Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-sxzjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T20:30:05.457Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A mowing strategy to convert red clover to annual crops in organic farming

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 June 2016

Randy L. Anderson
Randy L. Anderson*
Affiliation:
USDA-ARS, Brookings South Dakota, SD 57006, USA
*
*Corresponding author: randy.anderson@ars.usda.gov
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Organic producers are interested in no-till cropping systems. In this study, we found that perennial clover can be converted to corn without tillage. Conversion tactics involved fall mowing in the third year of red clover, followed by between-row mowing of weeds and volunteer red clover in corn grown during the fourth year. Corn yielded 85% of the weed-free control with mowing conversion. In contrast, weed interference in tillage-based conversion and between-row tillage reduced corn yield 53%. Weed emergence was sixfold greater in the tilled conversion. Weeds were present in the corn row with mowing, but recently developed implements could control these weeds and further support a no-till conversion method.

Keywords

cornfall mowingbetween-row mowingno-till
Type
From The Field
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 32 , Special Issue 3: Living Mulch , June 2017 , pp. 273 - 275
Check for updates
Creative Commons
This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States.
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016

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

Anderson, R.L. 2007. Crop sequence and no-till reduce seedling emergence of common sunflower in following years. Weed Technology 21:355–358.Google Scholar
Anderson, R.L. 2010. A rotation design to reduce weed density in organic farming. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 25:189–195.Google Scholar
Anderson, R.L. 2015. Integrating a complex rotation with no-till improves weed management in organic farming. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 35:967–974.Google Scholar
Anderson, R.L. 2016. Converting perennial legumes to organic cropland without tillage. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 31:166–171.Google Scholar
Armengot, L., Berner, A., Blanco-Moreno, J.M., Maader, P., and Xavier Sans, F. 2015. Long-term feasibility of reduced tillage in organic farming. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 35:339–346.Google Scholar
Carr, P.M., Anderson, R.L., Lawley, Y.E., Miller, P.R., and Zwinger, S.F. 2012. Organic zero-till in the northern Great Plains region: Opportunities and obstacles. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 27:2–6.Google Scholar
Donald, W.W. 2007. Control of both winter annual and summer annual weeds in no-till corn with between-row mowing systems. Weed Technology 21:591–601.Google Scholar
Forcella, F. 2012. Air-propelled abrasive grit for postemergence weed control in field corn. Weed Technology 26:161–164.Google Scholar
Haagenson, D.M., Cunningham, S.M., Joern, B.C., and Volenec, J.J. 2003. Autumn defoliation effects on alfalfa winter survival, root physiology, and gene expression. Crop Science 43:1340–1348.Google Scholar
Melander, B., Munier-Jolain, N., Charles, R., Wirth, J., Schwarz, J., van der Weide, R., Bonin, L., Jensen, P.K., and Kudsk, P. 2013. European perspective on the adoption of nonchemical weed management in reduced-tillage systems for arable crops. Weed Technology 27:231–240.Google Scholar
Ominski, P.D. and Entz, M.H. 2001. Eliminating soil disturbance reduces post-alfalfa summer annual weed populations. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 81:881–884.Google Scholar
Van der Weide, R.Y., Bleeker, P.O., Achten, V.T., Lotz, L.A.P., Fogelberg, F., and Melander, B. 2008. Innovation in mechanical weed control in crop rows. Weed Research 48:215–224.Google Scholar