Effect of clover cover crop on weed management, growth, and yield of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

Document Type : scientific research article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student of Crop Ecology, Dept. of Plant Production and Genetics, campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.

2 Corresponding Author, Associate Prof., Dept. of Plant Production and Genetics, campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

3 Associate Prof., Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension, Karaj, Iran.

4 Associate Prof., Dept. of Plant Production and Genetics, campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract

Background and objectives:

Quinoa is a plant from the Amaranthaceae family, which is currently being proposed as an alternative product for plants with high water consumption due to its high nutritional value and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, especially drought and salinity. Weeds are one of the limiting factors for the growth and development of quinoa and they directly affect the performance of the plant in the competition for the absorption of water, light, and nutrient resources. One of the important factors in the weed suppression mechanism of this product is the non-chemical control of weeds using cover crops.

Materials and methods:

In order to investigate the effect of cover crops on the control of weeds in quinoa, an experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the farms of the Research Institute of Breeding and Preparation of Seed Seedlings during 2022-2023. Treatments included the cultivation of cover crops of Berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.), Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L.), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), Persian clover + Berseem clover, Persian clover + crimson clover and Berseem clover + crimson clover, no cover crop weed-free, no cover crop weed-infest. The cover crops were returned to the soil at the stage of 25% flowering.

Results:

The results showed that the amount of weed control in the treatments of Persian clover + Berseem clover, Berseem clover + crimson clover, Persian clover + crimson clover, Berseem clover, Persian clover, and crimson clover compared to the control treatment (no cover crop -weed free) is 64, 60, 58, 53, 44 and It was 36 percent. The highest dry weight of total weeds at the rate of 219 gr.m-2 was related to the control treatment (no cover crop -weed infest) and the lowest dry weight of total weeds at the rate of 39 gr.m-2 was related to the mixed treatment of Persian clover + Berseem clover. The highest seed yield was observed in the control treatment (no cover crop-weed free) and Persian clover + Berseem clover with an average of 4600 and 3500 kg.ha-1, respectively. The lowest yield of quinoa seed (64.64 g/m2) and the highest yield (288.68 g/m2) are related to the control treatment (no cover crop -weed infest) and control treatment (no cover crop -weed free), respectively.

Conclusion:

Overall results showed that the clover cover crop was not only not competing with quinoa, but it was able to increase the yield compared to the control treatment (no cover crop-weed infest).

