Rice Straw Mulch Installation in a Vineyard Improves Weed Control and Modifies Soil Characteristics
After harvesting rice paddy fields, rice straw is a significant problem due to uncontrolled CO<sub>2</sub> emissions when the straw is burned. One solution to this problem is to use this rice by-product for mulching planting lines of fruit trees or vineyards with the purpose of controlli...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/12/3068 |
| _version_ | 1797382307446784000 |
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| author | Diego Gómez de Barreda Inmaculada Bautista Vicente Castell Antonio Lidón |
| author_facet | Diego Gómez de Barreda Inmaculada Bautista Vicente Castell Antonio Lidón |
| author_sort | Diego Gómez de Barreda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | After harvesting rice paddy fields, rice straw is a significant problem due to uncontrolled CO<sub>2</sub> emissions when the straw is burned. One solution to this problem is to use this rice by-product for mulching planting lines of fruit trees or vineyards with the purpose of controlling weeds and improving soil characteristics. A 3-year experiment was conducted at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain) demonstration vineyard, where rice-straw mulch was installed at three rates in 2021, 24.0, 43.1, and 63.1 t ha<sup>−1</sup>, and in 2022, 25.0, 37.5, and 50.0 t ha<sup>−1</sup>. Weeds were mainly controlled with the highest treatment rate (50.0–63.1 t ha<sup>−1</sup>), as the time of the year for mulch installation is decisive for achieving different weed control rates. On average, mulch decreased soil bulk density (5.4%), and increased the soil organic carbon (24.3%) and water-soluble organic carbon (24.3%) compared to bare soil. Soil temperature changes were observed due to the mulch treatment, with soil temperature lower in bare soil than in mulched soil during the cold season, and higher during the warm season. This effect was highly dependent on the mulch application rate. Soil moisture content was also higher under the mulch treatment, showing a mulch-rate response during the four seasons of the year. The changes in the physical and biological soil properties induced a higher soil respiration rate when mulched soil was compared to bare soil. This study concludes that the use of rice straw as a mulch had positive effects on weed control and soil properties, although three factors concerning mulch management were paramount: rate, the timing of installation, and replacement rate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:04:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-63ddbd3753974a64b6f79df995b8cb31 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:04:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-63ddbd3753974a64b6f79df995b8cb312023-12-22T13:46:51ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952023-12-011312306810.3390/agronomy13123068Rice Straw Mulch Installation in a Vineyard Improves Weed Control and Modifies Soil CharacteristicsDiego Gómez de Barreda0Inmaculada Bautista1Vicente Castell2Antonio Lidón3Plant Production Department, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, SpainResearch Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (IIAMA), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, SpainPlant Production Department, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, SpainResearch Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (IIAMA), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, SpainAfter harvesting rice paddy fields, rice straw is a significant problem due to uncontrolled CO<sub>2</sub> emissions when the straw is burned. One solution to this problem is to use this rice by-product for mulching planting lines of fruit trees or vineyards with the purpose of controlling weeds and improving soil characteristics. A 3-year experiment was conducted at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain) demonstration vineyard, where rice-straw mulch was installed at three rates in 2021, 24.0, 43.1, and 63.1 t ha<sup>−1</sup>, and in 2022, 25.0, 37.5, and 50.0 t ha<sup>−1</sup>. Weeds were mainly controlled with the highest treatment rate (50.0–63.1 t ha<sup>−1</sup>), as the time of the year for mulch installation is decisive for achieving different weed control rates. On average, mulch decreased soil bulk density (5.4%), and increased the soil organic carbon (24.3%) and water-soluble organic carbon (24.3%) compared to bare soil. Soil temperature changes were observed due to the mulch treatment, with soil temperature lower in bare soil than in mulched soil during the cold season, and higher during the warm season. This effect was highly dependent on the mulch application rate. Soil moisture content was also higher under the mulch treatment, showing a mulch-rate response during the four seasons of the year. The changes in the physical and biological soil properties induced a higher soil respiration rate when mulched soil was compared to bare soil. This study concludes that the use of rice straw as a mulch had positive effects on weed control and soil properties, although three factors concerning mulch management were paramount: rate, the timing of installation, and replacement rate.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/12/3068soil organic mattersoil moisturesoil temperaturesoil respirationagriculture by-productsweed management |
| spellingShingle | Diego Gómez de Barreda Inmaculada Bautista Vicente Castell Antonio Lidón Rice Straw Mulch Installation in a Vineyard Improves Weed Control and Modifies Soil Characteristics Agronomy soil organic matter soil moisture soil temperature soil respiration agriculture by-products weed management |
| title | Rice Straw Mulch Installation in a Vineyard Improves Weed Control and Modifies Soil Characteristics |
| title_full | Rice Straw Mulch Installation in a Vineyard Improves Weed Control and Modifies Soil Characteristics |
| title_fullStr | Rice Straw Mulch Installation in a Vineyard Improves Weed Control and Modifies Soil Characteristics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rice Straw Mulch Installation in a Vineyard Improves Weed Control and Modifies Soil Characteristics |
| title_short | Rice Straw Mulch Installation in a Vineyard Improves Weed Control and Modifies Soil Characteristics |
| title_sort | rice straw mulch installation in a vineyard improves weed control and modifies soil characteristics |
| topic | soil organic matter soil moisture soil temperature soil respiration agriculture by-products weed management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/12/3068 |
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