EFFECT OF COVER CROP MULCHES ON WEED EMERGENCE, WEED BIOMASS, AND SOYBEAN (GLYCINE-MAX) DEVELOPMENT

Field studies were conducted in 1988/89 and 1989/90 at two locations t o determine the effect of rye, wheat, and triticale cover crop mulches on weed emergence patterns, weed biomass, and soybean development. Re droot pigweed and common lambsquarters emergence pattern were not alte red by mulches. Early in the season, mulches reduced weed biomass; how ever, the results were inconsistent between locations and years. Under weed-free conditions, the cover crop mulches had no detrimental effec ts on soybean development and yields were not different from bare soil controls. Nomenclature: Common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album (L.) #3 CHEAL; redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus (L.) # AMARE; rye, S ecale cereale L. 'Danko'; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. 'A1937' and 'Pioneer 0877'; triticale, X Triticosecale Wittmack 'OAC Wintri'; whea t, Triticum aestivum L. 'Augusta.'