Straw on the soil significantly reduces weed infestation under the no-tillage system. The aim of this research was to evaluate the potential of winter cover crops and their management timing in reducing weed infestation in maize crop. Two experiments were carried out in Canoinhas, SC, Brazil, in 2003/2004 and 2004/2005. In the first experiment, six winter cover crops were investigated: oilseed radish, black oat, rye, rye grass, intercropped among black oat and common vetch and among oilseed radish, black oat, rye, ryegrass and common vetch. These cover crops were slashed down at three different times before maize seeding (1, 10 and 25 days). In the second experiment, the potential to reduce weed infestation was investigated in the six cover crops previously mentioned, plus the common vetch. The straw of ryegrass and from intercropping among the five species used in this study had a high capacity to suppress weed emergence and dry matter production, while oilseed radish straw showed low weed suppression potential. The winter cover crops slashed down next to maize seeding reduced weed infestation.
competition; interference; no-tillage system; straw; weed management
