Investigating the Effectiveness of Sunn Hemp (Crotalaria juncea) and Rye (Secale cereal L.) in Weed Suppression and Yield of Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. Gongylodes)

Use of cover crops for controlling weeds is an environmental friendly alternative to conventional chemical and mechanical methods. Kohlrabi is a cool-season hardy crop which can be grown in early spring. The crop is well known in Europe and other regions as a health staple in human’s diets. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of using sunn hemp and rye cover crops as monoculture or mixed in controlling weeds and improving yield of kohlrabi.

A two-year field study was conducted. Experimental treatments consisted of monoculture rye (Secale cereal L.), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) and their mixture and no cover crop as control.

Cover crops biomass were 379.7 and 473.9 g.m-2 in first and second growing seasons, respectively. Averaged over two years, weed dry weight reduced by 52.6, 42.5 and 45.4 percentage in rye monoculture, sunn hemp monoculture, and mixed cover crops, respectively. Monoculture rye was more effective in suppressing the dominant weeds. Rye reduced lambsquarter, pigweed, and wild mustard by about 44, 60, and 52 percentage, respectively. On average, use of cover crops improved kohlrabi yield by 30%. Sunn hemp followed by mixed cover crops were more effective in kohlrabi yield improvement.

Cover crops provide many ecological benefits. When weed suppression is the main goal of cover cropping, rye with fast growing habit and extensive root system is more efficient. However, legumes or mixture of legumes and grass are more effective in crop yield improvement.