Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Integration of competitive cultivars and living mulch in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.): a tool for organic weed control

  • Published:
Organic Agriculture Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Selection of highly competitive cultivars (Cvs) of sunflower might limit weed growth. However, competitive ability alone may not be sufficient in suppressing weeds in sunflower. Competitive cultivars may have to be combined with other complementary management strategies such as selection of appropriate living mulch species. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the combined effects of crop cultivar and living mulch on weed growth and sunflower yield. Three sunflower cultivars (Allstar, Azargol, and Farokh) and three living mulch treatments (intercropping of buckwheat, snail medic, and hairy vetch as living mulch) were evaluated in a factorial design. For each cultivar, a plot without living mulch (sole sunflower) was considered as weedy check. The sunflower cultivars significantly differed in their competitive ability against weeds. The Cv. Azargol has a superior competitive ability than Allstar and Farokh, on the basis of its impact on crop grain yield and weed infestation level. The highest grain yield (7126 kg ha−1) was obtained in Cv. Azargol. All living mulch species also reduced weed biomass and density compared to weedy check. This research revealed that use of buckwheat as living mulch caused the most inhibition effect on weed biomass and density. Overall, selection of Azargol as a competitive cultivar and buckwheat as living mulch which provided 96 % control was the best combination method for broadleaf weed control, while Farokh-buckwheat, which provided 77 % weed suppression was more effective combination for grass weeds. Our findings suggest that combining highly competitive sunflower cultivars with proper living mulch species is a feasible weed management strategy; however, selection of both crop cultivar and living mulch species should be adapted based on dominant weed spectrum.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bhadoria PBS (2011) Allelopathy: a natural way towards weed management. Am J Exp Agric 1:7–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Borowy A (2012) Growth and yield of stake tomato under no-tillage cultivation using hairy vetch as living mulch. Acta Sci Pol, Hortorum Cultus 11:229–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradow JM, Connick WJ (1990) Volatile seed germination inhibitors from plant residues. J Chem Ecol 16:645–666

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brennan EB, Smith RE (2005) Winter cover crop growth and weed suppression on the central coast of California. Weed Technol 19:1017–1024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brust J, Claupein W, Gerhards R (2014) Growth and weed suppression ability of common and new cover crops in Germany. Crop Prot 63:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chikoye D, Ayeoffe F, Robert A, Abebe M, Alpha K, Friday E, Nteranya S (2008) Response of corn genotypes to weed interference and nitrogen in Nigeria. Weed Sci 56:424–433

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Creamer NG, Baldwin KR (2000) An evaluation of summer cover crops for use in vegetable production systems in North Carolina. Hortic Sci 35:600–603

    Google Scholar 

  • De Haan RL, Sheaffer CC, Barnes DK (1997) Effect of annual medic smother plants on weed control and yield in corn. Agron J 89:813–821

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAOSTAT (2013) Agriculture data. http://faostat.fao.org. Accessed 12 June 2015

  • Gibson KD, McMillan J, Hallett SG, Jordan T, Weller SC (2011) Effect of a living mulch on weed seed banks in tomato. Weed Technol 25:245–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golisz A, Ciarka D, Gawronski SW (2002) Allelopathy activity of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench). In: Fujii Y, Hidarate S, Araya H (eds) Proceedings III World Congress on Allelopathy. Sato Printing, Tsukuba City, p 161

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez-Andujar JL, Fernandez-Quintanilla C, Bastida F, Calvo R, Gonzalez-Diaz L, Izquierdo J, Lezaun JA, Perea F, Sanchez Del Arco MJ, Urbano JM (2010) Field evaluation of a decision support system for herbicidal control of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana in winter wheat. Weed Res 50:83–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grimmer OP, Masiunas JB (2004) Evaluation of winter-killed cover crops preceding snap pea. Hort Technol 14:349–355

    Google Scholar 

  • Haefele SM, Johnsonb DE, M’Bodja D, Wopereisc MCS, Miezana KM (2004) Field screening of diverse rice genotypes for weed competitiveness in irrigated lowland ecosystems. Field Crop Res 88:39–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hiltbrunner J, Streit B, Liedgens M (2007) Are seeding densities an opportunity to increase grain yield of winter wheat in a living mulch of white clover? Field Crop Res 102:163–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iqbal Z, Hiradate S, Noda A, Isojima S, Fuji Y (2003) Allelopathic activity of buckwheat: isolation and characterization of phenolics. Weed Sci 51:657–662

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jamshidi K, Yousefi AR, Oveisi M (2013) Effect of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) intercropping on weed biomass and maize (Zea mays) yield. New Zeal J Crop Hort 41:180–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalinova J, Vrchotova N (2009) Level of catechin, myricetin, quercetin and isoquercitrin in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), changes of their levels during vegetation and their effect on the growth of selected weeds. J Agric Food Chem 57:2719–2725