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. Walters, H., Carpenter-Boggs, L., Desta, K., Yan, L., Matanguihan, J., & Murphy, K. (2016). Effect of irrigation, intercrop, and cultivar on agronomic and nutritional characteristics of quinoa. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 40(8), 783-803.
  2. Romano, A., & Ferranti, P. (2018). Sustainable crops for food security: quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa). In Encyclopedia of food security and sustainability Elsevier Australia, 1, 399-402.
  3. Alandia, G., Rodriguez, J., Jacobsen, S.-E., Bazile, D., & Condori, B. (2020). Global expansion of quinoa and challenges for the Andean region. Global Food Security, 26, 100429.
  4. Li, G., & Zhu, F. (2018). Quinoa starch: Structure, properties, and applications. Carbohydrate polymers, 181, 851-861.
  5. Jacobsen, S.-E., Christiansen, J. L., & Rasmussen, J. (2010). Weed harrowing and inter-row hoeing in organic grown quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa). Outlook on AGRICULTURE, 39(3), 223-227.
  6. Abbaspoor, M. (2022). Herbicide screening for weed control in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa). Journal of Plant Production Research, 29(3), 89-104.
  7. Nosratti, I., & Muhammadyari, A. (2019). First report of multiple resistance in Galium aparine to ALS-inhibiting and auxin analog herbicides in Kermanshah, Iran. Planta Daninha, 37, e019187358.
  8. Nosratti, I., Sabeti, P., Chaghamirzaee, G., & Heidari, H. (2020). Weed problems, challenges, and opportunities in Iran. Crop Protection, 134, 104371.
  9. Bagheri, M. 2018. Quinoa Cultivation. Seed and Plant Improvement Ibstitute. 56 p.
  10. Nosratti, I., & Chauhan, B. S. (2023). The Ecological Base of Nonchemical Weed Control. Ecologically‐Based Weed Management: Concepts, Challenges, and Limitations, 49-74.
  11. Nosratti, I., Amiri, S., Mohammadi, G., Kahrizi, D., & Sharifi, R. (2017). Evaluating the Effect of Dry Residues Plant Hairy Vetch (Vicia vilosa Roth) And Plant Probiotics on Reducing the Infection of Branched Broomrape (Orobanche ramosa) In Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill). Plant Productions, 40(3), 65-76.
  12. Nosratti, I., Korres, N. E., & Cordeau, S. (2023). Knowledge of Cover Crop Seed Traits and Treatments to Enhance Weed Suppression: A Narrative Review. Agronomy, 13(7), 1683.
  13. Gaudin, A. C., Westra, S., Loucks, C. E., Janovicek, K., Martin, R. C., & Deen, W. (2013). Improving resilience of northern field crop systems using inter-seeded red clover: a review. Agronomy, 3(1), 148-180.
  14. Buckland, K., Reeve, J., Creech, J. E., & Durham, S. L. (2018). Managing soil fertility and health for quinoa production and weed control in organic systems. Soil and Tillage Research, 184, 52-61.
  15. Langeroodi, A. r. S., Mancinelli, R., & Radicetti, E. (2020). How do intensification practices affect weed management and yield in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) crop? Sustainability, 12(15), 6103.
  16. Khazaie, M., & Taab, A. (2019). Studying the Possibility of Using Undersown Persian Clover in Oilseed Rape for Weed Control. Journal of Crops Improvement (Journal of Agriculture), 21(4), 337-351.
  17. Campiglia, E., Mancinelli, R., Radicetti, E., & Baresel, J. P. (2014). Evaluating spatial arrangement for durum wheat (Triticum durum) and subclover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) intercropping systems. Field Crops Research, 169, 49-57.
  18. DeLaune, P., Mubvumba, P., Ale, S., & Kimura, E. (2020). Impact of no-till, cover crop, and irrigation on Cotton yield. Agricultural Water Management, 232, 106038.
  19. Palhano, M. G., Norsworthy, J. K., & Barber, T. (2018). Cover crops suppression of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in cotton. Weed Technology, 32(1), 60-65.
  20. Rosario-Lebron, A., Leslie, A. W., Yurchak, V. L., Chen, G., & Hooks, C. R. (2019). Can winter cover crop termination practices impact weed suppression, soil moisture, and yield in no-till soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]? Crop Protection, 116, 132-141.
  21. Blackshaw, R. E., & Brandt, R. N. (2008). Nitrogen fertilizer rate effects on weed competitiveness is species dependent. Weed Science, 56(5), 743-747.
  22. Ghaffarzadeh, M. (1997). Economic and biological benefits of intercropping berseem clover with oat in corn‐soybean‐oat rotations. Journal of Production Agriculture, 10(2), 314-319.
  23. Dadashi, , Zaefarian, F., Abasi, R., & Bahmanyar, M. (2016). Effect of soybean and wheat as cover crops on corn yield and weed control using different fertilizer sources. Journal of Iranian Plant Protection Research, 29(3), 388-399.
  24. Amin Ghafori, P. Rezvani Moghaddam, Mahallati, M. N., & Khorramdel, S. (2015). Effect of cover crops on weed criteria and quantitative and qualitative yield of caster bean (Ricinus communis). Journal of Plant Production Research, 21(4), 21-41.
  25. Ghaffari, M., Ahmadvand, G., Ardakani, M., Nadali, I., & ELAHI, P. F. (2011). Effect of cover crops on winter weeds control. Journal of Crop Ecophysiology, 3: 1-8.
  26. Naraghi, M. Hosseini, Oveisi, R. Mashhadi and Bagheri (2022). "Modelling the effects of drought stress and weeds competition on quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) yield." Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science 53(3): 17-29.
