​Effect of Legume and Cereal Mulches on Weed Dynamics and Potato Yield

Abstract

Background: Non-chemical management methods, including cover crops, has an essential role in diminishing weed infestations and reducing the use of herbicides. Methods: To evaluate the suppressive effects of four cover crop options on weed populations, a field experiment was conducted in factorial randomized bock design with three replications at Ardabil Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Station, Ardabil, Iran, in 2016. The treatments consisted of legumes and cereal cover crop as one factor (Control, Rye, Common vetch, Grass pea and Hungarian vetch) and crop management strategies as a second factor [forage use (FU) and land cover use (LCU)]. Result: Grass pea sown as fodder use strategy recorded the highest fresh and dry weight of weeds significantly. The greatest potato yield production was observed in Rye and Hungarian vetch plots, approximately 5000 kg ha-1 in both FU and land LCU strategies. Generally, it seems that Rye and Hungarian vetch could be acceptable options to use in potato production as cover crops.