Plastic mulch increased minimum temperature of soil, accelerated plant height,early growth, early yield, and bring satisfactory weed control without anyapplication of herbicides. This experiment was laid out on three-factorialRandomized Complete Block Design with three replications during 2008-2010 atthe National Rice Research Institute, Rasht, Iran using three kinds of mulches(Transparent and ...

The lack of cover is one the main accelerators soil degradation. Without protection and exposed to rainfall, breaks particles, causing surface sealing, making infiltration difficult. This study characterizes sealing hydraulic erosion in Ultisols Alto Ipanema Basin. Eight plots were established under treatments: bare with Brachiaria decumbens mulch. Three rain events simulated at 24-hour interva...

Halosulfuron is a proposed alternative to methyl bromide for managing nutsedges (Cyperus spp.) in several vegetable crops, including cucurbits. Field studies were conducted to evaluate the crop sensitivity to halosulfuron in a spring squash (Cucurbita pepo L.)—fall cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) rotation from 2000 to 2002. Treatments included application of halosulfuron to the soil surface after...

There is a continual drive to conserve water and improve irrigation efficiency in agriculture, especially in regions where water resources are limited and regulated. Mulching is one cultural practice which can be used to reduce water needs. Using certain agricultural byproducts as mulch is a sustainable practice which can provide other benefits as well such as improving soil. Wheat straw, grass...

Despite being one of the most pro®table crops for the southeastern USA, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is considered to create a greater soil erosion hazard than other annual crops such as corn (Zea mays L.) and soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Reduced tillage systems and cover cropping can reduce soil erosion and leaching of nutrients into ground water. The objectives of this study, which wa...

Post-fire hillslope stabilization treatments aim to reduce runoff-erosion risks following forest fires by counteracting the impact of fire on key soil and hillslope properties. Here we evaluate the effectiveness of wood shred mulch, long-leaved pine needle mulch, and polyacrylamide (PAM) in reducing post-fire runoff and erosion in two volcanic soil types of contrasting wettability using rainfal...

Temporary skid trail stream crossings have repeatedly been identified as having considerable potential to introduce sediment to streams. Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) have proven to be effective for controlling erosion and subsequent sedimentation, yet few studies have quantified sedimentation associated with various levels of BMPs for skidder stream crossings. Three skid trail stre...

The most usual type of petroleum mulch, which has been successfully used to combat desertification in large areain Iran for more than thirty years, is produced by heavy residue petroleum cuts. The petroleum mulch consists of awide range of different heavy hydrocarbons such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are present atlow level in petroleum mulch, where there is contact with wa...