Effect of Cover Crops on Weeds Dry Matter and Grain Yield of Wheat cv. Chamran in North Khuzestan in Iran

To study the effect of cover crops on weeds dry matter and grain yield of wheat cv. Chamran، a field experiment was carried out at the Safiabad Agricultural Research Center، Dezful، Iran، in 2009-2010 cropping season. The experimental design was randomized complete block with four replications. Cover crops included، mung bean، clover and fallow that were grown and practiced and returned in soil before wheat was planted. Results showed that the effect of cover crops was significant (P ≤ 0. 01) on weeds dry matter in three stages of wheat; stem elongation، heading and physiological maturity. Cover crops also had significant (P. ≤ 0. 01) effect on spike m-2، grain spike-1 and grain yield of wheat cv. Chamran. Results also indicated that mung bean controlled weeds more effectively and increased spike m-2 (by 148 spike m-2)، grain spike-1 (by 8 grain spike-1) and grain yield (by 1. 341 t ha-1) as compared with fallow treatment. Therefore، cover crops can be considered as an effective agronomic management practice for weeds control and increasing grain yield of wheat cv. Chamran in north Khuzestan.