Effects of a fall rye cover crop on weeds and productivity of Phaseolus beans

Abstract

Fall-seeded rye (Secale cereale) is known to suppress weeds through physical and allelopathic properties. This study examined the effects of fall rye cover crops on weed and dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) productivity over four site–years in Manitoba. In addition to rye, we tested early versus late spring rye termination times as well as herbicide use in a factorial experiment with four replicates. In the absence of herbicides, rye reduced early-season broadleaf and grassy weed plant populations by 44%–72% and 43%–88%, respectively. Terminating rye at the four-leaf stage (∼1100 kg dry matter ha−1) provided the same level of weed suppression as termination at booting (∼3100 kg dry matter ha−1). Early rye termination increased bean plant populations (significant at three out of four sites), bean development (four out of four sites), bean biomass (two out of four sites), and bean yield (three out of four sites) compared with later termination. Lower bean yield with rye at one site–year was attributed to dry early season conditions, where rye reduced soil water content. While the rye cover crop provided multiple benefits to bean production, early termination resulted in the best agronomic outcome. Rye was beneficial to weed control even when herbicides were used.