Soil solarization and chicken manure for the control of Orobanche crenata and other weeds in Lebanon

Field studies were conducted in Lebanon to investigate the effect of solari zation periods (0-6 wk) with or without chicken manure on Orobanche crenata seeds at various soil depths (0-10 cm), and on weed management in subseque nt planting of cabbage. Solarization treatments alone killed Orobanche seed s at 0 depth, but had no significant effect on Orobanche seeds below this d epth. Solarization with chicken manure killed Orobanche seeds at all depths . Solarization for 2-6 wk with or without chicken manure significantly redu ced weed growth and infestation in cabbage. Chicken manure, however, signif icantly increased the yield of cabbage. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.