Improved Nitrogen Utilization and Herbicide Reduction Through Relay Intercropping

Improved Nitrogen Utilization and Herbicide Reduction Through Relay Intercropping

Summary

The project's plan is to seed Italian ryegrass in between established corn rows during crop cultivation, applying herbicide only if needed. After seeding, grass germination occurs but growth is at a slow pace because of low light from the corn canopy until the corn is harvested.This multiple-cropping system provides minimal resource competition with the corn crop, and a weed-suppressing ground cover. After corn harvest, the grass grows rapidly and will be harvested the following spring prior to corn planting.