Response of Weeds to Tillage and Cover Crop Residue

Total weed density increased after 1 yr of no-tillage and after 2 yr of conventional tillage in a 4-yr experiment with repeated assignment of the same treatment to the same plots. Large crabgrass, goosegrass, and carpetweed densities were higher in the no-tillage compared with the conventional-tillage treatment in at least 1 yr whereas common lambsquarters density was greater in the conventional-tillage treatment the last year of the experiment. Within the no-tillage treatment, rye or hairy vetch residue reduced total weed density an average of 78% compared to the treatment without cover crop when cover crop biomass exceeded 300 g m –2 and when residue covered more than 90% of the soil. Goosegrass, stinkgrass, and carpetweed densities were reduced by cover crop residue in at least 1 yr whereas large crabgrass was unaffected. Common lambsquarters density increased where rye was grown as a cover crop prior to conventional tillage. Despite differences in weed density among treatments, weed biomass was equivalent in all treatments during the last 2 yr.