Using Mulches or Mulching on Orchard Rows
Description of the technique
Information initially from the Guide for the design of fruit production systems economical in phytosanitary products (2014) / Technical sheet n°7 - For more information see link
Principle
Technique consisting of placing materials forming a screen at the planting row level, in order to limit the development of weed flora. The materials that can be used are diverse: woven fabric (plastic material, agro-textiles, plant felts), plastic sheet, plant mulches (ramial chipped wood (RCW), wood chips, pine bark, mowing mulch…). This technique is an alternative to chemical weeding of the row (with glyphosate for example).
Details on the technique
The laying of woven fabrics or plastic sheets is done using a unroller and a tractor before planting, unless the device is planned in two half-bands.
For this type of mulching, it is important to weed on the edge to extend their durability and to remove them before they are too degraded or buried under the grass. Otherwise, removal will be difficult.
The implementation of plant mulches can be done before or after planting with a side forage harvester or a manure spreader. In the case of plant mulches, it is important to have a sufficient spread thickness (10 to 20 cm) and to renew it depending on the granulometry and the thickness of the cover.
Implementation period
On established crop
Spatial scale of implementation
Plot
Application of the technique to...
All crops: Easily generalizable. The technique can be applied to all fruit species. However, in cider orchards, since the harvest is done on the ground, mulching should be avoided from the 3rd leaf onwards due to the risk of mulch degradation and mulch residues in the harvest.
All soil types: Easily generalizable.
All climatic contexts: Easily generalizable.
Regulations
There is an Afnor standard for biodegradable mulches. Plastic mulches follow the general waste regulations for their recycling.
The use of biodegradable mats placed on the ground around young plants in perennial crops, to facilitate weeding on the row, is the subject of a CEPP sheet (action n°53 : Facilitate mechanical weeding on the row using mats protecting the base of young plants).
Effects on the sustainability of the cropping system
"Environmental" criteria
Effect on air quality: Increasing. Phytosanitary emissions: DECREASE
Effect on water quality: Increasing. Pesticides: DECREASE.
Absence or strong limitation of herbicides whether with plant mulch, plastic sheet or woven fabric.
Effect on fossil resource consumption: Variable. Fossil energy consumption: VARIABLE
- The use of RCW allows a low energy cost except if the supply source is far away.
- Plastic mulches can pose problems regarding residues on the plot, as well as collection and recycling depending on their biodegradability.
"Agronomic" criteria
Productivity: Increasing. The use of mulches on the row avoids phytotoxicity problems induced by chemical herbicides on young orchards. This technique also promotes an increase in soil temperature at the end of winter.
Compared to mechanical weeding, this technique allows achieving an equivalent yield. However, a gain in vigor and an improvement in growth dynamics are observed with the use of mulches.
Soil fertility: Variable. The installation of mulches on the row makes incorporation of inputs difficult.
Compared to mechanical weeding, plant mulches promote an increase in organic matter content, soil life and allow an improvement in soil structure.
The use of RCW can cause nitrogen nitrogen immobilization for 1 to 2 years. However, compared to mechanical weeding, N availability is more regular after RCW decomposition.
Water stress: Decreasing. The use of mulches on the row limits root asphyxiation due to temporary excess water in the plot.
Compared to mechanical weeding, better maintenance of soil water status (higher hygrometry in spring) is observed.
The use of woven fabrics promotes water penetration thus limiting evaporation.
Functional Biodiversity: Variable depending on the type of mulch used. Compared to mechanical weeding, an increase in abundance and diversity of mesofauna is observed with the use of plant mulches.
Plastic sheets, on the other hand, promote the development of ground beetles but are unfavorable to earthworms.
"Economic" criteria
Operating costs: Variable. Woven fabric costs 0.3 to 0.4 € / m² or about 1500 € / ha (2014 prices). However, the cost is amortized thanks to the long lifespan of this material (over 10 years if the grass cover on the edges is well maintained).
Plastic sheet is less expensive than woven fabric and plant mulch (about 0.20 € / m²) but durability is lower (2 to 4 years maximum).
Mechanization costs: Variable. The use of plant mulches requires adapted spreading equipment and the cost of inputs is significant.
"Social" criteria
Working time: Variable. The use of plant mulches requires additional time to carry out fertilization interventions with organic mulch to provide nitrogen as a supplement.
A drip irrigation system under fabric or sheet protected from animals (squirrels, wild boars...) helps limit intervention time to repair damaged pipes.
For more information
- Alternatives to chemical weeding of fruit trees. Guide to reasoned and organic protection in Languedoc-Roussillon, Technical sheets.
- -Regional Chamber of Agriculture Languedoc-Roussillon SudArbo collection, Technical brochure, 2013 Available at see link
- Alternatives to soil tillage on the row and soil management in arboriculture
- -Garcin A., Bussi C., Corroyer N., Dupont N., Ondet S.-J., Parveaud C.-E. Alter Agri, Technical brochure, 2012 Soil management in organic farming dossier. Alter Agri, 116, 20. Available at: see link
- CTO Olive productions in Organic Farming
- -Afidol 2012 Afidol guides collection, 52-58.
- Integrated fruit production guide 2014
- -Regional Chamber of Agriculture Paca, La Pugère Station. Technical brochure, 2014 Objectifs Info Arbo, 30-32
- Mulching in fruit arboriculture: applications and limits
- -Rapp Raphaël Tech Innov, Technical brochure, 2015
Tech Innov n°18 March 2015, 5-7 - To access the brochure see link
- SolAB: Limiting soil tillage and evaluating soil fertility in Organic Farming
- -Fourrié L., Peigné J., Védie H., Garcin A., Goma Fortin N. Innovations Agronomiques, Peer-reviewed journal article, 2013 Innovations Agronomiques 30 (2013), 125-138
Keywords
Bioaggressor control method:
Physical control
Mode of action:
Action on the initial stock
Barrier
Type of strategy regarding pesticide use:
Substitution
Annexes
S'applique aux cultures suivantes
Favorise les bioagresseurs suivants
Favorise les auxiliaires
Défavorise les bioagresseurs suivants
Défavorise les auxiliaires
