Weeds used for weed control

GIZA, Egypt, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Organic plant waste has proven to be an effective weed control for citrus trees, Egyptian researchers reported Monday.

Researchers from the National Research Center in Giza, Egypt, studied the effects of plant mulches compared to synthetic mulch and other weed control methods on the quality of mandarin fruit, the American Society for Horticultural Science reported Monday in a news release.

Dr. H.F. Abouziena, the project's lead researcher, said rice straw and cattail weeds create plant waste issued. He said researchers found waste materials such as "rice straw, weeds, aquatic weeds, bark, and composted municipal green waste can provide effective weed control."

Among other findings, researchers reported that covering the soil with two layers of cattail or rice straw mulch resulted in an 85 percent to 98 percent control of weeds.