plasticized poly(lactic acid)/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/carbon black mulching films during one season of sweet pepper production. Eur Polym J 114:81–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2019.02.010
Muzik TJ, Cruzado HJ (1953) The effect of 2,4-D on sprout formation in Cyperus rotundus. Am J Bot 40:507–512
Nesser C, Aguero R, Swanton J (1997) Incident photosynthetically active radiation as a basis for integrated management of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus). Weed Sci 45:774–783
Patterson DT (1982) Shading responses of purple and yellow nutsedges (Cyperus rotundus and C. esculentus). Weed Sci 30:25–30
Pérez-Álvarez E, Garde-Cerdan T, Santamaría P, García-Escudero E, Peregrina F (2015) Influence of two different cover crops on soil N availability, N nutritional status and grape yeast assimilable N (YAN) in a Cv Tempranillo Vineyard. Plant Soil 390:143–156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2387-7
Rambakudzibga AM (1999) Aspects of the growth and development of Cyperus rotundus under arable crop canopies: implications for integrated control. Weed Res 39:507–514. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3180.1999.00169.x
Santos SA, Tuffi-Santos LD, SantAnna-Santos BF, Tanaka FA, Silva LF, dos Santos A (2015) Influence of shading on the leaf morphoanatomy and tolerance to glyphosate in Commelina benghalensis L. and Cyperus rotundus L. Aus J Crop Sci 9:135–142
SAS (2013) Statistical analysis systems, Software Version 9.4. SAS Institute Inc. Cary, North Carolina, USA: SAS Institute Inc
Shogren RI, Hochmuth RC (2004) Field evaluation of watermelon grown on paper-polymerized vegetable oil mulches. HortScience 39:1588–1591. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.39.7.1588
Theerarattananoon K, Xu F, Wilson J, Ballard R, McKinney L, Staggenborg S, Vadlani P, Pei ZJ, Wang D (2011) Physical properties of pellets made from sorghum stalk, corn stover, wheat straw, and big bluestem. Ind Crops Prod 33:325–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2010.11.014
Torra J, Montull JM, Calha I, Osuan MD, Portugal J, de Prado R (2022) Current status of herbicide resistance in the Iberian Peninsula: future trends and challenges. Agronomy 12:929. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040929
Travlos IS, Montull JM, Kukorelli G, Malidza G, Dogan MN, Cheimona N, Antonopoulos N, Kanatas PJ, Zannopoulos S, Peteinatos G (2019) Key aspects on the biology, ecology and impacts of johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers] and the role of glyphosate and non-chemical alternative practices for the management of this weed in Europe. Agronomy 9:717. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9110717
Valencia-Gredilla F (2020) Ground vegetation covers as a tool for weed management in vineyards. University of Lleida, Lleida
Vélez-Gavilán J (2017) Paspalum dilatatum (dallisgrass). Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CABI. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/https://doi.org/10.1079/cabicompendium.38953. Accessed 21 June 2023.
Wang JH, Tian YC, Zhou B (2022) Degradation and stabilization of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/polyhydroxyalkanoate biodegradable mulch films under different aging tests. J Polym Environ 30:1366–1379. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-021-02279-z
Warnick JP, Chase CA, Rosskopf EN, Simonne EH, Sholberg JM, Koenig RL et al (2006) Weed suppression with hydramulch, a biodegradable liquid paper mulch in development. Renew Agr Food Syst 21:216–223. https://doi.org/10.1079/RAF2006154
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank S. Alcalá, M. Julià and A. Vidal, and also F. Arrieta and J.A. Alins for their technical assistance.
Funding
This research was funded by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad grants INIA RTA 2015-00047-C01 and RTA 2015-00047-C04.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by MTM, AMCV, GP, JP, and AC. The first draft of the manuscript was written by MTM, AMCV and AC, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Consent for publication
The authors have consented to the publication of the current version of the article.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Mas, M.T., Verdú, A.M.C., Pardo, G. et al. Shoot and biomass reduction of perennial weeds using hydromulches and physical changes in the mulches. J Plant Dis Prot 131, 433–443 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-023-00833-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-023-00833-6