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Pumpkin Grown with Leaf Mulch Produces Large Fruit & Builds Soil Quality
J. R. Heckman, Soil Fertility
A. Wyenandt, Vegetable Pathology
The increasing demand for pumpkin grown for wholesale, fresh market, or ornamental use creates a need to design sustainable production practices for this crop. A key to profitable U-pick pumpkin operations is maintaining attractive fields which are weed-free and in conditions suitable for consumers to enter. Autumn leaves collected mulching the soil surface and providing weed control in pumpkin fields. This practice can contribute to sustainable production by conserving soil moisture, preventing soil erosion, and building soil fertility. [read more]