Evaluation of Organic and Inorganic Mulching as an Integrated Weed Management Strategy in Maize Under Rainfed Conditions

Weeds affect crop growth, health and yield by competing for resources, and they serve as refuge for insect pests. Mulches of different materials have been found to control weeds and insect pests. A field study was conducted at the village of Mang, Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, to explore the effect of various mulch materials on weed suppression in maize fields under rain-fed conditions in 2013. Eight mulch materials treatments were used: control (no mulching), wheat straw mulch, dry leaves of eucalyptus, rice straw mulch, grass clippings, living mulch (soybean crop), black plastic mulch and the herbicide Primextra were investigated under a randomized complete block design with four replications. Statistical analysis of data showed maximum reduction in weed density, relative weed density, fresh biomass and dry biomass in all the test species at 25, 50 and 75 days after sowing (DAS) where Primextra and black plastic mulch were used, and this was statistically similar to where rice straw and wheat straw were used. Maximum weed density, relative weed density, fresh and dry biomass of all weed species were recorded where soybean was intercropped with maize and grass clippings were used. Based on these results, it was inferred that the mulch material of eucalyptus and rice straw can effectively be used for controlling weeds in maize fields under rain-fed conditions. RESUMO: As plantas daninhas afetam o crescimento, a saúde e a produtividade das culturas, competindo por recursos e servindo de refúgio para pragas de insetos. Descobriu-se que coberturas do solo com diferentes materiais promovem o controle de plantas daninhas e pragas de insetos. Foi conduzido um estudo de campo no vilarejo de Mang, Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Paquistão, para explorar o efeito de tipos variados de cobertura sobre a supressão de plantas daninhas em sistema de sequeiro, em 2013. Foram investigados, sob delineamento em blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições, oito tratamentos de cobertura do solo: controle (sem cobertura), cobertura de palha de trigo, folhas secas de eucalipto, cobertura de palha de arroz, resíduos de gramíneas, cobertura viva (soja), lona plástica preta e o herbicida Primextra. A análise estatística dos dados revelou redução máxima na densidade de plantas daninhas, na densidade relativa de plantas daninhas, na biomassa fresca e na biomassa seca em todas as espécies testadas aos 25, 50 e 75 dias após a semeadura (DAS) com o uso do Primextra e da cobertura de lo