Investigating the management of winter cover crops in weeds control of corn

To investigation the management of winter cover crops on weed control in corn, an experiment was carried out as split-plot in randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Moghan, Iran, during 2016-2017. Cover plants (wheat + crimson clover mixed culture, wheat single culture and rye + wheat mixed culture) were considered as the main factor and their management methods (removing residues from the soil surface and remaining residues on the soil surface as mulch) as the sub-factor together with a control treatment (without cover plants). The results showed that the lowest total dry weight of weeds was obtained from rye + wheat treatment with mulch management. In general, total dry weight of weeds was reduced by 65% under mulch conditions and 35% under removing residues conditions compared to control treatment. The highest grain yield (4 t.ha-1), biological yield (15.1 t.ha-1), number of rows per ear (14 rows) and number of grains per row (26 grains) was obtained from clover + wheat mixed culture in the management of removing residues. The results showed that dry fodder produced by wheat single culture, rye + wheat mixture and wheat + crimson clover mixture was 1960 kg.ha-1, 1933 kg.ha-1 and 1800 kg.ha-1, respectively. In total, the results of this research indicated that the accurate management of cover plants, in addition to more efficient use of resources and livestock nutrition, can be considered as an important component of the sustainable weed management strategy.