NON-CHEMICAL WEEDS MANAGEMENT IN TWO MEDITERRANEAN CULINARY HERBS

Weed management is one of the most relevant constraints to the cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, especially when they are cultivated with “organic” methods that, according to EU regulations, do not allow the use of chemicals.
A strong interest is therefore devoted to pointing out “alternative” (agronomical and physical) methods for weed control.
This work reports the results of a trial performed in 2003-04 and 2004-05 in order to evaluate the effects on Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) and Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) of four non-chemical methods for weed control: FS (False seeding), PD (Flaming), MZ (Mechanical weeding), SM (Hand weeding) compared with two untreated controls.
Regarding weeds control, weeding by hand gave the best results, allowing a more thoughtful and precise treatment.
Flaming proved to be a promising method, but a more detailed demonstration of the execution of treatment will probably allow for obtaining a better performance.

I International Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Conference on Culinary Herbs

A. Carrubba, I. Calabrese, V. Ascolillo

coriander, Coriandrum sativum L., fennel, Foeniculum vulgare Mill., weeds, agronomical weeding techniques, physical weeding techniques

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.826.6