Effect of cover crops and their residue management on total weed density, yield and yield components of maize and soil

The experiment was conducted in the agricultural year of 2018-2019 at Moghan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center as a split factorial design with a complete random block design in four replications. Treatment of cover crops in seven levels (rye, crimson clover, rapeseed, barley, sedge, mixed rye + sedge and without cover crop) in the main plot (A) and the treatment combination of cover crop management (B) in two levels (1- floor and roller and 2- plowing and leaving on the soil surface) and weed control (C) on two levels (1- using herbicide to control weeds and 2- no weed control) in the sub-plot to the factorial face was arranged. The results showed that the treatment of the mixture of rye cover plant with sedge has reduced the density of weeds by 86.40% compared to the control without cover plant. Also, this treatment has increased corn yield by 58.37% compared to the control without cover crop. Also, the highest percentage of corn yield increase compared to the control (58.37%) and the highest percentage of soil moisture (28.02%) are assigned to this treatment. The rate of water infiltration in the soil related to rye treatment was higher and the lowest rate of water infiltration was in the control treatment. The general results show that planting winter cover plants can increase soil fertility and store more moisture in the soil while managing weeds.