MULCHING SYSTEMS AND WEED CONTROL IN JAPANESE QUINCE (nica LDL.) PLANTATIONS

In orchards of Japanese quince, weed control is difficult because of the dwarf and spreading habit. of the plant. The dwarf Japanese quince is a poor competitor. Weed control may therefore have a major impact on the profitability of organic cultivation of this crop. T herefore, various methods of weed control were studied and the efficiencies of these methods (fabric, plastic, woven plastic, wood chips, herbicides and weeding by machine or by hand) were compared. Synthetic mulches controlled weeds the best, improved plant growth and yield, and prevented the fruit from getting contaminated by soil. Wood chips resulted in nitrogen deficiency. Herbicides