Assessing the Efficacy of Living and Dead Cover Crop Mixtures for Weed Suppression in Sweet Corn

Modern vegetable production systems are often characterized by monoculture fields and the intensive use of tillage and/or synthetic agrochemicals for managing weeds. A growing public interest in more sustainable and eco-friendly production practices has resulted in increased demand for crops to be produced with lower inputs. Field studies were conducted over three field seasons to investigate the use of conservation tillage in concert with an interplanted living mulch and/or cover crop residue for managing weeds in sweet corn as compared with the standard practice of using conventional tillage and pre-emergence residual herbicides. Whole plot treatments included: (1) conventional till, (2) no-till with cover crop residue, (3) living mulch + cover crop residue, and (4) living mulch + winter killed residue. The split-plot factor consisted of herbicide treatments: (1) at-planting application of residual herbicides or (2) no herbicide. The cover crop systems suppressed weeds as well as the standard practice throughout the cropping cycle in all three years. In addition, there was no significant improvement in weed suppression with the application of herbicides within the cover crop treatments. Crop development and yield were similar among treatments in year 2. However, reduced yields were encountered in all cover crop treatments during year 3 relative to the conventional tillage treatment.

Automated summary

Modern vegetable production often uses monoculture fields, intensive tillage, and synthetic agrochemicals to manage weeds. However, there is a growing interest in sustainable practices with lower inputs. This study investigated the use of conservation tillage with interplanted living mulch or cover crop residue as an alternative weed management strategy for sweet corn. The results showed that the cover crop systems effectively suppressed weeds throughout the cropping cycle, and there was no significant improvement with the application of herbicides. However, reduced yields were observed in the cover crop treatments compared to conventional tillage in the third year.