Productivity of some crops under soil solarization conditions in the north western coast

Abstract EN

Four field experiments were conducted at Desert Research Center farm at Maruyt, north western coastal region during summer and winter seasons of 2002, 2003 and 2004, to study the effect of sheet color clear and yellow), sheet thickness (150 and 300 ?m) and solarization period (0, 4, 6 and 8 weeks) starting on 27th June on broad bean (Vicia faba L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) growth, productivity and associated weeds as well. Results indicated that soil solarization using clear polyethylene films in 300 μm thicknesses for 8 weeks incubation period induced significant increase in soil temperature compared with the unsalaried treatment.

Soil temperature under the polyethylene sheet showed greater increase at 5 cm than it was at 10 cm depth.

Broad bean and maize associated weeds illustrated highly significant growth reduction as a result of the former conditions.

Meanwhile, growth characters yield and components of broad bean and maize represented significant increase resulted from soil solarization using clear polyethylene sheet in 300 μm thicknesses for 8 weeks period. Solarization treatments affected all the recorded fifteen weed types in different degrees.

Annual weeds seem to be mostly affected as a result of solarization treatments.