Interseeded cover crops in seed corn production: Weed control and herbicide tolerance

Field studies were conducted in 1995 and 1996 to determine the effect of interseeded cover crops on grass weeds. Cover crop treatments containing annual ryegrass reduced the density of grass weeds 75 days after seed corn planting. However, differences in visual grass control among cover crop treatments were not apparent at corn harvest. Additional field studies were conducted in 1995 and 1996 to determine the most appropriate time to seed annual ryegrass and crimson clover following an application of a preemergence herbicide. Annual ryegrass was not successfully established following metolachlor, but was successfully established at an interval of time following an application of EPTC and pendimethalin. Crimson clover was not successfully established when it was seeded the same day herbicides were applied, but was successfully established at an interval of time following an application of pendimethalin, EPTC and metolachlor.