<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Organic hydromulches can be an interesting alternative for weed control in perennial crops, but can also reduce soil water evaporation. To examine the effect of a hydromulch layer on soil water content in dry conditions laboratory experiments were conducted at constant 25°C, 40% air RH. Both for small soil containers with a short time course and for larger soil columns (with two sensors at depths of 6 cm and 11 cm) with a longer time course, the presence and also the thickness of hydromulch were significant factors for the temporal evolution of soil water content. Two distinct stages of the evaporation process, the first or initial stage and the last or final stage, were identified, analysed and compared for these experiments. General linear models performed on the soil water content temporal evolutions showed significant differences for the first and last stages at the top and bottom of the soil columns with and without hydromulch. Hydromulch application delayed the evaporation process in comparison with the control. Moreover, the hydromulch layer, which was tested for mechanical resistance to punching, offered enough resistance to prevent its perforation by the sprouts of weed rhizomes.</p></abstract>

Organic hydromulches can be an interesting alternative for weed control in perennial crops, but can also reduce soil water evaporation. To examine the effect of a hydromulch layer on soil water content in dry conditions laboratory experiments were conducted at constant 25°C, 40% air RH. Both for small soil containers with a short time course and for larger soil columns (with two sensors at depths of 6 cm and 11 cm) with a longer time course, the presence and also the thickness of hydromulch were significant factors for the temporal evolution of soil water content. Two distinct stages of the evaporation process, the first or initial stage and the last or final stage, were identified, analysed and compared for these experiments. General linear models performed on the soil water content temporal evolutions showed significant differences for the first and last stages at the top and bottom of the soil columns with and without hydromulch. Hydromulch application delayed the evaporation process in comparison with the control. Moreover, the hydromulch layer, which was tested for mechanical resistance to punching, offered enough resistance to prevent its perforation by the sprouts of weed rhizomes.

The effect of a prototype hydromulch on soil water evaporation under controlled laboratory conditions

Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Biotechnology

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Organic hydromulches can be an interesting alternative for weed control in perennial crops, but can also reduce soil water evaporation. To examine the effect...

The effect of a prototype hydromulch on soil water evaporation under controlled laboratory conditions

Published Online: Oct 20, 2020

Page range: 404 - 410

Received: Dec 16, 2019

Accepted: May 02, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2020-0018

Keywords
Byproducts reuse, Punching resistance, Sandy loam soil, Water conservation, Weeds

© 2020 Antoni M.C. Verdú et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The effect of a prototype hydromulch on soil water evaporation under controlled laboratory conditions

Published Online: Oct 20, 2020

Page range: 404 - 410

Received: Dec 16, 2019

Accepted: May 02, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2020-0018

KeywordsByproducts reuse, Punching resistance, Sandy loam soil, Water conservation, Weeds

© 2020 Antoni M.C. Verdú et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Byproducts reuse, Punching resistance, Sandy loam soil, Water conservation, Weeds