  27. Shah, S., Shroff, J., Patel, R., & Usadadiya, V. (2011). Influence of intercropping and weed management practices on weed and yields of maize. International Journal of Science and Nature, 2(1), 47-50.
  28. Ngwira, A., Aune, J. B., & Thierfelder, C. (2014). On-farm evaluation of the effects of the principles and components of conservation agriculture on maize yield and weed biomass in Malawi. Experimental Agriculture, 50(4), 591-610.
  29. Nakamoto, T., & Tsukamoto, M. (2006). Abundance and activity of soil organisms in fields of maize grown with a white clover living mulch. Agriculture, ecosystems & environment, 115(1-4), 34-42.
  30. Adeux, G., Rodriguez, A., Penato, C., Antichi, D., Carlesi, S., Sbrana, M., Cordeau, S. (2023). Long-term cover cropping in tillage-based systems filters weed community phenology: A seedbank analysis. Field Crops Research, 291, 108769.
  31. Pouryousef, M., Yousefi, A. R., Oveisi, M., & Asadi, F. (2015). Intercropping of fenugreek as living mulch at different densities for weed suppression in coriander. Crop Protection, 69, 60-64.
  32. Jamshidi, K., Yousefi, A., & Oveisi, M. (2013). Effect of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) intercropping on weed biomass and maize (Zea mays) yield. New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 41(4), 180-188.
  33. Jabran, K., & Chauhan, B. (2018). Non-chemical weed control: Academic Press.ScienceDirect, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809881-3.00001-2
  34. Zimdahl, R. L. (2007). Weed-crop competition: a review, John Wiley & Sons, Second edition, pp. 1-211
  35. de Oliveira Vergara, R., Martins, A. B. N., Pedo, T., Radke, A. K., Gadotti, G. I., Villela, F. A., Meneguzzo, M. R. R. (2019). Plant growth and physiological quality of quinoa ('Chenopodium quinoa' Willd.) seeds grown in Southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Australian Journal of Crop Science, 13(5), 678-682.
  36. Chaab, A., Fathi, G. A., Siadat, S., Zand, E., & Anafjeh, Z. (2009). The interference effects of natural weed population on growth indices of corn (Zea mays) at different plant densities. Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research, 7(2), 17-28.
  37. Hansen, P. K., Kristensen, , & Willas, J. (2008). A weed suppressive index for spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) varieties. Weed research, 48(3), 225-236.
  38. Mirshekari, B. (2010). Yield and harvest index of sunflower (Helianthus annus) grown by a monoculture system in competition with redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus). Agroecology Journal, 6(8): 73-88.
  39. Jalali, M., Eslami, S., Mahmoodi, S., & Aien, A. (2021). Effect of weeds control on crop growth and yield in additive quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) intercropping. Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research, 18(4), 451-464.
  40. Stagnari, F., & Pisante, M. (2011). The critical period for weed competition in French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Mediterranean areas. Crop Protection, 30(2), 179-184.
  41. Mirshekari, B. (2008). Effect of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) competition on some physiological traits and yield of sunflower (Helianthus annus L.). New Finding in Agriculture, 2(3), 299-314.
  42. Keating, K. I. (1999). Allelopathy: principles, procedures, processes, and promises for biological control. Advances in agronomy, 67, 141-231.
  43. Clark, A. , Decker, A. M., & Meisinger, J. J. (1994). Seeding rate and kill date effects on hairy vetch‐cereal rye cover crop mixtures for corn production. Agronomy Journal, 86(6), 1065-1070.
  44. Iri, S., Siahmarguee, A., Zeinali, E., & Soltani, A. (2021). Effects of different winter cover crops and their residues on weed control and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) yield (Golestan cultivar). Iranian Journal of Cotton Researches, 8(2), 163-180.
  45. Blanco‐Canqui, H., Shaver, T. M., Lindquist, J. L., Shapiro, C. A., Elmore, R. W., Francis, C. A., & Hergert, G. W. (2015). Cover crops and ecosystem services: Insights from studies in temperate soils. Agronomy Journal, 107(6), 2449-2474.
  46. Aladesanwa, R., & Adigun, A. (2008). Evaluation of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) live mulch at different spacings for weed suppression and yield response of maize (Zea mays) in southwestern Nigeria. Crop Protection, 27(6), 968-975.
  47. Eli, M. A., Yosefi, A., Pouryosef, M., & Fotovat, R. (2012). Use of pearl millet as a live plant for suppressing sunflower weeds. Paper presented at the 12th Iranian Congress of Agronomy and Plant Breeding. (In Persian) retrieved from https://civilica.com/doc/218289
  48. Uchino, H., Iwama, K., Jitsuyama, Y., Ichiyama, K., Sugiura, E., Yudate, T., Gopal, J. (2012). Effect of interseeding cover crops and fertilization on weed suppression under an organic and rotational cropping system: 1. Stability of weed suppression over years and main crops of potato, maize and soybean. Field Crops Research, 127, 9-16.
  49. Shaiful, I. M., Hasanuzzaman, M., Rokonuzzaman, M., & Nahar, K. (2009). Effect of split application of nitrogen fertilizer on morphophysiological parameters of rice genotypes. International Journal of Plant Production, 3(1), 51-62.
Journal of Plant Production Research
Volume 33, Issue 1
April 2026
Pages 81-98

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics