Abstract
Use of organic mulch materials such as pinebark, pinestraw, or various hardwood chips for weed control is a common practice in residential and commercial landscapes. Mulch can inhibit weed seed germination and growth through light exclusion, acting as physical barrier, reducing available moisture to weed seeds within the mulch layer, and through release of allelochemicals that may inhibit germination or growth of some weed species. Previous and current research on allelopathic chemicals present in mulch have focused on cover crops and their residues with an emphasis on agronomic crops. These materials would not be suitable in a landscape setting due to rapid decomposition, lack of commercial availability, and little aesthetic appeal. Research is needed concerning identification, quantification, extraction, mechanism of release, persistence, selectivity, genetic regulation, and mode of action of potential allelochemicals present in mulch materials used for landscape purposes. More knowledge of these natural chemicals could aid practitioners and homeowners in the selection of mulch and identify potential new mulch materials that could be utilized in these industries. The purpose of this review is to summarize previous research pertaining to allelopathic compounds present in commonly used mulch materials and identify new potential mulch materials that could be utilized in the landscape sector based upon allelopathic properties. Current areas where additional research is needed are also identified.
Highlights
The landscape industry represents a diverse network of service companies contributing over $54 billion in sales in the United States (Hodges et al, 2011)
Potential mechanisms of control that have been under-investigated for landscape mulch are allelopathic compounds
Allelopathy of Landscape Mulch the focus of this review is to synthesize previous research pertaining to allelopathic compounds present in commonly used landscape mulch materials and to discuss and/or identify new potential mulch materials that could be utilized in the landscape sector based upon allelopathic properties
Summary
The landscape industry represents a diverse network of service companies contributing over $54 billion in sales in the United States (Hodges et al, 2011). Weed management in non-turf areas of residential and commercial landscapes is primarily achieved through application of organic mulch materials that serve as both a weed management tool and provide aesthetic value (Marble, 2015) Materials such as pinebark, pinestraw, hardwood chips from various plant species and other, sometimes inorganic mulches (i.e., gravel or stone) are commonly used due to their low cost and/or availability, and consumer preferences (Chalker-Scott, 2007). Residues of corn (Zea mays L.), oats (Avena sativa L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and soils in which these crops are grown contain phytotoxins such as ferulic and p-coumaric acids These compounds provide a weed suppressive effect when these crops are produced in no-till or reduced tillage systems and residues left on the soil surface as mulch (Guenzi and McCalla, 1966). Experiments conducted by Ferguson et al (2003) showed that application of aqueous extracts of brassica (Brassica napus L.), sorghum, and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) on wheat could successfully reduce weed populations
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