Influence of residue mulch, tillage and cultural practices on weed mass and corn yield from three field experiments

Abstract

In many countries the availability of labour is one of the major constraining factors limiting the effectiveness of small-scale farmers as producers. A reduction or shift in the timing of labour requirements for land preparation and weed control can be of tremendous help to these resource-poor farmers. Field experiments were conducted under conventional and minimum tillage systems, to study the influence of various combinations of residue mulch, hoe weeding, pre-emergence herbicide, intercultivation and smother cropping, on production of weed mass and corn ( Zea mays L.) grain yield. Residue mulch, pre-emergence herbicide and early inter-cultivation practices reduced weed mass production and enhanced crop yield. These practices could prove to be potential alternatives to early weeding undertaken 3–4 weeks after corn planting. From the regression equation it was estimated that 20.4 kg ha −1 of residue mulch was needed to reduce weed mass by 1 kg ha −1. There was a significant negative correlation between the weed mass and corn grain yield of all the experiments. Linear regression of crop yield over weed mass yielded slopes that varied between −0.851 and −1.691 kg kg −1. Hoe cultivation of land produced no extra grain yield in comparison with no cultivation. A combination of residue mulch and minimum tillage appeared to be a practicable alternative to the conventional system of land preparation and may be helpful in eliminating the need for early weeding.