Mulching Effects on Erosion of Soil Beds and on Yield of Autumn and Spring Planted Vegetables

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Abstract
Weather conditions in the spring may interfere with commercial vegetable planting. Autumn mulching of beds in preparation for planting may improve vegetable yields. This study was conducted to determine if application of synthetic or organic mulches to autumn-prepared beds affected bed erosion and yield of autumn and/or spring-planted crops. Autumn-prepared beds were left bare or mulched with either a synthetic adhesive, chipped kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) with and without adhesive, or black polyethylene mulch. Onion [Allium cepa (L.) Cepa group, cv. Walla Walla Sweet] was seeded in the autumn or transplanted in the spring. Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum var. annuum L., cv. Pip) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. Capitata group, cv. Solid Blue 770) were transplanted in the spring. Only polyethylene mulch in one year prevented erosion. Mulching did not consistently affect soil temperature at planting in both years. Spring weed cover on polyethylene mulch and kenaf beds, with or without adhesive, was ≅17% of bare and adhesive- only-mulched beds. Crop yields on bare beds were comparable to, or better than, other treatments. Weed control was required on all treatments except polyethylene mulch. Autumn bed preparation without mulching, followed by spring herbicide application, appears to be the most efficient method for autumn and/or spring planting of vegetables at this location.