Trial of biodegradable mulch materials (Kent 2012)
Mulches are materials applied to the soil surface to control the growth of competitive weeds. The durability, practicality, and weed control efficacy of a range of mulch materials was tested for three years on a fertile ex-arable site planted with ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior (L.)) in southern England. Herbicides controlled weed growth effectively and resulted in the largest height and diameter increments for the lowest material cost. Biodegradable starch membrane mats, compressed wood fibre boards and hemp fibre mats did not control weed growth and did not improve height or stem diameter increment compared to the control. Hardboard and rubber mats both controlled weed growth and also significantly increased height and stem diameter increment. However, hardboard was difficult to handle on-site and rubber mats increased mortality, probably by reducing soil moisture availability. Costs of these treatments were high, partly due to small scale, experimental manufacture. Coir fibre mats with photodegradable membrane backing were durable, highly effective and practical. This was the only commercially available fully degradable material tested that resulted in a good growth response, comparable to that of non-biodegradable black plastic mats, which are often used on sites where herbicide use is not appropriate. On similar ex-agricultural sites, where a non-chemical approach is desirable, 1.2 m x 1.2 m coir mats with a photodegradable membrane are a practical alternative resulting in cost-effective growth benefits, although herbicides remain a cheaper, more effective option. See also: Stokes, V. (2012) Some biodegradable mulch materials provide effective weed control during establishment of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) on farm woodland sites. Quarterly Journal of Forestry, 106 (4): 257-268. Attribution statement:
dataset
protocol: WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link
name:
description: Data download
57ebd6a8-08d0-46c6-9253-547c27854df6
eng
http://www.opengis.net/def/crs/EPSG/0/27700
environment
OpenData
England
Science
Research
Ground preparation
Mulch
mulch
soil moisture
tree
crop protection
publication
2010-01-13
0.382
0.39000000000000007
51.402
51.394
http://data.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/doc/country/england
2007-03-13
2009-11-03
creation
2009-11-01
revision
2016-05-06
notPlanned
Plot size 12 m x 12 m (0.014 ha), 16 trees per plot. All the trees were assessed in each plot. Trees at 2m x 2m spacing, with a 1m buffer zone on the border of each plot (i.e. 2m between each plot, and 6m between nearest trees in neighbouring plots in total). There were 4 replicates of each mulch treatment. The treatments are: 1. Isoplant wood fibre boards (1.2 x 1.2 m) 2. Hardboard/MDF wood fibre boards (1.0 x 1.0 m) 3. Resin-free Coir mat, plant fibre mat (1.0 x 1.0 m) 4. Resin-free Coir mat with photodegradable membrane (Greenfix, 1.2 x 1.2 m) 5. Biodegradable starch-based mat (Mater-Bi, 1.0 x 1.0 m) 6. Standard black plastic mulch mat (1.0 x 1.0 m) 7. Standard black plastic mulch mat (1.2 x 1.2 m) 8. Reusable rubber mat (1.0 x 1.0 m EPDM sheet) 9. Spot weed using herbicides (1.0 x 1.0m) 10. No weeding control Basal Treatments: Site was fenced against browsing mammals. Any established vegetation was killed with a pre plant spray of glyphosate in September, at least 7 days prior to cultivation. The site was sown with Lolium perenne (rye grass) after cultivation in September / October, to establish a grass sward across the experimental area. Planting stock was graded to be of a uniform size (no more than 50mm variation in height, 1mm variation in rcd). Plants were protected by vole guards. Mulches were fixed through grass sward, as per manufacturers recommendations. Assessments: Immediately after planting, and at the end of each year, survival, height and diameter at 5cm above ground level (marked with white paint at time of assessment) of all trees was assessed. To allow comparison between individual trees, assessment took place at the same start point in each plot, and each tree was measured in the same order in each plot for each assessment. A record of any damage caused to the trees by the mulch material was made. At 6 monthly intervals the effectiveness of the mulch material was assessed visually with an estimate of % weed cover penetration of each mulch mat over the plot as a whole. Soil moisture measurement throughout growing season used in situ theta probes buried beneath the mulches before installation.
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2020-03-19