Ikufīziyuluzhī-i Giyāhān-i Zirā̒ī (Jul 2017)
Weeds Control by Living Mulch of Maize and Their Effect on Two Potato Cultivars
Abstract
Using live mulches is one of the biologic methods for weed control in potato. This research was conducted as a factorial experiment based on RCBD with four replications at the Research Field of Fereydunshahr of Esfahan during 2015. The treatments consisted of two cultivars: Arinda and Agria and three planting systems of potato: weedy sole cropping, weed-free sole cropping and potato inter cropped with maize. Analysis of variance showed that all traits like plant height, plant dry weight, tuber number per plant and tuber yield, except average weight of tuber, were influenced by variety at five percent level of significance. However, plant height and tuber number per plant were influenced by planting system at the level of one percent and plant dry weight, average weight of tuber and tuber yield at the level of five percent significance. The results also showed that potato intercropped with maize reduced highly weed density. The highest and the lowest penetration light were related to weed-free and maize, respectivey. The highest reduction in potato height was found in maize. This might be due to correlation of height and competitiveness of species, because by increasing plant competition height was increased. The highest plant dry weight of potato (121.79g) was related to weed free condition and following by maize, weedy sole cropping. The highest average tuber weight (65.33 g) and tuber yield (677.44 g) belonged to maize, weed free treatments, and lower values of these traits were founded in weedy sole cropping treatment. Overall, live mulches by reducing density of Amaranth (plants per 38.4 m2) was able to control weeds in potato field. This could be attributed to its effects on shading and/or higher competitivness.
