Effect of Paper and Wood Chip Mulch on Weed Emergence in a Corn Field

Authors: Michael Kistner, Grace Armah-Agyeman

SUNY Campus: SUNY Cobleskill

Presentation Type: Poster

Location: Old Union Hall

Presentation #: 28

Timeslot: Session D 3:00-4:00 PM

Abstract: Weed suppression is critical in crop production systems because weeds affect both the yield and quality of harvested crops. This study evaluated the effectiveness of paper and wood chip mulch on weed germination and emergence in a cornfield. Soil from a corn field on the SUNY Cobleskill campus was collected and all plants in the soil were removed before placing in three separate trays. One tray was covered with paper mulch, the other with wood chip mulch, and the third had no mulch (control). The trays were kept in the SUNY Cobleskill greenhouse and monitored daily for three weeks. Data was taken on days to weed seedling emergence. At the end of the experiment, the total number of plants and plant types that had emerged in each treatment were recorded. Wood chip mulch was the most effective in suppressing weed emergence, while paper mulch had moderate effectiveness. The control (no mulch) was the least effective in suppressing weed emergence. These findings suggest that wood chip mulch could be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for weed management in sustainable crop production settings.