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Oat Cover Crop and No-tillage Can Provide Weed Suppression and Alter Weed Community Dynamics in Sweet Corn
oleh: Emma K. Dawson, George E. Boyhan, Tim Coolong, Nicholas T. Basinger, Ryan McNeill
Format: | Article |
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Diterbitkan: | American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) 2021-10-01 |
Deskripsi
Along with the many known benefits of cover crops, they may be an effective ecological weed management strategy in low-input agriculture. This research aimed to determine the effect of cover crops, combined with reduced-tillage and nitrogen inputs on sweet corn (Zea mays) yield and weed communities. During the 2-year study, the impact of the cover crop on yield varied. Yield within the no-till conventional treatment plots was not significantly different from the conventional treatment [6844 and 7721 lb/acre (P = 0.592)] in year 1 but differed in year 2 (P = 0.003). Weed density and experimental area covered by weeds were not significantly different between conventional and no-till conventional treatments. Multivariate analyses showed associations between specific weed species and management practices. Weeds were greatest in no-till organic treatments, and they had significantly lower yields, suggesting additional weed control beyond cover crops may be necessary for organic vegetable systems under reduced tillage.