Comparison of Organic and Inorganic Mulching for Weed Suppression in Wheat under Rain-Fed Conditions of Haripur, Pakistan
Weeds pose a great threat to crop production subsequently distressing the equilibrium of agro-ecological systems globally. Instead of relying on chemical weed control, there is a dire need to explore alternative eco-friendly agricultural practices for weed suppression and sustainable wheat productio...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-06-01
|
Series: | Agronomy |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/6/1131 |
id |
doaj-2f35e22c66ef4de7a98e5bc2068967f1 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-2f35e22c66ef4de7a98e5bc2068967f12021-06-30T23:05:59ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952021-06-01111131113110.3390/agronomy11061131Comparison of Organic and Inorganic Mulching for Weed Suppression in Wheat under Rain-Fed Conditions of Haripur, PakistanSami Ullah Khan0Xiukang Wang1Tariq Mehmood2Sohail Latıf3Saftain Ullah Khan4Sajid Fiaz5Abdul Qayyum6Department of Agronomy, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, PakistanCollege of Life Sciences, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, ChinaDepartment of Agronomy, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, PakistanResearch Farm Crops, Baldmas District Kotli, Agriculture Department (Research Wing), Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Kotli 11100, PakistanSoil and Water Testing Laboratory, Mianwali 42200, PakistanDepartment of Plant Breeding and Genetics, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, PakistanDepartment of Agronomy, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, PakistanWeeds pose a great threat to crop production subsequently distressing the equilibrium of agro-ecological systems globally. Instead of relying on chemical weed control, there is a dire need to explore alternative eco-friendly agricultural practices for weed suppression and sustainable wheat production. Mulching being eco-friendly could potentially serve the purpose towards weed suppression organically. To check the usefulness of mulching, two-year studies were conducted under field conditions in Haripur, Pakistan, during 2014 and 2015 to elucidate the response of various mulching materials for weed control in wheat. Six mulch material treatments were used along with Buctril super (used as check) at the rate of 1.235 L ha<sup>−1</sup> to control the most problematic weed species of wheat in Pakistan. Experiments were designed under randomized complete block design with four repeats. The analysis of data revealed a significant decrease in weed density, relative weed density, fresh and dry plant biomass at 25, 50 and 75 days after sowing (DAS) where Buctril super at 1.235 L ha<sup>−1</sup> and mulch of black plastic were used followed by sugarcane bagasse and dry leaves of mulberry, as compared with control (untreated). Higher density of weed, relative weed density, fresh and dry plant biomass were observed in test weed species of wheat where lentil was applied with wheat and dry leaves of mulberry were incorporated. Net economic benefits in the form of benefit cost ratio (2.55) were higher where grass clippings were applied followed by sugarcane bagasse (2.43), mulberry leaves (2.49), while the lowest net economic benefits (1.72) were obtained when lentil (grown as live mulch crop) with wheat was intercropped. It was concluded from the study that sugarcane bagasse and grass clippings could be a source to control weeds in the wheat with a minimum cost of production at Haripur, Pakistan, and similar agro-climatic environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/6/1131wheatweed suppressioninorganic mulcheconomic benefitsorganic mulch |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Sami Ullah Khan Xiukang Wang Tariq Mehmood Sohail Latıf Saftain Ullah Khan Sajid Fiaz Abdul Qayyum |
spellingShingle |
Sami Ullah Khan Xiukang Wang Tariq Mehmood Sohail Latıf Saftain Ullah Khan Sajid Fiaz Abdul Qayyum Comparison of Organic and Inorganic Mulching for Weed Suppression in Wheat under Rain-Fed Conditions of Haripur, Pakistan Agronomy wheat weed suppression inorganic mulch economic benefits organic mulch |
author_facet |
Sami Ullah Khan Xiukang Wang Tariq Mehmood Sohail Latıf Saftain Ullah Khan Sajid Fiaz Abdul Qayyum |
author_sort |
Sami Ullah Khan |
title |
Comparison of Organic and Inorganic Mulching for Weed Suppression in Wheat under Rain-Fed Conditions of Haripur, Pakistan |
title_short |
Comparison of Organic and Inorganic Mulching for Weed Suppression in Wheat under Rain-Fed Conditions of Haripur, Pakistan |
title_full |
Comparison of Organic and Inorganic Mulching for Weed Suppression in Wheat under Rain-Fed Conditions of Haripur, Pakistan |
title_fullStr |
Comparison of Organic and Inorganic Mulching for Weed Suppression in Wheat under Rain-Fed Conditions of Haripur, Pakistan |
title_full_unstemmed |
Comparison of Organic and Inorganic Mulching for Weed Suppression in Wheat under Rain-Fed Conditions of Haripur, Pakistan |
title_sort |
comparison of organic and inorganic mulching for weed suppression in wheat under rain-fed conditions of haripur, pakistan |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Agronomy |
issn |
2073-4395 |
publishDate |
2021-06-01 |
description |
Weeds pose a great threat to crop production subsequently distressing the equilibrium of agro-ecological systems globally. Instead of relying on chemical weed control, there is a dire need to explore alternative eco-friendly agricultural practices for weed suppression and sustainable wheat production. Mulching being eco-friendly could potentially serve the purpose towards weed suppression organically. To check the usefulness of mulching, two-year studies were conducted under field conditions in Haripur, Pakistan, during 2014 and 2015 to elucidate the response of various mulching materials for weed control in wheat. Six mulch material treatments were used along with Buctril super (used as check) at the rate of 1.235 L ha<sup>−1</sup> to control the most problematic weed species of wheat in Pakistan. Experiments were designed under randomized complete block design with four repeats. The analysis of data revealed a significant decrease in weed density, relative weed density, fresh and dry plant biomass at 25, 50 and 75 days after sowing (DAS) where Buctril super at 1.235 L ha<sup>−1</sup> and mulch of black plastic were used followed by sugarcane bagasse and dry leaves of mulberry, as compared with control (untreated). Higher density of weed, relative weed density, fresh and dry plant biomass were observed in test weed species of wheat where lentil was applied with wheat and dry leaves of mulberry were incorporated. Net economic benefits in the form of benefit cost ratio (2.55) were higher where grass clippings were applied followed by sugarcane bagasse (2.43), mulberry leaves (2.49), while the lowest net economic benefits (1.72) were obtained when lentil (grown as live mulch crop) with wheat was intercropped. It was concluded from the study that sugarcane bagasse and grass clippings could be a source to control weeds in the wheat with a minimum cost of production at Haripur, Pakistan, and similar agro-climatic environment. |
topic |
wheat weed suppression inorganic mulch economic benefits organic mulch |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/6/1131 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT samiullahkhan comparisonoforganicandinorganicmulchingforweedsuppressioninwheatunderrainfedconditionsofharipurpakistan AT xiukangwang comparisonoforganicandinorganicmulchingforweedsuppressioninwheatunderrainfedconditionsofharipurpakistan AT tariqmehmood comparisonoforganicandinorganicmulchingforweedsuppressioninwheatunderrainfedconditionsofharipurpakistan AT sohaillatıf comparisonoforganicandinorganicmulchingforweedsuppressioninwheatunderrainfedconditionsofharipurpakistan AT saftainullahkhan comparisonoforganicandinorganicmulchingforweedsuppressioninwheatunderrainfedconditionsofharipurpakistan AT sajidfiaz comparisonoforganicandinorganicmulchingforweedsuppressioninwheatunderrainfedconditionsofharipurpakistan AT abdulqayyum comparisonoforganicandinorganicmulchingforweedsuppressioninwheatunderrainfedconditionsofharipurpakistan |
_version_ |
1721352207016656896 |