Purslane as a living mulch in broccoli production

Many of the characteristics of common purslane that describe this species as a “weed” are also desirable traits for a living mulch. Common purslane was investigated as a living mulch in spring broccoli production in Connecticut and was compared with mechanical and chemical weed control, as well as black plastic mulch. Common purslane seed was broadcast prior to transplanting broccoli in late May 1993 and in early June 1994. Broccoli yields with the purslane living mulch were comparable to yields with conventional methods of weed management and with no reduction in crop quality. Common purslane living mulch was able to effectively compete with weeds in broccoli when between-row areas were kept relatively weed-free by hoeing or hand pulling during the first 2 weeks after broccoli transplanting. High levels of weed control and ground cover occurred when purslane became established between crop rows. Broccoli plants were tolerant of purslane living mulch and weeds up to a critical threshold level without a significant reduction in yield. Purslane living mulch established through periodic mechanical weed management was determined to be the most economical treatment in the study. While including purslane living mulch in a spring broccoli crop production system may be a novel approach to controlling weeds, the strategies involved in this system still rely on basic weed management principles.