Spring-planted winter rye (Secale cereale) as a living mulch to control weeds in soybean (Glycine max)

The effects of rye planting time, rye seeding rate, and rye/weed management systems on weed control and soybean yield were determined in field experiments near Arlington, WI from 1992 to 1994. Insufficient precipitation in 1992 resulted in limited soil moisture, less ground cover, less weed control, and lower soybean yields than in 1993 and 1994. The higher rye seeding rate provided more ground cover and better weed control than the lower rate in all years; however, it reduced soybean vigor. The optimum rye seeding rate was 112 kg/ha. The rye-only system reduced weed shoot biomass by 90, 82, and 60%, in 1992, 1993, and 1994, respectively, relative to the no-rye weedy check treatment. Killing rye 45 d after planting soybean gave optimum weed control. In 1993, rye alone suppressed the weeds without decreasing crop yield, but in 1994 crop yield was decreased due to inadequate weed control by rye. The results indicate that the rye living mulch technique can adequately control weeds without causing soybean yield reduction if weed pressure is low, ground cover and soil moisture are adequate and rye interference is minimal. Nomenclature: Rye, Secale cereale L.; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr.