Control of Egyptian Broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca) and Other Weeds by Means of Solar Heating of the Soil by Polyethylene Mulching

Abstract

Mulching the soil with polyethylene sheets before sowing during the hot season, increased the soil temperatures, which resulted in the control of soil-borne pathogens and weeds. This method was tested in a field heavily infested with Egyptian broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca L.). Soil was irrigated and mulched for 36 days during August–September 1977, prior to sowing carrot (Daucus carota L. ‘Nantes Tip Top’) seeds. Mulching increased soil temperatures by 8 to 12 C, up to 56 C in the top 5 cm. In the non-mulched plots the carrot plants became stunted due to heavy parasitization with broomrape and they were completely destroyed by the end of the season. In contrast, broomrape and other weeds were controlled in the mulched plots and the carrot plants grew normally. This effect was less pronounced in the border rows of the mulched plots. Mulching also greatly reduced the infestation of other weeds. Egyptian broomrape was also controlled in two other field experiments with carrots and eggplants (Solanum melongena L. ‘Black oval’). As compared with fumigation, this new method of control is economical, simple, nonhazardous, and does not employ toxic materials.

Assessment of Different Non-Host Crops as Trap Crop for Reducing Orobanche Aegyptiaca Pers. Seed Bank

“…Though many of these crops like Garlic, French bean, Potato, egg plant, carrot, sunflower. faba beans has been described as trap crop for O. aegyptiaca (Foy et al 1989, Sauerborn 1991, Jacobshon et al 1980, but in present study it was unable to reduce its seed bank. (Krishnamurty et al 1977,Foy et al 1989, Sauerborn 1991, hence was tested in the present study.…”

Control of Plant Disease through Soil Solarization

“…The spectrum of controlled weeds includes species of winter and summer annual weeds (Elmore, 1991;Cohen & Rubin, 2007). A parasitic weed of the genus Orobanchae was controlled by solarization, (Jacobsohn et al, 1980;Abdel Rahim et al, 1988). Similar results were obtained in the laboratory with the parasitic weed Striga (Elmore, 1991).…”

Integrated Agronomic Management of Parasitic Weed Seed Banks

“…Solarization can also effectively be used to control broomrape seed banks (Jacobsohn et al 1980;Sauerborn et al 1989;Abu-Irmaileh 1991;Mauromicale et al 2005). It can be applied in regions where the field can be exposed to direct sunlight for a long period.…”