Submit Manuscript

Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2005 | Volume: 8 | Issue: 5 | Page No.: 730-733
Facebook Twitter Digg Reddit Linkedin StumbleUpon E-mail
Research Article

A Novel Irrigation System (Water Pillow) with Mulching Effect for the Control of Weeds in Soybean Plants of Arid and Semi-arid Regions

Bekir Bukun, Sinan Gercek, Erkan Boydak and Murat Dikilitas

ABSTRACT

The mulch effect of a new irrigation system, Water Pillow (WP), on the growth of weeds was investigated. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of this novel system on growth of weeds in soybean. The system evaluated for the weed controlling ability. Also the effectiveness of WP was investigated for the preservation of irrigation water. WP covers most of the furrow surface and prevents soil from entering sunlight. In this study, WP was laid over the soil surface between rows throughout the furrow length and prevented weed germination and the growth. WP in various diameters (28, 34.6 and 40 cm), with various covering area, was placed between the rows in which the effect of mulch was tested. The results showed that the fresh and dry weight of weeds decreased as the diameter of WP increased. The lowest fresh (3.0 g) and dry (1.1 g) weight of weeds were obtained from the treatment of 40 cm diameter of WP. All treatments of WP were found statistically different from the control treatment in respect to biomass accumulation. Also, the 40 cm diameter of WP contributed 11.1% crop yield increment compared to the control treatment. Crop yield obtained from the 34.6 cm diameter of WP was also higher than the control treatment. However, the 28 cm diameter of WP was not much effective when compared to the control treatment in respect to crop yield. The main benefit of this system not only provides weed control but also reduces irrigation and evaporation. With the introduction of this method, the use of herbicides and labor were significantly reduced. Therefore, it would be a useful tool for the Integrated Weed Management.
PDF References Citation

Search

REFERENCES

  1. Bukun, B., 2004. Critical period for weed control in cotton in Turkey. Eur. Weed Res., 44: 404-412.
    Direct Link
  2. Knezevic, S.Z., S.P. Evans and M. Mainz, 2003. Row spacing influences the critical timing of weed removal in soybean (Glycine max). Weed Technol., 17: 666-673.
    Direct Link
  3. Kudsk, P. and J.C. Streibig, 2003. Herbicides a two-edged sword. Weed Res., 43: 90-102.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  4. Hu, W., S. Duan and Q. Sui, 1995. High yield technology for groundnut. Int. Arachis Newslett., 15: 1-22.
  5. Park, K.Y., S.D. Kim, S.H. Lee, H.S. Kim and E.H. Hong, 1996. Differences in dry matter accumulation and leaf area in summer soyabeans as affected by polythene film mulching. RDA J. Agric. Sci., 38: 173-179.
  6. Adams, J.C., 1997. Mulching improves early growth of four oak species in plantation establishment. Southern J. Applied For., 21: 44-46.
    Direct Link
  7. Traux, B. and D. Gagnon, 1993. Effects of straw and black plastic mulching on the initial growth and nutrition of butternut, white ash and bur oak. For. Ecol. Manage., 57: 17-27.
    Direct Link
  8. Tarara, J.M., 2000. Microclimate modification with plastic mulch. HortScience, 35: 169-180.
    Direct Link
  9. Bond, W. and A.C. Grundy, 2001. Non-chemical weed management in organic farming systems. Weed Res., 41: 383-405.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  10. Ossom, E.M., P.F. Pace, R.L. Rhykerd and C.L. Rhykerd, 2001. Effect of mulch on weed infestation, soil temperature, nutrient concentration and tuber yield in Ipomoea batatus (L.) Lam. in Papua New Guinea. Trop. Agric., 78: 144-151.
    Direct Link
  11. Atti, S., R. Bonnell, D. Smith and S. Prasher, 2004. Response of an indeterminate soybean {Glycine max (L.) Merr} to chronic water decit during reproductive development under greenhouse conditions. Can. Water Resour. J., 29: 209-222.
    Direct Link
  12. De Costa, W.A.J.M. and K.N. Shanmugathasan, 2002. Physiology of yield determination of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) under different irrigation regimes of sub-humid zone of Sri Lanka. Field Crop Res., 75: 23-35.
    Direct Link
  13. Gercek, S., 2004. Oofficial Patent Bulletin. Turkish Patent Institute, Ankara, pp: 149.
  14. Gercek, S., 2005. Water pillows. Harran Univ. Agric. Fac. J., 9: 59-61.
  15. SPSS, 2003. Statistical Analysis Program. Version 12.0, SPSS, Chicago, IL., USA.
  16. Shirgure, P.S., R.K. Sonkar, S. Singh and P. Panigrahi, 2003. Effect of different mulches on soil moisture conservation, weed reduction, growth and yield of drip irrigated Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata). Indian J. Agric. Sci., 73: 148-152.
    Direct Link
  17. Conley, S.P., L.K. Binning, C.M. Boerboom and D.E. Stoltenberg, 2003. Parameters for predicting giant foxtail cohort effect on soybean yield loss. Agron. J., 95: 1226-1232.
    Direct Link
  18. Hager, A.G., L.M. Wax, E.W. Stoller and G.A. Bolero, 2002. Common waterhemp (Amaranthus rudis) interference in soybean. Weed Sci., 50: 607-610.
    CrossRefDirect Link

Search

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *