Rye (Secale cereale L.) and squarrose clover (Trifolium squarrosum L.) cover crops can increase their allelopathic potential for weed control when used mixed as dead mulch

Abstract

Cover crops are essential tools in agroecosystems for reducing the reliance on synthetic inputs and associated environmental risks. Alongside their benefits to soil fertility, cover crops can control weeds by their competitive and allelopathic attributes. Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to assess the allelopathic potential of two cover crop species, rye (Secale cereale L.) and squarrose clover (Trifolium squarrosum L.), alone or in  mixture, on seed germination and growth of arable weeds. Aqueous extracts of the two cover crops and their mixture were tested in a bioassay on Conyza canadensis (L). Cronq., Amaranthus retroflexus L. and Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. In vitro effects of aqueous extracts varied in a dose-dependent manner, with cover crops and weed species. All three extracts were able to reduce the germination of A. retroflexus (-87%) considerably. Inhibitory effects by rye and mixture extracts on radicle growth of all weed species ranged between 51 and 82%.  Rye extract was the best at reducing shoot length of C. canadensis and D. sanguinalis (-39 to 44%), while squarrose clover was more effective on A. retroflexus (-79%). Plant extracts also delayed the germination time of weed species with substantial effect of the mixture on C. canadensisseeds. In the field experiment, no significant weed suppression was provided by cover crop residues incorporated as green manure compared to control plots, despite tillage being more effective in reducing weed density. Still, the cover crop mixture mulch controlled weed emergence significantly better than single cover crop mulches. The chemical characterization of cover crop residues, both shoots and roots, revealed a notable richness of allelopathic phenolic acids and flavonoids, that through slow decomposition may constitute potential natural herbicides. From the analysis of the aqueous extracts, other non-analyzed and/or unidentified water-soluble allelopathic compounds should underlie the phytotoxicity observed in vitro, at least for rye. For cover crop mixture, positive interactions among plant materials leading to a better release of allelochemicals and weeding effectiveness are discussed according to chemical profiles and field data. Our study demonstrated the allelopathic activity of the cover crops and their potential to be included in weed management strategies according to cropping system needs. Additional trials are needed to confirm the performance of cover crop residues under field conditions.   Highlights - Rye and squarrose clover are cover crops with potential allelopathic effects. - Aqueous extracts of residues of rye, squarrose clover and their mixture reduced and/or slowed weed germination of A. retroflexus and C. canadensis in in vitro bioassays. - The aqueous extracts, depending on the concentration of residues, had inhibitory effects on radicle and shoot growth of A. retroflexus, C. canadensis and D. sanguinalis. - Under field conditions, mulch of a mix of rye and squarrose clover suppressed weeds better than the single species.