Effect of Different Types of Mulching and Plant Spacing on Weed Control, Canopy Cover and Yield of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam)
Journal Title: Journal of Experimental Agriculture International - Year 2015, Vol 5, Issue 5
Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine the effects of mulching, plant spacing and other control measures on effectiveness of weed control, canopy cover and sweet potato yield. The cultivar Blesbok was planted in a randomized complete block design where seven treatments were replicated four times. Field trials were established at the Agricultural Research Council - Roodeplaat Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute in Pretoria, South Africa during 2006 and 2007. Seven treatments were applied: 1) HW = Hand weeding, 2) NS = Narrow plant spacing (0.5 m between the rows and 15 cm between plants), 3) CO = Organic mulch (compost), 4) PL = Inorganic mulch (black plastic), 5) E*F = Eptam (EPTC; Thiocarbamate) followed by Fusilate (fluazifop-p-butyl), 6) L*F = Afalon (Linuron) followed by Fusilate (fluazifop-p-butyl), and 7) CN = Control (untreated plot). Organic mulch (compost) was omitted in the second trial as it will be beneficial for both weeds and the crop making it difficult to control the weeds. Instead, grass straws (ST) and newspaper (NP) mulches were added. Narrow row spacing, hand weeding, plastic mulch, and newspaper mulch outperformed the other treatments and obtained more than 90% canopy cover by 5 weeks after planting. Effective reductions in weeds were detected with plastic and newspaper mulched plots and was similar to the hand-weeded treatment, followed by narrow spacing. Plots with newspaper mulch and narrow spacing produced marketable yields similar to the hand-weeded treatment. Inorganic mulching and narrow plant spacing were the most effective weed management treatments. Newspaper mulch seems to be a viable option for small holder farmers to control weeds in sweet potato plantings, eliminating the cost of labour to conduct hand weeding. Compost and grass mulch should not be adopted for weed control since these did not control weeds effectively.
Authors and Affiliations
S. M. Laurie, M. N. Maja, H. M. Ngobeni, C. P. Du Plooy
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP353752
- DOI 10.9734/AJEA/2015/12404
- Views 85
- Downloads 0
Influence of Host Plant Resistance and Disease Pressure on Spread of Cassava Brown Streak Disease in Uganda
Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) is a major constraint to cassava production in Uganda. The disease is caused by two ipomovirus species: Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) and Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV)...
Effect of Biosoil Conditioner and NPK 15:15:15 Fertilizers on the Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) in North- Central of Nigeria
Soil degradation and nutrient depletion have become serious threat to agricultural productivity in Nigeria. Substantial improvement in the systems is required to support the ever-increasing rural and urban population. Du...
Garlic (Allium sativum) Powder as an Additive in Broilers (1-28 Days). Phase 1: Growth Performance and Hypocholesterolemic Effects
Garlic cloves were purchased from the local market and made into powdery form by mincing and sun-drying. One hundred and ninety-two day old commercial broilers were randomly allotted to four treatments and four replicate...
Application of Spectroscopy for Nutrient Prediction of Oil Palm
Oil palm crop has been an important source of income to Malaysian economy, thus it is important to ensure the crops obtain optimum nutrient supply to achieve a higher productivity. This study aimed to investigate the abi...
Chronic Problems of Turkish Farmers
Turkish farmers who engage in soil cultivation have to face a number of serious problems, ranging from the loss of agricultural land to the climate change. Moreover, they cannot earn a living from agriculture due to high...