<i>Cyperus rotundus</i>Control by Solarization

Abstract

ABSTRACT Soil solarization by means of polyethylene cover sheets was tested for the control of Cyperus rotundus weed infestation. Following solarization, which lasted for a period of approximately three months, the field was cultivated with carrots and dwarf green beans. Solarization was shown to provide a highly significant reduction of the weed population and to increase carrot yield. As for green beans, soil treatment was less effective and yield was not affected. In the solarized plots no weeding was needed during the vegetable crops cycle whereas the untreated plots required hand weeding within the first month from sowing. Soil solarization significantly reduced ant and earthworm numbers but had no effect on millipede population. Soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) was affected by solarization. However, actinomycete and bacterial populations, including nitrogen- fixing bacteria, showed no obvious pattern related to soil solarization.