EFFECT OF LIVING MULCH AND LINURON ON WEEDS AND YIELD OF CARROT UNDER RIDGE CULTIVATION

A two years' field study was conducted to compare the influence of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), perennial ryegrass + white clover mixture and mowed weeds used as living mulches with the influence of linuron 675 g·ha -1 on weed infestation and yield of carrot (Daucus carota L.) 'Flakkese 2' under ridge cultivation. Living mulches did not affect growth of weeds during first five weeks after carrot sowing and they reduced weed infestation significantly at the end of vegeta- tion period. Living mulches and mowed weeds caused decrease of total and marketable yield of carrot roots and in a less degree also decrease of carrot leaves fresh weight. Share of roots damaged by insects and snails and with disease symptoms in nonmarketable yields harvested on plots covered with living mulches and mowed weeds was smaller and share of bifurcated roots and roots with diameter < 20 mm was bigger than that on plots sprayed with linuron 675 g·ha -1 . Mowed weeds were less useful as a living mulch under