The Effects of Legumes as Living Mulches on Weed Control and Plant Traits of Corn (Zea mays L.)
2009
Mohammadi, G.R. (Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran), E-mail: [email protected]
In order to investigate the effects of interseeding leguminous species as living mulches on weed control and plant traits of corn, a field study was carried out at the Agricultural Research Farm, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications. The treatments consisted of six leguminous species (Persian clover, Trifolium resupinatum L.; white clover, T. repens L.; berseem clover, T. alexandrinum L.; hairy vetch, Vicia villosa L.; alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. and black alfalfa, M. lupulina L.) and two controls (weeded and un-weeded for all of the growing season). The results indicated that the interseeded living mulches significantly improved the corn plant traits and reduced the weed dry weight produced as compared with full season weedy condition. All of the corn plant traits were substantially lower for full season weedy condition compared to the other treatments. This condition reduced corn yield 48.2% compared to weed free control. Among the interseeded treatments, the highest corn plant traits and the lowest weed dry weight were obtained from the plots interseeded with hairy vetch. Corn yield was increased 79% and weed dry weight was reduced 80.5% when the plots interseeded with hairy vetch as compared with full season weedy condition. Overall, this study confirmed the beneficial effect of the leguminous species as living mulches to efficient weed control and consequently the improvement of corn plant traits. This method would potentially reduce herbicide application and benefit a sustainable weed management program.
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