Effect of Seeding Date of Wheat and Clover Plant Interactions in Cereal Systems with an Associated Cover Crop

Summary

The success of the establishment of living mulch systems in cereals is, among other factors, dependent on the seeding time both of the main crop and the associated crop, which may be planted together or at different seeding times. In this contribution, the results of a series of experiments are summarized, where both the absolute and the relative seeding time of winter wheat as main crop and subterranean clover as associated crop has been varied. Early seeding favored the clover, later seeding the main crop. Competition can be regulated by anticipating the seeding time of one of the components. However, an equilibrated mixed canopy could be obtained by seeding both components together.