The establishment of living mulches in organic orchards could potentially improve the orchard biodiversity and, when specific plant species are selected, provide additional eco-services and functions, including adequate weed management. This study was conducted in an organically managed apple orchard in Skierniewice (Poland) to assess the effect of two selected living mulching species: Alchemilla vulgaris and Mentha piperita. They were assessed on weed control, weed biodiversity, tree nutritional status, root dry weight density (RDWD), and other root morphological traits compared to a natural soil cover (control). Overall, both living mulches produced 42.5% more dry biomass, increased weed species number (+29%), and increased soil coverage (+33%) compared to control mowed plots. The apple leaf chlorophyll index and nutrient content were higher in the presence of both living mulches than in the control. In addition, apple trees had 30–46% higher root dry weight densities, even though other root morphological traits were not affected by the treatments. The results suggested that the tree row can be managed with living mulches of herbs; these species have the potential to provide an additional income to the farmer, as well as beneficial effects for the orchard biodiversity, without impairing the tree root development and nutrient status.
A trial assessing the suitability of multifunctional living mulch to maintain the soil and reduce weed infestation was carried out in an organic apple orchard in the years of 2019-2020. Perennial plants (Alchemilla vulgaris, Fragaria vesca, Mentha piperita) and annual crops (Tropaeolum majus and Cucurbita maxima) were grown in the in the rows of the apple trees. The weeds number and soil weeds coverage in tree rows were assessed. Regardless of the living mulch species utilized, the soil resulted to be mostly covered by perennial weed species such as: Equisetum arvense and Taraxacum officinale and annual species such as: Lamium purpureum, Stellaria media, Galinsoga parviflora, Capsella bursa-pastoris and Poa annua, which were the most common species also for the natural cover used as control. However, all living mulch species limited weed infestation and M. piperita, F. vesca and T. majus most strongly limited weeds growth. It is concluded that living mulch species can be a feasible practice to manage the soil on the tree rows in organic orchards.
Field experiments were carried out in 2010-2012 at the Research Institute of Horticulture in Skierniewice. The aim of this studies was to determine the response of drilled onion and weeds to herbicides combined with mechanical treatments, in comparison to the usages of herbicides and the impact of weed management methods on the weed infestation and the yield of onion. During the experiments the following herbicides were used: pendimethalin applied after sowing of onion or after emergences in mixture with bromoxynil, glyphosate pre-emergence and bromoxynil and oxyfluorofen post-emergence. Mechanical treatments were conducted at 2-4 and 3-5 leaves stage of onion. Studies shown that weed control depended on herbicides and their rates. Mechanical treatments performed after herbicides application caused strong reduction of infestation and advantageously influenced on the yield of onion. The highest yields were obtained from plots with regular hand weeded and after chemical weed control including the use of pendimethalin after sowing, glyphosate pre-emergence and bromoxynil post-emergence, with the split application method.
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