The Potential of Cover Crops for Weed Management: A Sole Tool or Component of an Integrated Weed Management System?

Abstract

Cover crops are an important component of integrated weed management programs in annual and perennial cropping systems because of their weed suppressive abilities. They influence weed populations using different mechanisms of plant interaction which can be facilitative or suppressive. However, the question often arises if cover crops can be solely relied upon for weed management or not. In this review we have tried to provide examples to answer this question. The most common methods of weed suppression by an actively growing cover crop include competition for limited plant growth resources that result in reduced weed biomass, seed production, and hence reductions in the addition of seeds to the soil seedbank. Cover crop mulches suppress weeds by reducing weed seedling emergence through allelopathic effects or physical effects of shading. However, there is a great degree of variability in the success or failure of cover crops in suppressing weeds that are influenced by the cover crop species, time of planting, cover crop densities and biomass, time of cover crop termination, the cash crop following in the rotation, and the season associated with several climatic variables. Several studies demonstrated that planting date was important to achieve maximum cover crop biomass, and a mixture of cover crop species was better than single cover crop species to achieve good weed suppression. Most of the studies that have demonstrated success in weed suppression have only shown partial success and not total success in weed suppression. Therefore, cover crops as a sole tool may not be sufficient to reduce weeds and need to be supplemented with other weed management tools. Nevertheless, cover crops are an important component of the toolbox for integrated weed management.

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“…Most of the RFPCs (107 out of 115) had no "soil coverage" (SC), the water was supplied (variable "irrigation", I) mainly by drip irrigation (87 out of 115 RFPCs), and "weeding" (W) was performed mostly by manual uprooting (55 out of 115 RFPCs). Furthermore, cover cropping was a possible value within different variables (biomass-B, soil coverage-SC, and weeding-W) and can be explained by the several advantages provided by this agricultural practice that can work for weed control [62], covering the soil [63], and soil improvement [64].…”

“…plained by the several advantages provided by this agricultural practice that can work for weed control [62], covering the soil [63], and soil improvement [64].…”

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“…Integrated weed management utilizing crop competition to suppress weed growth and seed production is considered a sustainable option for farmers. Crop competition in the form of cover crops has been widely successful in weed suppression [10]. Living cover crops have been shown to suppress weed growth by reducing light transmittance and affecting soil temperatures, thereby reducing weed emergence [11].…”

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“…16 To deal with the emergence of resistance and reduce the adverse effects of herbicide residues in the environment, research is essential to find suitable solutions and alternative methods. 17,18 Biological control to deal with weeds while observing ecological principles can keep their density below the level of economic damage by using natural enemies and fungal or bacterial antagonists of weeds. 19 The use of biological herbicides, consisting of living microorganisms or their metabolites instead of conventional chemicals, has several advantages that can be of interest to planning managers, pesticide manufacturers, and farmers.…”

“…To deal with the emergence of resistance and reduce the adverse effects of herbicide residues in the environment, research is essential to find suitable solutions and alternative methods 17,18 . Biological control to deal with weeds while observing ecological principles can keep their density below the level of economic damage by using natural enemies and fungal or bacterial antagonists of weeds 19 .…”