Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T10:44:30.075Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

No-Till Corn Production in a Living Mulch System

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Gerald W. Echtenkamp
Affiliation:
Dep. Agron., Univ. Nebr., Northeast Res. Ext. Cent. Concord, NE 68728
Russell S. Moomaw
Affiliation:
Dep. Agron., Univ. Nebr., Northeast Res. Ext. Cent. Concord, NE 68728

Abstract

Combinations of grass and legume mulches were planted in growing corn during the fall in 1985 and 1986, and the following spring no-till corn was planted into these living mulches. Mulch treatments consisted of a single species or grass plus legume mixtures. Fluazifop-P, 2,4-D, and atrazine were broadcast applied in late April to suppress the mulches and reduce their competition with corn. Chewings fescue and ladino clover competed least with dryland corn. Weed growth associated with chewings fescue and the ladino clover mulches was similar to that in the conventional disk-plant treatment, but corn yields were lower. Hairy vetch mulch was killed by 2,4-D. The winter rye mulch competed with corn and reduced yield.

Type
Research
Copyright
Copyright © 1989 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. Beard, J. B. 1973. Turfgrass: Science and Culture. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ.Google Scholar
2. Elkins, D., Frederking, D., Marashi, R., and McVay, B. 1983. Living mulch for no-till corn and soybeans. J. Soil Water Conserv. 38:431433.Google Scholar
3. Hall, J. K., Hartwig, N. L., and Hoffman, L. D. 1984. Cyanazine losses in runoff from no-tillage corn in “living mulch” and dead mulches vs unmulched conventional tillage. J. Environ. Qual. 13:105110.Google Scholar
4. Harwig, N. L. 1974. Crownvetch makes a good sod for no-till corn. Crops Soils Mag. 27(3):1617.Google Scholar
5. Hartwig, N. L. 1977. Nutsedge control in no-tillage corn with and without a crownvetch cover crop. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 31:2023.Google Scholar
6. Hartwig, N. L., and Hoffman, L. D. 1975. Suppression of perennial legume and grass cover crops for no-tillage corn. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 29:8288.Google Scholar
7. Hughes, B. J., and Sweet, R. D. 1979. Living mulch: a preliminary report on grassy cover crops interplanted with vegetables. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 33:109.Google Scholar
8. Nicholson, A. G., and Wien, H. C. 1983. Screening of turfgrasses and clovers for use as living mulches in sweet corn and cabbage. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 108:10711076.Google Scholar
9. Vrabel, T. E., Minotti, P. L., and Sweet, R. D. 1980. Seeded legumes as living mulches in sweet corn. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 34:171175.Google Scholar
10. Vrabel, T. E., Minotti, P. L., and Sweet, R. D. 1981. Legume sods as living mulches in sweet corn. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 35:158159.Google Scholar