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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #239316
Title: Cover crop residue and organic mulches provide weed control during limited-input no-till collard production

Author
item MULVANEY, MICHAEL - Auburn University
item Price, Andrew
item WOOD, C. WESLEY - Auburn University

Submitted to: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/17/2010
Publication Date: 3/30/2011
Citation: Mulvaney, M.J., Price, A.J., Wood, C. 2011. Cover crop residue and organic mulches provide weed control during limited-input no-till collard production. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture. 35:312-328.

Interpretive Summary: Limited input producers may adopt no-till if sufficient weed suppression can be achieved. High-biomass producing cover crops used in conjunction with organic mulches may provide sufficient weed control in no-till vegetable production. Our objective was to quantify weed suppression from a summer cover crop and organic mulches under no-till collard production. Forage soybean residue did not suppress weeds, but mulches were generally effective. Weed populations shifted away from broadleaves and sedges, but reasonable grass control was not achieved until three years after conversion to no-till. Grass suppression was greater when mulches were applied after the first year. Collard yield was not affected by any cover crop or mulch treatment.

Technical Abstract: Limited input producers may adopt no-till if sufficient weed suppression can be achieved. High-biomass producing cover crops used in conjunction with organic mulches may provide sufficient weed control in no-till vegetable production. Our objective was to quantify weed suppression from a summer cover crop and organic mulches under no-till collard production. Forage soybean residue did not suppress weeds, but mulches were generally effective. Weed populations shifted away from broadleaves and sedges, but reasonable grass control was not achieved until three years after conversion to no-till. Grass suppression was greater when mulches were applied after the first year. Collard yield was not affected by any cover crop or mulch treatment.