COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT MULCHING METHODS FOR WEED CONTROL IN ORGANIC GREEN BEAN AND TOMATO

Recently, herbicide free weed control methods in Hungary are getting more attention due to environmental and ecological factors. Vegetable production requires good weed management Mulching provides weed control and reduces evaporation. Eight types of mulches were examined for weed control and their effects on green bean and tomato yields. We used weedy, hoed and herbicide treated plots as control during 2000 and 2001. The weather conditions were significantly different in these two years. In extremely arid year 2000, plastic sheet, paper mulch and straw mulch showed the best results in weed control and tomato yield and were significantly different from the yield of herbicide treated and hoed control plots. In humid year 2001, the use of plastic sheet, paper mulch and grass clippings caused the lowest weed cover however highest yield were in paper mulched plots. As for green bean, in 2000, weed control was higher in plastic sheet, paper mulch and straw mulch treated plots but was not significantly different from those in control treatments. At the end of growing season in 2001 high weed cover was observable in every treatment except paper mulched and hoed plots. We found no significant difference between green bean yields of different plots in both of the years. After experiences of the two years under above-mentioned circumstances compost and legume clipping were unsuitable for mulching. Mowed weeds showed negative results too. In these treatments high weed cover and low yield were noticeable in both years.