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khajehpour MR (2007) Industrial crops. Isfahan Jahade Daneshghahi Press, p 564

  • Kumar V, Brainard DC, Bellinder RR (2009) Effects of spring-sown cover crops on establishment and growth of hairy galinsoga (Galinsoga ciliata) and four vegetable crops. Hortic Sci 44:730–736

    Google Scholar 

  • Mirshekari B (2009) Effectability some of the physiologic characteristics of sunflower at interference with redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.). New findings Agric 7:297–312

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohammadi GR (2012) Living mulch as a tool to control weeds in agroecosystems: a review. In: Price AJ (ed) Weed control. In Tech Press, Croatia, pp 76–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Moynihan JM, Simmons SR, Sheaffer CC (1996) Intercropping annual medic with conventional height and semidwarf barley grown for grain. Agron J 88:823–828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nikneshan P, Karimmojeni H, Moghanibashi M, Hosseini N (2011) Allelopathic potential of sunflower on weed management in safflower and wheat. Aust J Crop Sci 5:1434–1440

    Google Scholar 

  • Norsworthy JK (2004) Broadleaved weed control in wide-row soybean (Glycine max) using conventional and glyphosate herbicide programmes. Crop Prot 23:1229–1235

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pouryousef M, Yousefi AR, Oveisi M, Asadi F (2015) Intercropping of fenugreek as living mulch at different densities for weed suppression in coriander. Crop Prot 69:60–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rezaei Estakhroeih A, Khoshghadam S, Ebrahimi Serizi M, Badiehneshin A (2014) Evaluation yield of sunflower (Farrokh cultivar) under effects of conventional deficit irrigation and partial root zone drying. J Water and Soil 5:867–875

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadeghpour A, Jahanzad E, Hashemi M, Esmaeili A, Herbert SJ (2013) Intercropping annual medic with barley may improve total forage and crude protein yield in semi-arid condition. Aust J Crop Sci 7:1822–1828

    Google Scholar 

  • Samarajeewa KBDP, Horiuchi T, Oba S (2006) Finger millet (Eleucine corocana L. Gaertn.) as a cover crop on weed control, growth and yield of soybean under different tillage systems. Soil Tillage Res 90:93–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarrantonio M (1994) Northeast cover crop handbook. Soil health series. Rodale Institute, Kutztown

    Google Scholar 

  • Shafieipour H, Saeedi Sar S, Nadali F, Mohammadi AR (2011) Effect of planting date and seed pre treatment on phenological stages, morphological traits and seed yield of sunflower. J Crop Prod Res 1:103–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma RC, Banik P (2013) Baby corn-legumes intercropping system: II weed dynamics and community structure. NJAS – Wagen J Life Sci 67:11–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suryavanshi VP, Suryawanshi SB, Jadhav KT (2015) Influence of herbicides on yield and economics of Kharif sunflower. J Crop Weed 11:168–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Theriault F, Stewart KA, Seguin P (2009) Use of perennial legumes living mulches and green manures for the fertilization of organic broccoli. Intl J Veg Sci 15:142–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson K, Grime JP (1983) A comparative study of germination in response to diurnally-fluctuating temperatures. J Appl Ecol 20:141–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Travlos IS (2012) Reduced herbicide rates for an effective weed control in competitive wheat cultivars. Int J Plant Prod 6:1–13

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uchino H, Iwama K, Jitsuyama Y, Yudate T, Nakamura S (2009) Yield losses of soybean and maize by competition with interseeded cover crops and weeds in organic-based cropping systems. Field Crop Res 113:342–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valenzuela H, Smith J (2002) Sustainable agriculture green manure crops: buckwheat, cooperative extension service, college of tropical agriculture and human resources, Hawaii Univ Honolulu, p 3

  • Yirefu F, Tana T, Tafesse A, Zekarias Y (2012) Competitive ability of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) cultivars to weed interference in sugarcane plantations of Ethiopia. Crop Prot 32:138–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yousefi AR, Bosh Z (2014) Evaluation of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) response to weed interference in deficit irrigation condition. Iranian J Water Res Agri 28:431–441

    Google Scholar 

  • Yousefi AR, Rahimi MR (2014) Integration of soil-applied herbicides at the reduced rates with physical control for weed management in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). Crop Prot 63:107–112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

    Sedigheh Latify, Ali Reza Yousefi & Khalil Jamshidi

Authors
  1. Sedigheh Latify
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ali Reza Yousefi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Khalil Jamshidi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sedigheh Latify.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Latify, S., Yousefi, A.R. & Jamshidi, K. Integration of competitive cultivars and living mulch in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.): a tool for organic weed control. Org. Agr. 7, 419–430 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-016-0166-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-016-0166-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation