Abstract
Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) is a perennial, medicinal and aromatic, cultivated plant species belonging to Lamiaceae family. In this study, survey of 9 organic mulches (straw, chopped pieces of the pine bark, sawdust of acacia, cardboard, dry pine needles, chopped maize sedge, chopped pieces of the acacia bark, herbal composts 1 and 2), 1 biodegradable (black mulch film) and 4 plastic mulch films (silver-brown, perforated black, black, black “agrotextil”) were tested in Mentha x piperita experimental cultivation, located in Serbia. Three different models were used for application of mulches and films in the early spring of 2015. The plots were separated on two parts, one with hand weeding and the other one without weeding. Identical rows with peppermint were used as a double control, with no use of mulches/films; one control was kept free of weeds (C1 - weeds were manually removed), while the second one was kept intact (C2 - no weeds removal). Comparing to control treatment silver-brown polyethylene film (sPE), black agrotextil film (BA) and two organic mulches (sawdust of acacia and pine needles), showed very good effects on peppermint yield and reduction of weed biomass. Therefore, we selected them for further investigation. The aim of this study was to evaluate and select the best application models of organic mulches and mulch films for further investigation which will lead to the achievement of the highest yield of good quality peppermint herbal drug.
Highlights
Peppermint is cultivated plant species belonging to genus Mentha, of the Lamiaceae family [1]
The first harvest yields of the peppermint produced under different mulches were presented in Figures 1a, 2a and 3a, while the second harvest yield was presented in Figures 1b, 2b and 3b
Results of our study show that in efforts to achieve higher peppermint yields, it is always better to combine applicaton of the cardboard or the silver-brown polyethylene film (sPE) mulch with manual weeding around the crop, rather to perform only mulching
Summary
Peppermint is cultivated plant species belonging to genus Mentha, of the Lamiaceae family [1]. Genus Mentha represent part of the wide flora with a large number of genera (240) and over 7200 species [2]. Mentha x piperita is a rhizomatous perennial plant [3], which is, in our agroecological conditions, cultivated mainly as an annual crop. Peppermint stolons use to be planted in the soil, at depth 10-15 cm. They continue to spread during all the vegetation period, so it is very important to choose the appropriate model for setting a kind of mulching material which is not going to damage fresh stolons
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
