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Effect of mulching, aqueous extract of Thymus zygis (L.) and Melia azedarach (L.), and intercropping with Coriandrum sativum (L.), on weed management, yield, agronomic and physiological parameters of bell pepper crop (Capsicum annuum L.)

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Abstract

Weeds, considered as a limiting biotic factor, remain a serious problem for farmers despite the evolution of agronomic science. Faced with this problem, the introduction of agroecological practices into the ecosystem can help to meet the challenges posed by current agricultural production systems towards efficient production methods that are more respectful of human health and the environment. The goal of this work is to study the effects of aqueous extracts of Melia azedarach (L.) (T2), Thymus zygis (L.) (T3), wheat straw mulching (T4), and intercropping of bell peppers with Coriandrum sativum (L.) (T5), on weeds management and yield of bell pepper crop, and to investigate qualitative and quantitative chemical compounds of aqueous extract of Thymus zygis (L.) Melia azedarach (L.), tested in the laboratory and in the field to understand their herbicidal properties and potential applications. The experiment was carried out at the Agroecology and Environment platform of the National School of Agriculture in Meknes, Morocco, in 2020–2021. Five treatments were tested in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Results showed that all treatments had a significant effect on weed density and biomass, yield, agronomic and physiological parameters of the bell pepper crop compared with the control. In addition, the efficacy of aqueous extracts of Thymus zygis (L.) and Melia azedarach (L.) in the field and laboratory on the germination of two weeds, was evaluated: Glebionis coronaria (L.) and Amaranthus blitum (L.). The intercropping system treatment showed the highest yield and yield component followed by mulching. The obtained results demonstrate that agroecological practices exert a noteworthy impact on the measured parameters, resulting in a substantial increase in yields without the incorporation of any chemical inputs. Specifically, the yields for T2, T3, and T4 exhibit an increase of over 50%, while T5 demonstrates a remarkable increase of more than 60% compared to the control.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the staff of the National School of Agriculture in Meknes, Morocco, for their assistance during field and laboratory trials. As well as the Department of Soil Sciences (FERTICONSEIL laboratory), Meknes (Morocco) for carrying out soil analysis, and the Regional Center of Interface (CURI), University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Fez (Morocco) for providing the GC-MS analysis. We would also like to thank Dr. Abdellatif Boutagayout for his help during the field trial set-up and Dr. Haitam Lahmamsi for his help in harvesting. The first author extends gratitude to the CNRST (Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique) for a study grant, which played a crucial role in supporting and facilitating this research endeavor.

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  1. Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Department of Biology, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Route d’Imouzzer, Po. Box 2202, Fez, Morocco

    Wijdane Rhioui, Jamila Al Figuigui, Karima Mikou & Asmae Benabderrahmane

  2. Department of Plant and Environment Protection, Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknes, BP/S 40, Meknes, 50001, Morocco

    Wijdane Rhioui, Asmae Benabderrahmane & Saadia Belmalha

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  1. Wijdane Rhioui
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  2. Jamila Al Figuigui
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Contributions

Wijdane Rhioui: Conducted field and laboratory experiments, conceptualization, methodology, software, validation, data curation,and analyses, writing—original draft, reviewing, visualization, editing, improving and approved the manuscript. Asmae Benabderrahmane; realisation of GC/MS analyses. Jamila Al Figuigui, Karima Mikou, and Saadia Belmalha; supervision, reviewed, editied, improved, and approved the manuscript.

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Rhioui, W., Al Figuigui, J., Mikou, K. et al. Effect of mulching, aqueous extract of Thymus zygis (L.) and Melia azedarach (L.), and intercropping with Coriandrum sativum (L.), on weed management, yield, agronomic and physiological parameters of bell pepper crop (Capsicum annuum L.). Vegetos (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-024-00814-6

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