Apple orchard weeds management by grasses perennial cover crops

Planting permanent cover crops is an eco-friendly approach for reducing weed problems without use of chemical. In order to study effect of perennial cover crop, in comparison with annual cover crops, on weed control and weed community structure this research was conducted in an apple orchard interrows for 2 yr in Gazvin province. Treatments were: Festuca ovina, Festuca arundinacea, Lolium perene, Bromus inermis with replant and without replant, Secale cereal and control (without weed control). In the first spring, perennial cover crops and S. cereal reduced weeds dry weight 70 and 100%, respectively, and in the second spring perennial cover crops in average and S. cereal reduced weeds dry weight 58 and 94%, respectively. In the second year Bromus inermis and Festuca ovina reduced weeds dry weight 10 and 30% more than other perennial cover crops. Replant needed for establishment of perennial cover crops. Cover crops treatments had effect on weed community structure, as weed composition in the end of second year in Bromus inermis and Festuca arundinacea was different from control. However, weed composition in Lolium perene and F. ovina was same as control. Perennial cover crops can be an effective weed management in organic orchards.