Abstract

LIRA-SALDIVAR, RH et al. Solarization and goat manure on weeds management and melon yield: (with 1figure & 2 tables). Phyton (B. Aires) [online]. 2004, vol.73, pp.205-211. ISSN 1851-5657.

The effect of soil solarization during 30 days and the fertilize with goat manure to the soil at the rate of 0,20 and 40 t ha-1 was studied; the objective of this experiment was to increase soil temperature in order to study its effect on weeds population and on muskmelon yield. Solarization produced maximum soil temperatures of 55°C and 44°C at the depth of 1.5 and 10 cm respectively, which in turn clearly reduced the emergence and growth of weeds in solarized plots. Goat manure only increased soil temperature by 1.5 to 2.5°C, but it had an apparent antagonist effect on weeds density, however, this effect was not clear on solarized plots. Perennial weeds like Cyperus esculentus was affected but not eliminated by solarization. The effect of high soil temperatures on weed control was reflected in higher melon yield of solarized treatments, meanwhile, non-solarized plots yield was significantly reduced, reporting 11.83 t ha-1 compared to almost 30 t h-1 of solarized treatments. Yield of control plots was significantly increased by goat manure. We concluded that soil solarization combined with organic matter could be a sustainable alternative to methyl bromide fumigation or to the use of herbicides for weed control and for increasing melon yield.

Keywords : weeds control; organic amendment; muskmelon; soil temperature.

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