Strawberry Mulch. Dr. Thaddeus Gourd, Tim Ferrell, Terri Broersma and Stewart Nyholm. Mulch with Pine Needle Mulch and. Farming Conditions

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1 Strawberry Mulch Comparison Study A Comparison of Standard dblack Plastic Mulch with Pine Needle Mulch and Wheat Straw Mulch Under Organic Farming Conditions Dr. Thaddeus Gourd, Tim Ferrell, Terri Broersma and Stewart Nyholm 1

2 Research Parameters Location: Berry Patch Farms, Brighton CO. Plot Size: 12 foot long by 2.5 foot wide strawberry beds containing 24 plants Plastic mulch put down prior to planting 5/14/2014 Planting Date: 5/15/2014 using mechanical transplanter Irrigation: drip tape Pine needle and straw mulches applied on 5/19/ to 20 pounds on pine needles or straw used per plot which amounted to 2 to 3 inch layer on bed Weeds were hand pulled or cut with weed hook or hoe 2

3 Research Parameters Weeds encountered at experiment location: Field bindweed, Canada thistle, dandelion, pigweed, kochia, wild buckwheat, foxtail, common mallow, black nightshade, redroot pig weed, puncture vine and common purslane. 3

4 Drip Tape Installation Prior to Planting and Mulch lhapplication 4

5 Straw and Pine Needle Mulch Placement on 5/29/2014 5

6 Mulch Plots in Place on 5/30/2014 6

7 Plastic, Pine Needles and Wheat Straw Mulches lh on 5/30/2014 / 7

8 Surgically Weeding Mulch Plots on 6/5/2014 / 8

9 Weeding Mulch Plots and Collecting Dt Data 9

10 Mulches Plots on 8/12/

11 Plastic. Pine Needle and Wheat Straw Mulches on 8/12/

12 Plastic, Pine Needle and Wheat Straw Mulches on 8/27/

13 Results of Dt Data Collected From Mulch Plot Study 5/29/2014 to 8/26/

14 Average Number of Strawberry Plants b d per 12 Foot Strawberry Bed Plastic 10 Pine Needles Straw 5 0 5/ /29/2014 6/5/2014 6/ /11/2014 6/ /18/2014 6/ /25/2014 6/ /30/2014 7/8/2014 7/ /16/2014 7/ /23/2014 8/5/2014 8/ /12/2014 8/ /19/2014 8/ /26/2014 Ave 14

15 Discussion June was cooler than normal Both pine needle and wheat straw mulches reduced soil temperature and reduced strawberry plant establishment Black plastic helped increased soil temperature, moisture conservation and plant establishment Black plastic mulch had a significantly higher plant survival (16.7 plants per 12 feet of bed) than with straw mulch (8.2) and numerically more than pine needles (12.5) Both pine needles and wheatstraw did see greater reestablishment of daughter plants compared to the black plastic mulch. 15

16 Average Time in Minutes to Weed 12 b d Foot Strawberry Bed Plastic Pine Needles Straw 6/5/2014 6/ /11/2014 6/ /18/2014 6/ /25/2014 6/ /30/2014 7/8/2014 7/ /16/2014 7/ /23/2014 8/5/2014 8/ /12/2014 8/ /19/2014 8/ /26/2014 Ave 16

17 Discussion Strawberry weeding took place from 5/29/2014 to 8/26/2014 for a total of twelve weeding events The weed population spike on 8/5/2014 was because wet weather delayed weeding for twelve days. Weeding normally occurred on a weekly schedule. Black Plastic mulch plots took significantly less time to weed (2.2 minutes / plot) when compared to Pine Needles (3.2 minutes) and numerically when compared to Straw (2.8 minutes) per 30 square foot plot. To compare hours and cost per acre for each weeding BlackPlastic 26.6hoursand $213 per acreper weeding event* Pine Needles 38.7 hours and $310 per acre per weeding event Wheat Straw 33.9 hours and $271 per acre per weeding event Calculations based on $8 per hour cost for weeding. Service row maintenance was not included the cost estimate. 17

18 Average Number of Ripe Strawberry Fruit per 12 Foot Strawberry Bed Plastic Pine Needles Straw 7/8/2014 7/ /23/2014 8/5/2014 8/ /12/2014 8/ /19/2014 8/ /26/2014 Ave 18

19 Discussion Strawberry fruit yields followed the similar trend with plant populations per plot. Blackplasticmulch plotshadsignificantly significantly more fruit (2.4 strawberries per plot) when compared with straw mulch with 0.21 strawberries and numerically more fruit when compared to pine needle mulch fruit yield of 1.25 strawberries per plot To compare fruit production average of 5 pickings Black Plastic 1742 berries per pickings per acre* Pine Needles 907 berries per pickings per acre Wheat Straw 152 berries per pickings per acre *Calculated by fruit found is 30 sq. ft. plot and ½ acre bed (weeded) ½ acre access row and average number of plants per acre. 19

20 Bottom Line Findings Wheat straw and pine needle mulch required approximately one minute to apply per 12 foot bed (24 hours/a). Wind often moved the organic mulch off the beds until runners and daughter plants anchored it in place Black plastic mulch application took 6 hours/a Black plastic mulch significantly increases plant establishment establish Good weed control prior to planting will reduce weed control costs The greater the plant population, lti the greater the fruit production and less inputs to control weeds Organic mulches reduced plant establishment by reducing soil temperature in late spring compared to black plastic Use high quality organic mulches free of mold and weed seeds 20

21 Food for Thought Using a biodegradable black plastic mulch prior to planting could help increase soil temperature, moisture conservation and plant establishment and reduce weed pressure during the first year The biodegradable plastic mulch should degrade by the fall In the fall, apply organic mulch such as either pine needles or some small grain straw to protect plants in winter Remove some of the organic mulch in spring to warm soil temperature Organic mulch will allow daughter plants to establish which should increase plant populations and help reduce weed competition Runners will possibly help hold organic mulch in place during wind events Increased plant population could increase fruit production 21