Weed suppression by annual legume cover crops in no-tillage corn

J. W. Fisk, O. B. Hesterman, A. Shrestha, J. J. Kells, R. R. Harwood, J. M. Squire, C. C. Sheaffer

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118 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cover crops often reduce density and biomass of annual weeds in no-till cropping systems. However, cover crops that over-winter also have the potential to reduce crop yield. Currently, there is an interest in annual medics (Medicago spp.) and other annual legumes that winter-kill for use as cover Crops in midwestern grain cropping systems. A 2-yr study was conducted at East Lansing and the Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan, to investigate the influence of annual legume cover crops on weed populations. Two annual medic species [burr medic (M. polymorpha cv. Santiago) and barrel medic (M. truncatula Gaertn. cv. Mogul)], berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L. cv. Bigbee), and medium red dover (Trifolium pratense L.) were no-till seeded as cover crops into winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) stubble in a winter wheat/corn (Zea mays L.) rotation system. Density of winter annual weeds were between 41 and 78% lower following most cover crops when compared with no cover control in 2 out of 4 site years, while dry weight was between 26 and 80% lower in all 4 site years. Impact of cover crops on the density of summer annual weeds was infrequent; however, weed dry weights were reduced by 70% in 1995 following burr medic and barrel medic. Dry weight of perennial weeds before corn planting were 35 to 75% lower following annual legumes compared with the control, while weed density was not affected. This study indicated a potential for annual legumes to reduce weed density and growth in no-till corn grain systems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)319-325
Number of pages7
JournalAgronomy Journal
Volume93
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

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Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

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