The Effect of Cover Crops on Yield and Weeds Control of Patato (Solanum tuberosum L.)
Subject Areas : Journal of Crop EcophysiologySoghra Ghahremani 1 , Ali Ebadi 2 , Ahmad Tobeh 3 , Masoud Hashemi 4 , Mohammad Sedghi 5 , Abdolghayum Gholipuri 6
1 - Ph.D. Student of Plant Ecology, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
2 - Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
3 - Associate Prof., Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
4 - Professor, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Crop Physiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. USA
5 - Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
6 - Associate Prof., Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
Keywords: mixed cropping, Monoculture, Marketable, Organic potato production,
Abstract :
Using an effective management method can reduce weed contamination of main crop plants. To investigate the effect of cover crops on weed control and potato yield an experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at Research Field of University of Mohaghegh Ardabili in autumn of 2017 and spring of 2018. Experimental treatments consisted of oat (Avena sativa L.), white radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and double blend cultivation with 50% seed ratio and control treatment at 2017 (autumn) and subsequent potato planting in 2018 (spring). The results showed that the cover crops had a significant effect on lambsquarter (Chenopodium album L.), Amaranthus retroflexus L. and total weeds biomass in the main crop (potato) but not on other weeds (including Cirsium arvense L.). The highest biomass (466.1 g.m-2) among the cover crops and the lowest winter weeds biomass were related to white radish monoculture. The lowest weed biomass of amaranthus and total weeds biomass were obtained from white radish, and the lowest biomass of lambsquarter was obtained from white radish+oat. White radish was able to control 45.7% of total weed biomasses compared to control treatment. The highest yield and average tuber weight, marketable percentage and the lowest small potato tubers were obtained by white radish. White radish had the highest yield (3.74 kg.m-2), which increased potato yield by 46.3%, as compared to the control treatment. The highest number of potato tubers was obtained from oat as cover crop. Growing white radish along with oats also had the highest percentage of oversize tubers. In general, white radish can be a good choice to be used for winter cover crop before potato planting, either as a intercropping with Poaceae species or as a monoculture.
· Akbari, P., S.J. Herbert, M. Hashemi, A.V. Barker, and O.R. Zandvakili. 2019. Role of cover crops and planting dates for improved weed suppression and nitrogen recovery in notill systems. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 50(14): 1722-1731.
· Banman, D.T. 2001. Competitive suppression of weeds in a leek-celery intercropping system. Ph.D. Thesis. Wageningen Agricultural University. The Netherlands.
· Bezuidenhout, S.R., C.F. Reinhardt, and M.I. Whitwell. 2012. Cover crops of oats, stooling rye and three annual ryegrass cultivars influence maize and Cyperus esculentus growth. Weed Research Journal. 52(2): 153–160.
· Bilalis, D.J., R.J. Froud-Williams, I. Eleftherohorinos, A. Karkanis, and A. Efthimiadou. 2012. Effects of organic and inorganic amendments on weed management in sweet maize. International Journal of Agronomy and Plant Production. 6(3): 291-307.
· Blackshaw, R.E. 2008. Agronomic merits of cereal cover crops in dry bean production systems in western Canada. Crop Protection. 27: 208-214.
· Blanco-Canqui, H., J.D. Holman, A.J. Schlegel, J. Tatarko, and T. Shaver. 2013. Replacing fallow with cover crops in a semiarid soil: Effects on soil properties. Soil Science Society of American Journal. 77: 1026–1034.
· Boyd, N.S., E.B. Brennan, R.F. Smith, and R. Yokota. 2009. Effect of seeding rate and planting arrangement on rye cover crop and weed growth. Agronomy Journal. 101: 47–50.
· Brainard, D.C., R.R. Bellinder, and V. Kumar. 2011. Grass–legume mixtures and soil fertility affect cover crop performance and weed seed production. Weed Technology. 25: 473–479
· Brust, J., W. Claupein, and R. Gerhards. 2014. Growth and weed suppression ability of common and new covercrops in Germany. Crop Protection. 63: 1–8.
· Büchia, L., M. Wendlinga, C. Amosséa, B. Jeangrosa, and R. Charles. 2019. Cover crops to secure weed control strategies in a maize crop with reduced tillage. Field Crops Research. Available online 26 July 2019, Article 107583.
