Utilizing Clover as a Cover Crop for Enhanced Weed Management and Soil Health in Barley Production

Commodities

• Agronomic: barley, clovers

Practices

• Animal Production: feed/forage
• Crop Production: continuous cropping, cover crops, cropping systems, crop rotation, double cropping, drought tolerance, nutrient management
• Education and Training: demonstration, extension, on-farm/ranch research, workshop
• Farm Business Management: budgets/cost and returns, feasibility study
• Natural Resources/Environment: soil stabilization
• Pest Management: chemical control, integrated pest management, row covers (for pests), smother crops
• Soil Management: organic matter, soil analysis, soil quality/health
• Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems

Barley is an important rotational crop in the Western U.S., offering a sustainable alternative to other commodities due to its lower water, nutrient, and pest control inputs compared to crops like wheat. However, the region's agricultural producers face growing challenges, including herbicide-resistant weeds and increasing water scarcity, which threaten crop productivity and sustainability. Interseeding clover into barley can address these issues by improving water infiltration, enhancing use efficiency, and providing a natural method of weed suppression. As reliance on chemical herbicides becomes less viable due to resistance, clover’s ability to outcompete weeds reduces the need for herbicides, mitigates herbicide resistance risks, and alleviates water stress during drought. Clover also contributes to soil health by adding organic matter, supporting beneficial microbes, and promoting crop resilience. This project will help Western U.S. producers overcome challenges in weed management, herbicide resistance, and water scarcity by promoting cover crops as an integrated weed management tool for small grains. By exploring optimal seeding density, termination timing, and termination methods for effective interseeding, the project aims to enhance weed control, water use efficiency, and crop rotation diversity. Outreach will include presentations, Extension fact sheets, and journal articles to educate growers on these practices' benefits and implementation.

1. To evaluate the effect of red clover seeding density and termination method on weed suppression.
2. To evaluate the influence of utilizing red clover as a cover crop in barley production on soil fertility and soil organic matter
3. To provide agricultural stakeholders with research results about utilizing red clover as a cover crop in barley production through direct engagement at workshops, conferences, and press releases, as well as indirect contacts such as Extension fact sheets