Weed control and community composition in living mulch systems. (17th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Westbrook, Anna S.; Bhaskar, Vinay; DiTommaso, Antonio
• Is Part Of: Weed research. Volume 62:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 12
• Page End: 23
• Publication Date: 2021-10-17
• Subjects: agroecology -- agroecosystem biodiversity -- cover crop -- cultural weed management -- ecological weed management -- integrated weed management -- intercrop -- non‐chemical weed control; Weeds -- Control -- Periodicals; Herbicides -- Periodicals; 632.5
• DOI: 10.1111/wre.12511
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1737

Abstract

Abstract: A living mulch is a cover crop grown during the growing season of a main (cash) crop. Living mulches may reduce soil erosion and nitrate leaching more effectively than bare ground or non‐living mulches. Living mulches can also make substantial contributions to non‐chemical or diversified weed management programmes. However, living mulches sometimes fail to suppress weeds, or they succeed at the cost of main crop yield. Seeking to understand these divergent outcomes, we survey the effects of living mulches on weeds in temperate field and vegetable crops. Primary purposes of this review include (a) outlining mechanisms of weed control by living mulches, (b) identifying major sources of variation in weed control outcomes, and (c) highlighting knowledge gaps. The effects of living mulches on weeds are largely (but not exclusively) via competition and typically strongest when living mulch vigour is high at sensitive stages of weed life cycles. Best management practices depend on living mulch, main crop, and weed community characteristics. Living mulches often have different effects on different weed species, which may have far‐reaching consequences for weed diversity and community composition. Future research on long‐term changes to weed communities will clarify how and when living mulches should be adopted to increase agroecosystem biodiversity and promote sustainability.