Author
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Anderson, Randal |
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Submitted to: Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems
Publication Type: Research Notes Publication Acceptance Date: 3/8/2016 Publication Date: 6/2/2017 Citation: Anderson, R.L. 2017. A mowing strategy to convert red clover to annual crops in organic farming. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 32: 273-275. Interpretive Summary: Organic producers are interested in no-till systems. We found that red clover, a perennial legume, can be converted to annual crops with a mowing strategy. A combination of fall mowing in the third year of red clover, followed by between-row mowing during the corn growing season effectively controlled red clover and suppressed weeds. We are encouraging producers to use complex rotations to support weed management in no-till systems. This mowing strategy will enable producers to include red clover in complex rotations to suppress weeds and provide biological N for annual crop growth. A no-till system will help organic producers restore and preserve the health of their soils. Technical Abstract: Organic producers are interested in no-till cropping systems. In this study, we found that perennial clover can be converted to corn without tillage. Conversion tactics involved fall mowing in the third year of red clover, followed by between-row mowing of weeds and volunteer red clover in corn grown during the fourth year. Corn yielded 85% of the weed-free control with mowing conversion. In contrast, weed interference in tillage-based conversion and between-row tillage reduced corn yield 53%. Weed emergence was 6-fold greater in the tilled conversion. Weeds were present in the corn row with mowing, but recently-developed implements could control these weeds and further support a no-till conversion method. |
