Bigflower Vetch and Rye vs. Rye Alone as a Cover Crop for No-Till Sweet Corn

Abstract

Bigflower vetch (Vicia grandiflora var. kitaibeliana W. Koch) is a hardy, self-seeding winter annual legume which has potential as a self-regenerating cover crop for no-till production of sweet corn (Zea mays L.) and other warm-season annual crops. It flowers and forms mature seeds several weeks earlier than hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), and the seeds germinate toward the end of summer when they will not compete with corn. Preliminary experiments were conducted comparing cover crops of "Woodford" bigflower vetch + rye (Secale cereale L.) with rye alone at two sites in southern New England. Bigflower vetch overwintered well and self-seeded adequately at both sides. No-till sweet corn gave higher yields after bigflower vetch + rye than rye alone, and residues of bigflower vetch + rye had higher nitrogen (N) concentration, and suppressed weeds significantly more than rye. The second generation of bigflower vetch showed little freeze damage during an unually harsh winter which caused significant injury to hairy vetch and common chickweed ( Stellaria media (L.) Vill.). Although bigflower vetch may produce less biomass and N than hairy vetch, its ability to establish under suboptimal seedbed conditions and produce crop-s for several seasons from a single seedling make it a potentially valuable companion crop for a corn/winter rye rotation under no-till.