· Chen, H.L., X.H. Tian, X.F. Wang, Y.X. Cao, Y.H. Wu, and Z.H. Wang. 2010. Effects of different cultivation models on soil water, soil temperature and yield during the winter wheat growth in the Weibei Dry Highland. Acta Ecologica Sinca. 30: 2424– 2433.
· Clark, A. 2007. Managing cover crops profitably, 3rd Edition: Beltsville, Maryland: Sustainable Agriculture Network. USDA-SARE. 244 Pages.
· Dean, J.E., and R.R. Weil. 2009. Brassica cover crops for nitrogen retention in the Mid-Atlantic coastal plain. Journal of Environmental Quality. 38: 520-528.
· Delgado, J.A., M.A. Dillon, R.T. Sparks, and S.Y.C. Essah. 2007. A decade of advances in cover crops. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 62: 110–117.
· Essah, S.Y.G., J.A. Delgado, M. Dillon, and R. Sparks. 2012. Cover crops can improve potato tuber yield and quality. Hort Technology. 22(2): 185-190.
· Farooq, M., K. Jabran, Z.A. Cheema, A. Wahid, and K.H.M. Siddique. 2011. The role of allelopathy in agricultural pest management. Pest Management Science. 67: 493–506.
· Ghafari, M., G. Ahmadvand, M.R. Ardakani, N. Keshavarz, and E. Nadali. 2012. Ecological control of weed by cover crops: effect on winter weed and weed stabilized in potato culture. Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research. 10(1): 247-255. (In Persian)
· Ghorbani, R., M.H. Rashed Mohassel, S.A. Hosseini, S.K. Mousavi, and K. Hajmohammadian Ghalibaf. 2009. Sustainable weed management. FerdowsiUniversity of Mashhad Press, Mashhad, Iran. (In Persian)
· Grimmer, O.P., and J.B. Masiunas. 2004. Evaluation of winter-killed cover crops preceding snap pea. Horticulture Technology. 14: 349–355.
· Hamzei, J., M. Seyedi, and M. Babaei. 2016. Competitive ability of lentil (Lens culinaris L.) cultivars to weed interference under rain-fed conditions. Journal of Agroecology. 8(1): 82-94. (In Persian)
· Jabran, K. 2017. Manipulation of allelopathic crops for weed control. Springer Briefs in plant Science, Springer Nature International Publishing, AG, Switzerland. 87pp.
· Jabran, K., G. Mahajan, V. Sardana, and B.S. Chauhan. 2015. Allelopathy for weed control in agricultural systems. Crop Protection. 72: 57–65.
· Jahanzad, E., A.V. Barker, M. Hashemi, A. Sadeghpour, and T. Eaton. 2017. Forage radish and winter pea cover crops outperformed rye in a potato cropping system. Soil Fertility and Crop Nutrition. 109(2): 1–8.
· Kakaeian, A.M., G. Mohammadi, M.E. Ghobadi, and A. Najaphy. 2015. Effects of rye and common vetch cover crops as pure and mixed on soil physicochemical characteristics. Agricultural Science Sustainable Production. 25(2): 47-64. (In Persian).
· Kaluwasha, W., R.J. Kremer, J.D. Mihail, M. Lin, and X. Xiong. 2019. Use of cover crops in organic sweet potato production to improve yield: A case report. Modern Concepts and Developments in Agronomy. 4(5): 483-487.
· Kristensen, H.L., and K. Thorup-Kristensen. 2004. Root growth and nitrate uptake of three different catch crops in deep soil layers. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 68: 529–537.
· Korres, N.E., and J.K. Norsworthy. 2015. Influence of a rye cover crop on the critical period for weed control in cotton. Weed Science. 63: 346–352.
· Kunz, C., D.J. Sturm, D. Varnholt, F. Walker, and R. Gerhards. 2016. Allelopathic effects and weed suppressive ability of cover crops. Plant, Soil and Environment. 62: 60–66.
· Lawley, Y.E., J.R. Teasdale, and R.R. Weil. 2012. The mechanism for weed suppression by a forage radish cover crop. Agronomy Journal. 104: 205–214.
· Lawley, Y.E., R.R. Weil, and J.R. Teasdale. 2011. Forage radish winter cover crops suppress winter annual weeds in fall and before corn planting. Agronomy Journal. 103: 137–144.
· Malik, M.S., J.K. Norsworthy, A.S. Culpepper, M.B. Riley, and W. Bridges. 2008. Use of wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) and rye cover crops for weed suppression in sweet corn. Weed Science. 56: 588–595.
