The Effect of Chemical and Non-Chemical Weed Management Methods on Chemical and Biological Properties of Soil in Potato Cultivation in Ardabil Province, Iran

Abstract

Abstract. The present study explores the effect of weed management practices on the properties of soil, including microbial biomass carbon (MBC), soil organic carbon (SOC), basal respiration (BR), induced respiration (IR), and microbial quotient (MQ) in potato cultivation at two agricultural research stations of Alarogh and Samian in Ardabil Province, Iran. We carried out a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were as follows: 1) Trifluralin herbicide (TR), 2) Metribuzin herbicide (ME), 3) cultivator practice (CU), 4)wheat straw mulch (WH), 5) canola straw mulch (CA), 6) black plastic mulch (BPL), 7) transparent plastic mulch (TPL), 8) weed infested (WI), and 9) weed free (WF). Soil sampling was conducted at three stages. The first stage included control index sampling (CIS). The treatments employed in this research caused significant differences in the rates of MBC, SOC, BR, IR, and MQ. The highest rate of MBC was observed in WH and CA at the second and the third soil sampling stages, respectively, compared with other experimental treatments. WH and CA increased the rate of MBC in the second and the third sampling stages in comparison with CIS. The highest SOC was observed in WH and CA at the second and the third soil sampling stages. The highest BR at the second sampling stage was related to CA, WH, and BPL; however, the lowest BR at the second soil sampling stage was related to TR. Furthermore, the highest BR rate at the third sampling stage belonged to WH, CA, and ME. Nevertheless, IR had the highest rate in WH and CA and the lowest rate in the CU at the second sampling stage. Hence, we found that applying plant straw mulch treatments to cover the soil surface for weed management, compared to other methods employed in the experiment, had more positive effects on the biological characteristics measured.

Response of non-chemical approaches of weed management in potato (Solanum tuberosum) crop under organic cultivation mode

“…It might be due to light passes through white plastic mulch and its stimulate the germination of weeds but because of the low temperature during the crop growth period it could not prevent weeds germination and the result, may be stimulated weed species and causes of weed germination. This was reported by Azadbakht et al (2017) and Majd et al (2014).…”

The Effect of Chemical and Non-Chemical Control Methods on Weeds in Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) Cultivation in Ardabil Province, Iran

“…However, the least amount of weed biomass was observed in treatments of wheat and canola mulches and it was found that these treatments can reduce weed biomass compared to weed infested treatment by a rate of 83% and 81% decrease, and this reflects the ability of plant residues in suppressing weeds and preventing their growth as well as preventing the spread of weeds and reducing the crop yield (Duppong et al, 2004). Plant residues are not only affect the soil but also can affect the germination, survival, growth and competitive ability of weed and crop plants (Majd et al, 2014;Pawlonka et al, 2015;Azadbakht et al, 2017). Although in current study, the lowest biomass of broadleaf and grass weeds showed a significant difference with the weed infested treatment and broadleaf weeds had more biomass than grass weeds (Fig.…”