Living Mulches, Rolled Cover Crops, and Plastic Mulch: Effects on Soil Properties, Weed Suppression, and Yield in Organic Strawberry Systems

Plastic mulch is widely used in organic strawberry production but raises sustainability concerns due to its persistence, disposal challenges, and contribution to microplastic pollution. This study evaluated the potential of high-residue cover crops and living mulches as alternatives to plastic mulch in coastal California. Over two seasons (2022-2024), we compared five mulching treatments: black polyethylene mulch (Plastic); a white clover (<i>Trifolium repens</i>) living mulch (Clover); two roller-crimped sorghum-sudangrass and field pea mixtures (Sorghum 1, Sorghum 2); and a roller-crimped buckwheat-pea mixture (Buckwheat). The objectives were to evaluate the effectiveness of these treatments on (i) soil properties and biological indicators, (ii) weed suppression, and (iii) strawberry yield in organic systems. A schematic timeline was developed to depict cover-crop growth, termination, and strawberry production across both years. Compost (10 t·ha^-1) and fish emulsion (5-1-1 NPK, 4 L·ha^-1 biweekly) were applied to all treatments during fruiting. Sorghum residues produced the highest biomass (up to 23 t·ha^-1) and supported yields comparable to plastic mulch in 2023. Under lower-yield conditions in 2024, sorghum-based treatments outperformed plastic. Soil responses were modest and time-point specific: Sorghum 1 showed higher organic C and organic N pre-harvest in 2023, and both sorghum treatments increased soil organic matter pre-harvest in 2024. Biological indicators such as CO₂-C and microbially active carbon declined seasonally across all treatments, indicating strong temporal control. Weed outcomes diverged by system-Clover suppressed weeds effectively but reduced yield by >50% due to competition, while Buckwheat decomposed rapidly and provided limited late-season suppression. These results demonstrate that rolled high-residue cover crops, particularly sorghum-based systems, can reduce dependence on plastic mulch while maintaining yields and enhancing soil cover. Living mulches and short-lived covers may complement residue systems when managed to minimize competition and extend ground cover.