Mulching effect on weed control and faba bean (Viciafaba L. Minor) yield in Meknes region, Morocco

¹ The Environment and Soil Microbiology Unit, Faculty of Sciences-Moulay Ismail University, B.P.11201 Zitoune, Meknes 50000, Morocco.
² Department of Plant and Environment Protection, Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès, Route Haj Kaddour, BP S/40 50000 Meknès, Morocco.

^* Corresponding author: abdellatif.boutagayout@edu.uca.ac.ma

Abstract

In order to protect human health and the environment and to prevent the occurrence of weed ecotypes, global efforts are being made to reduce the world’s high dependency on synthetic herbicides for weed control. In this perspective, a field experiment was conducted during 2018/2019 season at the educational farm of the National School of Agriculture of Meknes (Morocco) to evaluate mulch effect of black plastic, oat straw and sycamore leaves on both faba bean and weed growth at flowering and harvest stage. The experiment was performed according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD) repeated four times. The results showed that the highest weeds infestation was recorded in weedy check (Control). Sycamore leaves, oat straw and black plastic mulches have significantly reduced weeds density and biomass, thus provided efficiency by 84.8, 80.6 and 86.8% respectively. In addition, the oat straw, black plastic, and sycamore leaves have improved faba bean yield by 42, 52.9, and 43% respectively. In conclusion, mulching practice can be a promising alternative of weed management for faba bean crop in Meknes region.