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  • From: "Doreen Howard" <gardendiva@charter.net>
  • To: "gardenwriters-on-gardening" <gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [gwl-g] Mulch Makes a Difference
  • Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 15:15:18 -0500

Vegetable gardeners may find the following of interest.  I did.
 
In the summer of 2003, the Peoria, IL Master Gardener's Plant a Row for the Hungry garden did a controlled study for the USDA on biodegradable mulches and their effect on weeds and yields.  The PAR garden consisted of tomato and pepper transplants and was divided into 4 sections.  Each section was mulched with one of the following:

30# brown paper coated with soy bean oil and a carbon black colorant
40# brown paper coated with soy bean oil and a carbon black colorant
Several layers of newspaper topped with straw
Bare soil

All mulches stopped weeds, but the significant finding was the weight of total tomatoes produced in each section.

30# paper--82 pounds
40# paper--83 pounds
Bare soil--79 pounds
Newspaper/straw--119 pounds

There wasn't much variation in pepper yields among the various mulches.

If interested, I can send you the full study report as an attachment to email.  Contact me directly at gardendiva@charter.net
Doreen Howard




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