· McDaniel, M., L. Tiemann, and A.S. Grandy. 2014. Does agricultural crop diversity enhance soil microbial biomass and organic matter dynamics? A meta-analysis. Ecological Applications. 24: 560–570.
· Mutegi, J.K., B.M. Petersen, and L.J. Munkholm. 2013. Carbon turnover and sequestration potential of fodder radish cover crop. Soil Use Management. 29:191–198.
· Ngouajio, M., and H. Mennan. 2005. Weed populations and pickling cucumber (Cucumis sativus) yield under summer and winter cover crop systems. Crop Protection. 24: 521–526.
· Nichols, V., N. Verhulst, R. Cox, and B. Govaerts. 2015. Weed dynamics and conservation agriculture principles: A review. Field Crops Research. 183: 56–68.
· O’Reilly, K.A., D.E. Robinson, R.J. Vyn, and L.L. van Eerd. 2011. Weed populations, sweet corn yield, and economics following fall cover crops. Weed Technology. 25(3): 374-384.
· Peachey, R.E., R.D. William, and C. Mallory-Smith. 2004. Effect of no-till or conventional planting and cover crops residues on weed emergence in vegetable row crop. Weed Technology. 18: 1023–1030.
· Potter, T.L., D.D. Bosch, H.H. Joo, B.B. Schaffer, and R.R. Muñoz-Carpena. 2007. Summer cover crops reduce atrazine leaching to shallow groundwater in Southern Florida. Journal of Environmental Quality. 36: 1301-1309.
· Ramos, M.E., E. Ben'tez, P.A. Garcia, and A.B. Robles. 2010. Cover crops under different managements vs. frequent tillage in almond orchards in semiarid conditions: effects on soil quality. Applied Soil Ecology. 44: 6-14.
· Ranjbar, M., B. Samedani, H. Rahimian-Mashhadi, M.R. Jahansoz, and R. Bihamta. 2007. Influence of winter cover crops on weed control and tomato yield. Pajouhsh and Sazandegi. 74: 24-33. (In Persian).
· Reberg-Horton, S.C., J.D. Burton, G. Ma, D.A. Danehower, D.W. Monks, J.P. Murphy, N.N. Ranells, J.D. Williamson, and N.G. Creamer. 2005. Changes over time in the allelochemical content of ten cultivars of rye (Secale cereale L.). Journal of Chemical Ecology. 31(1): 179-93.
· Reddy, K.N. 2001. Effects of cereal and legume cover crop residues on weeds, yield, and net return in soybean (Glycine max). Weed Technology. 15: 660–668.
· Samadani, B., and M. Montazeri. 2009. The use of cover crops in sustainable agriculture. Plant Protection Institute Publications. Iran. 186 pp. (In Persian).
· Smith, A.N., C. Reberg-Horton, G.T. Place, A.D. Meijer, C. Arellano, and J.P. Mueller. 2011. Rolled rye mulch for weed suppression in organic no-tillage soybeans. Weed Science. 59: 224–231.
· Sturm, D.J., G. Peteinatos, and R. Gerhards. 2018. Contribution of allelopathic effects to the overall weed suppression by different cover crops. Weed Research. 58(5): 331-337.
· Tawaha, A. M., and M.A. Turk, 2003. Allelopathic effects of black mustard (Brassica nigra) on germination and growth of wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum). Journal of Agronomy Crop Science. 189: 298–303.
· Teasdale, J.R., and C.L. Mohler. 2000. The quantitative relationship between weed emergence and the physical properties of mulches. Weed Science Journal. 48: 385–92.
· Tillman, G.G., H.H. Schomberg, S.S. Phatak, B.B. Mullinix, S.S. Lachnicht, P.P. Timper, and D.D. Olson. 2004. Influence of cover crops on insect pests and predators in conservation tillage cotton. Journal of Economic Entomology. 97: 1217-1232.
· Turk, M.A., and A.M. Tawaha. 2003. Allelopathic effect of black mustard (Brassica nigra L.) on germination and growth of wild oat (Avena fatua L.). Crop Protection. 22: 673–677.
· Tursun, N., D. Işık, Z. Demir, and K. Jabran. 2018. Use of living, mowed, and soil-incorporated cover crops for weed control in apricot orchards. Agronomy Journal. 8: 150-158.
