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Examples of commonly used mulch material in container plant production consisting of (A) Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica L.) mulched with pine bark, (B) Crape myrtle mulched with rice hulls, (C) Podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophyllum var. maki) mulched with shredded hardwood and (D) Podocarpus mulched with sawdust.
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Weed management in container plant production is a serious problem and remains one of the most expensive and time-consuming aspects of the industry. Weeds cause severe reductions in crop growth due to the limited growing environment characteristic of container plant production. The container nursery industry relies heavily on a limited number of pr...
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Citations
... Mulching is a water-saving technique used in arid regions to conserve soil moisture and reduce evaporation [129]. It involves covering the soil with materials like plastic or wheat straw to minimize moisture loss [130] and control weeds [131]. This method is particularly effective in vegetable and fruit farming, reducing the need for chemical herbicides [132] while retaining soil moisture for longer periods (Figure 16). ...
Climate change and global warming pose serious threats to agriculture, water resources, and the environment, especially in the Mediterranean climate zone. This region is facing rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall, while the frequency of extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and heavy rainfall, is increasing. The Mediterranean basin holds only 1.2% of the world’s renewable water resources, and it is expected that freshwater resources will decrease by 25–50% by 2050. Turkey is one of the most affected countries, with diminishing water sources and significant losses in agricultural land, creating serious challenges for both water supply and rural development. Rising temperatures have negatively impacted traditional farming practices. For example, the planting dates of winter crops like wheat and barley have shifted, resulting in lower yields due to water stress. Moreover, water shortages have led to reduced soil moisture, making it harder for crops to grow during critical periods. In Turkey, much of the water used in agriculture comes from groundwater, which is rapidly depleting, causing a decline in groundwater levels and increased energy costs for extraction. To overcome these challenges, sustainable soil and water management practices must be implemented. Efficient irrigation techniques, water-saving methods, and solutions to enhance agricultural productivity are crucial to addressing these issues.
... Consequently, through extensive promotion and cultivation efforts within these regions, the large-scale implementation of Phyllostachys praecox shoot cover technology has significantly increased both the yield and economic returns [1,2]. Balanced fertilization techniques sustain soil fertility and optimize yields of Phyllostachys praecox, whereas organic matter mulching increases soil temperature, breaks dormancy periods, regulates emergence timing, promotes premature shoots, and improves economic benefits [26,27]. The short-term management of mulching not only increases the soil temperature and mitigates water evaporation but also suppresses weed proliferation, fosters soil biological activity, improves the physical and chemical conditions of the soil, and increases the organic matter content, thereby enhancing the overall soil quality [28]. ...
... The reason for this is that prolonged mulching results in the soil being exposed to elevated temperatures and humidity, leading to abnormal soil enzyme activity. Furthermore, long-term mulching operations were found to cause soil acidification and a subsequent decrease in soil enzyme activity [26,27,34]. With an increase in the coverage years of the Phyllostachys praecox forest, there was a progressive improvement in the metabolic activity of the soil microorganisms related to C, N, and P; nevertheless, this trend declined over two consecutive years. ...
Phyllostachys praecox is a valuable tree species in karst ecosystems, but improper mulching practices can worsen soil degradation. Understanding soil nutrient limitations is crucial for successful restoration and sustainable development. However, it remains unclear whether and how mulching management of Phyllostachys praecox affects soil enzyme stoichiometry and nutrient limitation in karst areas. Here, we conducted a field experiment in Chongqing karst bamboo forest ecosystems with four mulching treatments: 1-year (T1), 2-years (T2), 1-year and recovery and 1-year (T3), and no mulching (CK). We investigated the activities of the C-acquiring enzyme β-1,4-glucosidase (BG), N-acquiring enzymes L-leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (BNA), as well as P-acquiring enzyme phosphatase activity (AP), to assess the limitations of C, N or P and identify the main factors influencing soil microbial nutrient limitation. Compared with the CK treatment, both the T2 and T3 management treatments significantly increased the SOC, TN, MBC, and MBN. Furthermore, the soil enzyme stoichiometric ratio in the karst bamboo forests deviated from the global ecosystem ratio of 1:1:1. T1 > T3 > CK > T2 presented higher values of C/(C + N) and C/(C + P), with T1 having values that were 1.10 and 1.12 greater than those of T2, respectively. Additionally, there was a significant negative correlation between microbial C and N limitations and total nutrients, but a positive correlation with microbial biomass ratios. In conclusion, changes in mulching management of Phyllostachys praecox affect soil enzyme stoichiometry activities and their ratios by influencing total nutrients and microbial biomass ratios. This study suggests an alternate year cover pattern (mulching in one year and resting in the next) as a scientific management approach for bamboo forests, contributing to a better understanding of nutrient limitation mechanisms in karst bamboo forest ecosystems.
... Moreover, the significance of application of plastic mulch in enhancing crop productivity under saline conditions is also well known as it not only reduced evaporation from soil surface but also reduce mechanical disturbance on soil surface and make favorable soil microclimate by regulating temperature dissemination, maintenance of dampness and supplying CO 2 to the stomata of lower leaves in small plants (Taia et al., 2016). Additionally, plastic mulch aids in regulating soil temperature (Ghosh et al., 2006;Taia et al., 2016), suppressing weed populations (Khamare and Marble, 2023), and preventing nitrate leaching (Amin et al., 2021). ...
Weed management in greenhouse ornamental production is essential for maintaining crop health and quality. This study explores mustard seed meal (MSM) in combination with natural mulches (hazelnut shell mulch [HM] and liquid mulch [LM]) as an integrated weed control strategy in propagation. Three experiments were conducted between 2020 and 2021 in Oregon, USA. In the first experiment, MSM without mulches reduced liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha L.) coverage across all rates, with HM nearly eliminating liverwort. MSM at 125 g·m−2 (3.7 oz·yd−2) and higher led to significant injury to boxwood seedlings, regardless of HM presence. In the second experiment, MSM reduced coverage of northern willowherb (Epilobium ciliatum Raf.) and hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta L.) for 90 days at 225 g·m−2 (6.6 oz·yd−2). MSM effects diminished over time, while HM provided control past 120 days. MSM treatments, particularly when combined with LM, were associated with reduced growth and stress symptoms, including chlorosis and necrosis. The third experiment showed MSM at 1,600 g·m−2 (47 oz·yd−2) and higher killed boxwood, but minimally impacted growth at 400 g·m−2 (11.7 oz·yd−2). While MSM holds potential as a bioherbicide, its use in greenhouse ornamental production requires careful consideration of rate, species, and management practices.
Species used in this study: Chicagoland Green boxwood, Buxus x ‘Glencoe’; Green Velvet boxwood, Buxus x ‘Green Velvet’; Cape Jasmine, Gardenia jasminoides J.Ellis; common liverwort, (Marchantia polymorpha L.); northern willowherb (Epilobium ciliatum Raf.), hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta L.).
Chemicals used in this study: white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seed meal.
