This study was carried out to elucidate the effect of mulching materials on the growth of Chinese chive (Allium tuberusum Rottler) and weed control. Chinese chive was grown under five mulching materials, pine leaf, oak leaf, rice straw, rice hull and sawdust, at the Experimental Farm of Chungbuk National University from June 20, 2009 to September 30, 2009. Amaranthus mangostunus, Digitaria sanguinalis, Portuclaca. oleracea, Echinochioa crus-galli var. frumetacea and Setaria viridis were dominant weeds. Both pine and oak leaves were significantly effective mulching materials in terms of weed control indices in both nursery and field. Soil moisture contents were 1.2~3.7% higher in mulching, especially in oak leaf mulching. Mulching with pine leaf significantly increased plant height, sheath length, leaf length, bulb-, root- and leaf-weights and yield of Chinese chive, but there were no significant differences among the other mulching materials although better than those in non-mulching.

• Jin-Han Kim