· Uchino, H., K. Iwama, Y. Jitsuyama, T. Yudate, and S. Nakamura. 2009. Yield losses of soybean and maize by competition with interseeded cover crops and weeds in organic–based cropping systems. Field Crops Research. 113(3, 4): 342-351.
· Weil, R., and A. Kremen. 2007. Thinking across and beyond disciplines to make cover crops pay. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 87: 551-557.
· Weil, R., C. White, and Y. Lawley. 2009. Forage radish: A new multi-purpose cover crop for the Mid-Atlantic. Fact Sheet 824. Maryland Cooperative Extension. College Park. 6pp.
· White, C.M., and R.R. Weil. 2011. Forage radish cover crops increase soil test phosphorus surrounding holes created by radish taproots. Soil Science Society of America Journal.75: 121–130.
Williams, A., M.C. Hunter, M. Kammerer, D.A. Kane, N.R. Jordan, and D.A. Mortensen. 2016. Soil water holding capacity mitigates downside risk and volatility in US rainfed maize: Time to invest in soil organic matter? Plos One. 11: e0160974.
_||_· Akbari, P., S.J. Herbert, M. Hashemi, A.V. Barker, and O.R. Zandvakili. 2019. Role of cover crops and planting dates for improved weed suppression and nitrogen recovery in notill systems. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 50(14): 1722-1731.
· Banman, D.T. 2001. Competitive suppression of weeds in a leek-celery intercropping system. Ph.D. Thesis. Wageningen Agricultural University. The Netherlands.
· Bezuidenhout, S.R., C.F. Reinhardt, and M.I. Whitwell. 2012. Cover crops of oats, stooling rye and three annual ryegrass cultivars influence maize and Cyperus esculentus growth. Weed Research Journal. 52(2): 153–160.
· Bilalis, D.J., R.J. Froud-Williams, I. Eleftherohorinos, A. Karkanis, and A. Efthimiadou. 2012. Effects of organic and inorganic amendments on weed management in sweet maize. International Journal of Agronomy and Plant Production. 6(3): 291-307.
· Blackshaw, R.E. 2008. Agronomic merits of cereal cover crops in dry bean production systems in western Canada. Crop Protection. 27: 208-214.
· Blanco-Canqui, H., J.D. Holman, A.J. Schlegel, J. Tatarko, and T. Shaver. 2013. Replacing fallow with cover crops in a semiarid soil: Effects on soil properties. Soil Science Society of American Journal. 77: 1026–1034.
· Boyd, N.S., E.B. Brennan, R.F. Smith, and R. Yokota. 2009. Effect of seeding rate and planting arrangement on rye cover crop and weed growth. Agronomy Journal. 101: 47–50.
· Brainard, D.C., R.R. Bellinder, and V. Kumar. 2011. Grass–legume mixtures and soil fertility affect cover crop performance and weed seed production. Weed Technology. 25: 473–479
· Brust, J., W. Claupein, and R. Gerhards. 2014. Growth and weed suppression ability of common and new covercrops in Germany. Crop Protection. 63: 1–8.
· Büchia, L., M. Wendlinga, C. Amosséa, B. Jeangrosa, and R. Charles. 2019. Cover crops to secure weed control strategies in a maize crop with reduced tillage. Field Crops Research. Available online 26 July 2019, Article 107583.
· Chen, H.L., X.H. Tian, X.F. Wang, Y.X. Cao, Y.H. Wu, and Z.H. Wang. 2010. Effects of different cultivation models on soil water, soil temperature and yield during the winter wheat growth in the Weibei Dry Highland. Acta Ecologica Sinca. 30: 2424– 2433.
· Clark, A. 2007. Managing cover crops profitably, 3rd Edition: Beltsville, Maryland: Sustainable Agriculture Network. USDA-SARE. 244 Pages.
· Dean, J.E., and R.R. Weil. 2009. Brassica cover crops for nitrogen retention in the Mid-Atlantic coastal plain. Journal of Environmental Quality. 38: 520-528.
· Delgado, J.A., M.A. Dillon, R.T. Sparks, and S.Y.C. Essah. 2007. A decade of advances in cover crops. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 62: 110–117.
· Essah, S.Y.G., J.A. Delgado, M. Dillon, and R. Sparks. 2012. Cover crops can improve potato tuber yield and quality. Hort Technology. 22(2): 185-190.
