Investigation of the effect of mulch and windbreak on the growth and weeds control of sorghum under drought stress

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Arid Land and Desert Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Yazd University Yazd Iran

2 Department of Arid Land and Desert Management Faculty of Natural Resources Yazd University Yazd Iran

3 Department of Arid and Desert Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

‎10.22052/deej.2026.258322.1138

Abstract

This research was conducted to investigate effect of using cellulose and plastic mulches and living windbreaks. on reducing the effects of drought stress on sorghum and weed control under field conditions. The experiment was carried out as a factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications during the year 2024. The studied factors included three levels of drought stress (90, 50, and 25% of field capacity), five mulch treatments (control, straw mulch, cardboard mulch, white plastic mulch, and black plastic mulch), and two windbreak treatments (with windbreak and without windbreak). The results showed that the application mulch application, particularly plastic mulch, reduced the number of weeds. White plastic reduced the number of weeds by 99.5%, 96.5%, and 98.68% compared to the control under severe drought stress and without a windbreak at different sampling dates. The use of white and black plastic under severe drought stress and without a windbreak increased sorghum height at five growth stages by 37% to 76% than the no-mulch treatment. White plastic increased the fresh and dry weight of plant by 69% and 72%, respectively, and cardboard mulch increased the fresh and dry weight of the roots by 72.9% and 72%, respectively, compared to the control (no mulch) under severe drought stress and without a windbreak. In general, the application of mulch mitigated the negative effects of drought stress and, while controlling weeds, led to an increase in the height, fresh and dry weight of the aerial parts, and the roots of sorghum

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