The Importance of Nitrogen and Water in Reducing Competition Between Intercrops and Corn¹

Watermelon cultivation with fall-planted small grain plants intercropped as cover crop.

“…It should be noted that the intercropped smoother crops could reduce the yields of the main crop species when the competition for water and nutrients is strong (Kurtz et al, 1952). In the present study, no decrease in watermelon yield was observed.…”

Living Mulch as a Tool to Control Weeds in Agroecosystems: A Review

“…Much of the research with living mulches has focused on documenting and alleviating this problem (Liebman and Staver 2001;Teasdale, 1998). Many studies in the North Central U.S. on legume interseeding in established corn stands report grain yield losses that are attributed to moisture stress (Kurtz et al 1952;Pendleton et al 1957), N deficiency (Scott et al 1987;Triplett 1962), and reduced corn populations associated with wider row spacing (Schaller and Larson 1955;Stringfield and Thatcher 1951). Marks (1993) also suggested that reduced growth of the main crop may be due to competition for water or some other limited resource, or the mulch may be having an allelopathic effect.…”

A Comparison of Some Tillage Methods for Corn on Brookston Clay Soil

“…Experimental work (8) indicatecl that methods of mulch-pllrrting in a living sod or in corn stubble decreased corn 1:iglcl u'helt compared $'ith pioughing followed b1-addition:rl til1age. \\rhere adequate supplies of nitrogen and water were available for both corn alld iltercrop (4), corn f ields were almost as great on mulch-planted plots as on plots \vhere Table 4 for the five tillage methods.…”