· Farooq, M., K. Jabran, Z.A. Cheema, A. Wahid, and K.H.M. Siddique. 2011. The role of allelopathy in agricultural pest management. Pest Management Science. 67: 493–506.
· Ghafari, M., G. Ahmadvand, M.R. Ardakani, N. Keshavarz, and E. Nadali. 2012. Ecological control of weed by cover crops: effect on winter weed and weed stabilized in potato culture. Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research. 10(1): 247-255. (In Persian)
· Ghorbani, R., M.H. Rashed Mohassel, S.A. Hosseini, S.K. Mousavi, and K. Hajmohammadian Ghalibaf. 2009. Sustainable weed management. FerdowsiUniversity of Mashhad Press, Mashhad, Iran. (In Persian)
· Grimmer, O.P., and J.B. Masiunas. 2004. Evaluation of winter-killed cover crops preceding snap pea. Horticulture Technology. 14: 349–355.
· Hamzei, J., M. Seyedi, and M. Babaei. 2016. Competitive ability of lentil (Lens culinaris L.) cultivars to weed interference under rain-fed conditions. Journal of Agroecology. 8(1): 82-94. (In Persian)
· Jabran, K. 2017. Manipulation of allelopathic crops for weed control. Springer Briefs in plant Science, Springer Nature International Publishing, AG, Switzerland. 87pp.
· Jabran, K., G. Mahajan, V. Sardana, and B.S. Chauhan. 2015. Allelopathy for weed control in agricultural systems. Crop Protection. 72: 57–65.
· Jahanzad, E., A.V. Barker, M. Hashemi, A. Sadeghpour, and T. Eaton. 2017. Forage radish and winter pea cover crops outperformed rye in a potato cropping system. Soil Fertility and Crop Nutrition. 109(2): 1–8.
· Kakaeian, A.M., G. Mohammadi, M.E. Ghobadi, and A. Najaphy. 2015. Effects of rye and common vetch cover crops as pure and mixed on soil physicochemical characteristics. Agricultural Science Sustainable Production. 25(2): 47-64. (In Persian).
· Kaluwasha, W., R.J. Kremer, J.D. Mihail, M. Lin, and X. Xiong. 2019. Use of cover crops in organic sweet potato production to improve yield: A case report. Modern Concepts and Developments in Agronomy. 4(5): 483-487.
· Kristensen, H.L., and K. Thorup-Kristensen. 2004. Root growth and nitrate uptake of three different catch crops in deep soil layers. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 68: 529–537.
· Korres, N.E., and J.K. Norsworthy. 2015. Influence of a rye cover crop on the critical period for weed control in cotton. Weed Science. 63: 346–352.
· Kunz, C., D.J. Sturm, D. Varnholt, F. Walker, and R. Gerhards. 2016. Allelopathic effects and weed suppressive ability of cover crops. Plant, Soil and Environment. 62: 60–66.
· Lawley, Y.E., J.R. Teasdale, and R.R. Weil. 2012. The mechanism for weed suppression by a forage radish cover crop. Agronomy Journal. 104: 205–214.
· Lawley, Y.E., R.R. Weil, and J.R. Teasdale. 2011. Forage radish winter cover crops suppress winter annual weeds in fall and before corn planting. Agronomy Journal. 103: 137–144.
· Malik, M.S., J.K. Norsworthy, A.S. Culpepper, M.B. Riley, and W. Bridges. 2008. Use of wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) and rye cover crops for weed suppression in sweet corn. Weed Science. 56: 588–595.
· McDaniel, M., L. Tiemann, and A.S. Grandy. 2014. Does agricultural crop diversity enhance soil microbial biomass and organic matter dynamics? A meta-analysis. Ecological Applications. 24: 560–570.
· Mutegi, J.K., B.M. Petersen, and L.J. Munkholm. 2013. Carbon turnover and sequestration potential of fodder radish cover crop. Soil Use Management. 29:191–198.
· Ngouajio, M., and H. Mennan. 2005. Weed populations and pickling cucumber (Cucumis sativus) yield under summer and winter cover crop systems. Crop Protection. 24: 521–526.
· Nichols, V., N. Verhulst, R. Cox, and B. Govaerts. 2015. Weed dynamics and conservation agriculture principles: A review. Field Crops Research. 183: 56–68.
· O’Reilly, K.A., D.E. Robinson, R.J. Vyn, and L.L. van Eerd. 2011. Weed populations, sweet corn yield, and economics following fall cover crops. Weed Technology. 25(3): 374-384.
