Articles
RESTING TIME OF MOIST SUBSTRATE TO SOLARIZATION AS METHOD FOR WEED CONTROL
Article number
607_33
Pages
221 – 226
Language
English
Abstract
This research focused on the possible utilization of solarization for practical weed control on substrate used for horticultural purposes.
However, the time that substrate should last under moist conditions prior to solarization is one of the factors that has not been determined.
This timing is necessary to initiate the germination process of the weed seeds.
The experiment was conducted in São Paulo State, Brazil, and the treatments were days that the substrate was kept under moist conditions prior to a 24 h solarization in a solar radiation collector (0, 12, 13, 14, 16, and 19 days). During the solarization, the minimum and maximum temperatures reached in the substrate inside the solar radiation collector were 18°C and 74°C, night and day temperatures, respectively.
After that, samples of the substrate from each treatment were placed in plastic pots (10 cm x 12 cm), irrigated periodically, in the greenhouse, and the weed emergence was recorded 20 days later, by counting the mean number of plants per treatment.
Results, analyzed by a non-linear regression model, indicated a negative exponential pattern of the number of weed emergence as a function of the time that the substrate was kept under moist conditions prior to solarization.
However, when the substrate was not subjected to solarization, there was no effect of the time under moist conditions.
In the treatments that the substrate was kept for 14 days or more under moist conditions, prior to solarization, no weed emerged.
Interests in solarization arises because it is a fully integrated pest-control method, based on easily and ecologically sound manipulated physical factors, but its use has some technical constraints.
However, this research has proved viability of utilization in substrate for horticultural production.
However, the time that substrate should last under moist conditions prior to solarization is one of the factors that has not been determined.
This timing is necessary to initiate the germination process of the weed seeds.
The experiment was conducted in São Paulo State, Brazil, and the treatments were days that the substrate was kept under moist conditions prior to a 24 h solarization in a solar radiation collector (0, 12, 13, 14, 16, and 19 days). During the solarization, the minimum and maximum temperatures reached in the substrate inside the solar radiation collector were 18°C and 74°C, night and day temperatures, respectively.
After that, samples of the substrate from each treatment were placed in plastic pots (10 cm x 12 cm), irrigated periodically, in the greenhouse, and the weed emergence was recorded 20 days later, by counting the mean number of plants per treatment.
Results, analyzed by a non-linear regression model, indicated a negative exponential pattern of the number of weed emergence as a function of the time that the substrate was kept under moist conditions prior to solarization.
However, when the substrate was not subjected to solarization, there was no effect of the time under moist conditions.
In the treatments that the substrate was kept for 14 days or more under moist conditions, prior to solarization, no weed emerged.
Interests in solarization arises because it is a fully integrated pest-control method, based on easily and ecologically sound manipulated physical factors, but its use has some technical constraints.
However, this research has proved viability of utilization in substrate for horticultural production.
Authors
S.C. Sales Beuno, A. de Holanda Maia, S.F. Blat, P.J. Christoffoleti
Keywords
solar radiation collector, plastic mulch
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