Living mulch for no-till corn and soybeans

No-till planting of corn (Zea mays L.) and soybeans [Glycine max. (L.) Merr.] in grass and legume sod mulches was evaluated from 1978 to 1982 in southern Illinois. Herbicides or growth regulators were selected for application to each sod to keep a portion of it alive or to allow it to regrow late in the season to provide a continuous cover. Results of these studies showed that good corn and soybean yields could be obtained while maintaining up to 60 percent of a living grass mulch. It was more difficult to maintain a living legume sod. A successful living mulch system could minimize soil erosion and runoff even more than a standard no-till system, particularly on sloping, erosive land. Adoption of such a cropping system by a significant number of farmers who grow row crops on erosive land could help meet nonpoint pollution control goals.