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Managing interference in a sweet corn-white clover living mulch system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Albert Fischer  and
Larry Burrill
Albert Fischer
Affiliation:
Former graduate student, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331.
Larry Burrill
Affiliation:
Extension Associate Professor, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331
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Abstract

Living mulches are vegetative covers that can be grown in association with row crops to reduce soil erosion, improve trafficability and suppress weeds. Interference by the living mulch can reduce yields of an associated crop. The interference between a white clover (Trifolium repens L. ‘New Zealand’) living mulch and sweet corn (Zea mays L. ‘Golden Jubilee’) was studied using an established clover sward that was mowed and then sprayed with 1 to 1.5 kg ai/ha of atrazine. Corn was planted at different densities and planting arrangements into a narrow band tilled in the clover. Interference by clover reduced corn yields by 12 to 39%. However, when corn row width was reduced from 0.76 to 0.38 m, competition among corn plants declined; they became more vigorous and clover- suppress ive and reached even higher yields than conventional (no mulch) corn in 0.76 m rows. Similarly, sweet corn planted at a range of densities into a clover mulch killed by atrazine yielded more in equidistant planting than in wide (0.76 m) rows. A near equidistant corn planting arrangement can be a low-input alternative to achieve season-long clover suppression and thus minimize clover's competition with the intercropped corn.

Keywords

systematic designsplanting densityrow widthintercroppingplanting arrangementcompetitionliving mulch
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , June 1993 , pp. 51 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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