Traditional thermophilic composting is commonly adopted for treatment of organic wastes or for production of organic/natural fertilizers. A related technique, called vermicomposting (using earthworms to breakdown the organic wastes) is also becoming popular. These two techniques have their inherent advantages and disadvantages. The integrated approach suggested in this study borrows pertinent a...

In Florida, 7,100 acres of fresh strawberries (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) were planted in fields during the 2003–04 growing season using polyethylene mulch raised beds and drip irrigation. Florida is the second largest fresh market strawberry-producing state behind California. Because Florida enters the market prior to California during the winter months, Florida strawberry value per pound excee...

Carbon (C) occluded in phytolith (PhytOC) is highly stable at millennium scale and its accumulation in soils can help increase long-term C sequestration. Here, we report that soil PhytOC storage significantly increased with increasing duration under intensive management (mulching and fertilization) in Lei bamboo (Phyllostachys praecox) plantations. The PhytOC storage in 0-40 cm soil layer in ba...

Plastic reflective mulches significantly reduced populations of corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott), adults and the incidence of corn stunt disease caused by Spiroplasma kunkelii (CSS) in late planted sweet corn (Zea mays L.). The reflective mulches were more effective than were either foliar or soil applied insecticides in managing both the leafhopper and the pathogen it transm...

This work evaluates the impact that the application of different mulches exerts on nitrogen (N) metabolism in roots and leaves and on yield of potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum var. Spunta). The parameters analyzed in this experiment were root temperature; nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase activities; concentrations of nitrates, ammonium, amino acids, proteins, and organic N; dry weight of...

11 Organic tree fruit producers often rely on tillage in the tree row to control weeds and disrupt 12 rodent pest habitat. This inexpensive practice can potentially damage the trees’ trunk and roots, 13 thereby reducing yield and fruit quality. In contrast, mulching under the trees to suppress weeds 14 often improves tree performance but at a high initial installation cost, whereas flame weedin...

Field experiments were carried out to study the interactive effects of plastic mulch and tillage method on yield and quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) during 2007 and 2008 growing seasons. Mulch levels in the study were plastic-mulching (PM; black plastic mulch) and no-mulching (NM) and tillage treatments were conventional tillage (CT; moldboard plowing + two passes of disk harrowing)...

Film mulch has gradually been popularized to increase water availability to crops for improving and stabilizing agricultural production in the semiarid areas of Northwest China. To find more sustainable and economic film mulch methods for alleviating drought stress in semiarid region, it is necessary to test optimum planting methods in same cultivation conditions. A field experiment was conduct...