· Peachey, R.E., R.D. William, and C. Mallory-Smith. 2004. Effect of no-till or conventional planting and cover crops residues on weed emergence in vegetable row crop. Weed Technology. 18: 1023–1030.
· Potter, T.L., D.D. Bosch, H.H. Joo, B.B. Schaffer, and R.R. Muñoz-Carpena. 2007. Summer cover crops reduce atrazine leaching to shallow groundwater in Southern Florida. Journal of Environmental Quality. 36: 1301-1309.
· Ramos, M.E., E. Ben'tez, P.A. Garcia, and A.B. Robles. 2010. Cover crops under different managements vs. frequent tillage in almond orchards in semiarid conditions: effects on soil quality. Applied Soil Ecology. 44: 6-14.
· Ranjbar, M., B. Samedani, H. Rahimian-Mashhadi, M.R. Jahansoz, and R. Bihamta. 2007. Influence of winter cover crops on weed control and tomato yield. Pajouhsh and Sazandegi. 74: 24-33. (In Persian).
· Reberg-Horton, S.C., J.D. Burton, G. Ma, D.A. Danehower, D.W. Monks, J.P. Murphy, N.N. Ranells, J.D. Williamson, and N.G. Creamer. 2005. Changes over time in the allelochemical content of ten cultivars of rye (Secale cereale L.). Journal of Chemical Ecology. 31(1): 179-93.
· Reddy, K.N. 2001. Effects of cereal and legume cover crop residues on weeds, yield, and net return in soybean (Glycine max). Weed Technology. 15: 660–668.
· Samadani, B., and M. Montazeri. 2009. The use of cover crops in sustainable agriculture. Plant Protection Institute Publications. Iran. 186 pp. (In Persian).
· Smith, A.N., C. Reberg-Horton, G.T. Place, A.D. Meijer, C. Arellano, and J.P. Mueller. 2011. Rolled rye mulch for weed suppression in organic no-tillage soybeans. Weed Science. 59: 224–231.
· Sturm, D.J., G. Peteinatos, and R. Gerhards. 2018. Contribution of allelopathic effects to the overall weed suppression by different cover crops. Weed Research. 58(5): 331-337.
· Tawaha, A. M., and M.A. Turk, 2003. Allelopathic effects of black mustard (Brassica nigra) on germination and growth of wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum). Journal of Agronomy Crop Science. 189: 298–303.
· Teasdale, J.R., and C.L. Mohler. 2000. The quantitative relationship between weed emergence and the physical properties of mulches. Weed Science Journal. 48: 385–92.
· Tillman, G.G., H.H. Schomberg, S.S. Phatak, B.B. Mullinix, S.S. Lachnicht, P.P. Timper, and D.D. Olson. 2004. Influence of cover crops on insect pests and predators in conservation tillage cotton. Journal of Economic Entomology. 97: 1217-1232.
· Turk, M.A., and A.M. Tawaha. 2003. Allelopathic effect of black mustard (Brassica nigra L.) on germination and growth of wild oat (Avena fatua L.). Crop Protection. 22: 673–677.
· Tursun, N., D. Işık, Z. Demir, and K. Jabran. 2018. Use of living, mowed, and soil-incorporated cover crops for weed control in apricot orchards. Agronomy Journal. 8: 150-158.
· Uchino, H., K. Iwama, Y. Jitsuyama, T. Yudate, and S. Nakamura. 2009. Yield losses of soybean and maize by competition with interseeded cover crops and weeds in organic–based cropping systems. Field Crops Research. 113(3, 4): 342-351.
· Weil, R., and A. Kremen. 2007. Thinking across and beyond disciplines to make cover crops pay. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 87: 551-557.
· Weil, R., C. White, and Y. Lawley. 2009. Forage radish: A new multi-purpose cover crop for the Mid-Atlantic. Fact Sheet 824. Maryland Cooperative Extension. College Park. 6pp.
· White, C.M., and R.R. Weil. 2011. Forage radish cover crops increase soil test phosphorus surrounding holes created by radish taproots. Soil Science Society of America Journal.75: 121–130.
Williams, A., M.C. Hunter, M. Kammerer, D.A. Kane, N.R. Jordan, and D.A. Mortensen. 2016. Soil water holding capacity mitigates downside risk and volatility in US rainfed maize: Time to invest in soil organic matter? Plos One. 11: e0160974.