Integration of Living Mulch and Stale Seedbed for Weed Management in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Application of living mulch and stale seedbed has been proposed for weed management in crop production. Field experiment was carried out at the Research Farm of university of Zanjan in 2013 as split block based on randomized complete block design to assess integration of living mulch and stale seedbed for weed management in maize. The main plot was stale seedbed preparation (6 April, 3 May, and 24 May), and sub plot three different living mulch included Vicia villosa, Trifolium alexandrinum, and Lathyrus sativus. Cover crops were planted in the space between two rows at the recommended densities. Weed free and weed infestation, were also included. The results showed that 100-seed weight, biomass and seed yield of maize significantly affected by the time of stale seedbed preparation. However, this treatment had no effect on traits such as plant height, ear diameter, seed row number per ear and weed biomass. The highest maize grain yield (8.7 t.ha-1) was obtained when seedbed prepared on 6 April. Living mulch had significant effects on maize and weed growth. The highest maize grain yield was obtained in weed free plots. The lower weed biomass was produced when T. alexandrinum was used as a cover crop. The interaction of the stale seed bed and living mulch was not significant. These results suggest that living mulch or stale seedbed alone or in combination could not provide reliable weed control in maize; therefore, these methods should be integrated with other efficient weed control measures.