Introduction

Soil degradation and climate change are highlighting the need for sustainable weed management practices that reduce the use of synthetic herbicides and subsequent environmental pollution. Using MSW compost derived from organic waste could represent an interesting opportunity, especially within a circular economy perspective. It is well known that MSW compost contains chemical molecules that inhibit seed germination. This antigerminative property suggests potential applications for weed control in perennial crops. The goal of this work is to develop a method to evaluate the antigerminative effect of MSW compost through germination tests under controlled conditions and to hypothesize possible applications in viticulture.

Methods

During the fall of 2023, seeds of two wild species were collected: chicory (Cichorium intybus) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). Also, other two commercial species were used in this test: urye (Secale cereale), and fava bean (Vicia minor). To assess the antigerminative effect of MSW compost, five treatments with varying compost extract concentrations were applied: 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, and 100%. For each treatment, three replicates consisting of 10 seeds each were used. The tests were conducted under controlled growth conditions to ensure consistency and reliability of the results. To evaluate the antigerminative effect of the MSW compost, the average number of germinated seeds was measured and analyzed.

Results

The MSW compost demonstrated antigerminative effects on the small-seeded species (wild fennel, chicory, and rye), which were correlated with the concentration of the MSW compost extract. Generally, significant effects were observed starting at the 30% concentration level. In contrast, the germination of fava bean, which is used as an artificial cover crop, was not inhibited. This lack of inhibition is likely due to the large size of the seeds.

Conclusions

Soil is a fundamental component of the vineyard system, and its management requires attention and awareness. Proper weed management helps preserve soil fertility by reducing competition for limited resources (water and nutrients) in the Mediterranean environment.