Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-m42fx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-16T20:52:52.924Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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
Get access

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

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

1.Altieri, M.A., and Liebman, M.. 1986. Insect, weed and plant disease management in multiple cropping systems. In Francis, C.A. (ed). Multiple Cropping Systems. MacMillan Publishing Co., New York, NY. pp. 183–218.Google Scholar
2.Bleasdale, J.K.A. 1967. Systematic designs for spacing experiments. Experimental Agric. 3:73–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Brown, R.H., Beaty, E.R., Ethredge, W.J., and Hayes, D.D.. 1970. Influence of row width and plant population on yield of two varieties of corn (Zea mays L.). Agronomy J. 62:767–770.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Burwell, R.E., Timmons, D.R., and Holt, R.F.. 1975. Nutrient transport in surface runoff as influenced by soil cover and seasonal periods. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 39:523–528.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Chan, S.S., McCreight, R.W., Walstad, J.D., and Spies, T.A.. 1986. Evaluating forest vegetative cover with computerized analysis of fisheye photographs. Forest Sci. 12.Google Scholar
6.Daniel, T.C., Mueller, D.H., Wendt, R.C., and Jackson, G.. 1980. Conservation tillage of corn. Bull. No. A3091. Univ. of Wisconsin—Extension, Madison.Google Scholar
7.Fischer, R.A., and Miles, R.E.. 1973. The role of spatial patterns in the competition between crop plants and weeds. A theoretical analysis. Mathematical Biosciences 18:335–350.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Freyman, S., and Dolman, D.. 1971. A simple systematic design for planting density experiments with set row width. Canadian J. Plant Sci. 51:340–342.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Hargrove, W.L. 1982. Proceedings of the minisymposium on legume cover crops for conservation tillage production systems. Special Pub. No. 19. College of Agric. Experiment Stations, Univ. of Georgia.Google Scholar
10.Harper, L.A., Wilkinson, S.R., and Box, J.E. Jr. 1980. Row-plant spacing and broiler litter effects on intercropping corn in tall fescue. Agronomy J. 72:5–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Hartwig, N.L. 1977. Nutsedge control in no-till corn with and without a crownvetch cover crop. Proc. Northeast Weed Sci. Soc. 31:20–23.Google Scholar
12.Harvard, M.E., Kling, G.F., and Istok, J.D. (eds). 1980. Erosion, sediment and water quality in the high winter-rainfall zone of the northwestern United States. Special Rept. 602. Agric. Exp. Station, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis.Google Scholar
13.Hunt, R. 1982. Plant Growth Curves — the Functional Approach to Plant Growth Analysis. University Park Press, Baltimore, Maryland.Google Scholar
14.Lang, A.L., Pendleton, J.W., and Dungan, G.H.. 1956. Influence of population and nitrogen levels on yield and protein and oil content of nine corn hybrids. Agronomy J. 48:284–289.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15.Mack, H.J. 1972. Effects of population, density, plant arrangement, and fertilizers on yield of sweet corn. J. Amer. Soc. Horticultural Sci. 97:757–760.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.Nelder, J.A. 1962. New kinds of systematic designs for spacing experiments. Biometrics 18(3):283–307.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Peterson, A.E. 1985. Establishing alfalfa in wide-row corn. Plant Food Review 1:16–17, 30–31.Google Scholar
18.Sweet, R.D. 1982. Observations on the uses and effects of cover crops in agriculture. In Miller, J.C. and Bell, S.M. (eds). Workshop Proceedings, Crop Production Using Cover Crops and Sods as Living Mulches. IPPC Doc. 45-A-82. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis. pp. 7–22.Google Scholar
19.Vrabel, T.E. 1983. Effect of suppressed white clover (T. repens L.) on sweet corn (Z. mays L.) yield and nitrogen availability in a living mulch cropping system. PhD. thesis. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, New York.Google Scholar