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Investigation on mulching weed control technologies of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)
Summary
This agricultural study evaluates various mulching technologies, including plastic film mulch, for controlling weeds in sweet potato cultivation. Plastic mulch was assessed for its effectiveness in suppressing weed growth, retaining soil moisture, and influencing crop yield. The research contributes to understanding the agronomic trade-offs of plastic mulch use, including potential soil microplastic accumulation from film degradation.
In our experiment, we investigated the weed control efficiency of organic mulches (wheat straw and grass cuttings) and agrotextile. The mulching materials reduced weed coverage and influenced the weed flora. However, their effectiveness significantly declined after approximately 4–6 weeks, necessitating supplementary weeding to prevent substantial yield losses. Agrotextile increased the yield by 43% (likely due to its effect on soil temperature and water management favorable for sweet potatoes), while organic mulches reduced the yield by 16–23%, even with supplementary weeding. In the weedy control, yield decreased by 97.2%. Agrotextile produced a marketable yield of 84.25 t/ha, whereas organic mulches resulted in 40.98–44.54 t/ha. Based on our results, agrotextile is the most recommended option for weed control in sweet potato, considering both the labor time required for weed management and the costs. Since agrotextile can be used for multiple years, its cost is not higher than straw mulch, and its environmental impact is lower compared to disposable plastic mulches.