MUNICIPAL SOLID-WASTE COMPOST SUPPRESSES WEEDS IN VEGETABLE CROP ALLEYS

A mulch of municipal solid waste compost at 224 t.ha-1 was compared wi th glyphosate sprays and a nontreated check for weed control in vegeta ble crop bed alleys during Spring and Summer 1992. In both experiments , there was a significantly lower percentage of weed coverage in the c ompost mulch and herbicide spray plots than in the control plots. Weed control in the compost and herbicide treatments was similar. In the s pring experiment, tractor tire traffic through the alleys reduced weed growth in all plots by 62% and 44% at 16 and 73 days after treatment initiation, respectively. These results suggest that municipal solid w aste compost may have potential as a viable mulch for weed control in vegetable crop alleys. Chemical name used: isopropylamine salt of N-(p hosphonomethyl) glycine (glyphosate).