Weed Control by Subterranean Clover (Trifolium subterraneum) Used as a Living Mulch

Abstract

Subterranean clover as a living mulch was evaluated for weed control and its effect on field corn silage and grain yield in 1986 to 1988. Treatments included combinations of subterranean clover living mulch, rye dead mulch, and no mulch with three superimposed tillage practices (conventional, minimum, and no-tillage). Results indicated that subterranean clover living mulch effectively controlled ivyleaf morningglory. Little control of fall panicum was obtained in 1986; however, living mulch combinations effectively controlled fall panicum in 1987 and 1988. Weed biomass was reduced significantly by all living mulch combinations, but all other combinations resulted in higher weed biomass than living mulch. Corn silage and grain yields from the no-tillage plus living mulch treatment were comparable to or higher than those obtained with the conventional tillage plus no mulch treatment.

Effect of Chinese Milk Vetch (Astragalus sinicusL.) as a Cover Crop on Weed Control, Growth and Yield of Wheat under Different Tillage Systems

“…Although many legumes have been evaluated as cover crops for different main crops, the establishment cover cropmain crop system has not been successful. Enache and Ilnicki (1990) found that corn silage and grain yields under NT with living mulch [living mulch is a cover crop that remains alive for part or all of the cropping season. Species are typically perennial but may be self-seeding annuals (Teasdale, 1996)] treatments were comparable to or higher than those obtained under the conventional tillage without mulch treatment.…”

Ecosystem Services in Biologically Diversified versus Conventional Farming Systems: Benefits, Externalities, and Trade-Offs

“…The intercropped weed suppressor also provides other benefits, such as forage, food, or nitrogen fixation, and examples show that such systems can be economically superior to sole crop systems (e.g., chickpea and wheat intercrop in India (Banik et al 2006), and can provide equivalent yields to conventional monoculture with herbicide (e.g., Enache and Ilnicki 1990). Weed suppression was more variable when intercrops were composed of two or more main crops, rather than composed of a main crop and a smother crop.…”

Living Mulch as a Tool to Control Weeds in Agroecosystems: A Review

“…However, if these were used after desiccation with glyphosate, only wheat and crimson clover were inhibitory. Likewise, subterranean clover cover crops, when used as living mulch under field conditions, can efficiently control weeds such as fall panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorusm Michx) and ivyleaf morning glory without affecting the yield of corn (Enache and Ilnicki 1990;Ilnicki and Enache 1992).…”

“…A living mulch absorbs red light and will reduce the red/far-red ratio sufficiently to inhibit phytochrome-mediated seed germination, whereas cover crop residue has a minimal effect on this ratio (Teasdale and Daughtry 1993). Enache and Ilnicki (1990) reported that weed biomass was reduced 53 to 94 percent by subterranean clover living mulch whereas weed biomass in desiccated rye mulch ranged from an 11 percent decrease to a 76 percent increase compared to a no-mulch control. In another study, a live hairy vetch cover crop was more effective than a desiccated cover crop in suppressing weed emergence during the first four weeks and throughout the season (Teasdale et al 1991).…”