Abstract
Abstract Several ground covers were assessed over a 2-year period to determine their effects on weed competition and maize yield. Maize was planted directly into established covers of Axonopus compressus (SW) Beauv., Desmodium triflorum (L) DC, and Indigofera spicata Forsk. Planting rows in the Arcahis repens Handro plots were marked by manually pulling off stem segments of the legume cover. While Paspalum notatum Fluegge cover was first killed with glyphosate (3.6 kg/ha) before planting maize, several legume management methods that included slashing and spraying with either paraquat or a hormone were evaluated for use in Centrosema pubescens Benth and Psophocarpus palustris Desv. Weed infestation was heaviest in Axonopus compressus, Desmodium triflorum, Indigofera spicata and no-tillage; moderate in the Arachis repens and maize stover; and very low in Centrosema pubescens and Psophocarpus palustris . Maize yield was highest in the maize stover and poorest in the Indigofera spicata . Good maize yield was obtained in the live mulch in which weed competition was minimized by the legume cover. This technique promises to eliminate or significantly reduce weeding since over 40% of farmer's time in the humid tropics is devoted to weeding.
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