Weed management in organic maize (ZEA Mays l.). Initial evaluations on the use of biodegradable mulching sheets

With the aim of eliminating the use of chemical herbicides for weed control in organicallygrown maize, mechanical operations were tested based on a combination of mulching on the crop row and a mechanical intervention in the inter-row. The efficiency was also evaluated of biodegradable mulching material of organic origin. Crop plant growth and weed cover levels were measured, plus quantitative and qualitative parameters of the crop at harvesting. The initial results obtained, in terms of efficiency in the control of the weed flora, demonstrated the validity of integrated control: mulching on the row – mechanical interventions between rows. As regards an exclusively mechanical operation, the equipment currently available appears to be successful in controlling the weed flora, irrespective of any manual weeding on the row, only if associated with agronomic techniques (stale seedbed preparation, suitable rotations) that can reduce weed potential.