Reducing competition in forage maize intercropped with tall fescue through herbicides, plant types, and sowing density

Forage maize is the predominant crop in intensive dairy farming regions of Europe. This crop, however, associated with considerable nitrate leaching and decreasing soil organic matter concentrations. Catch crops installed after harvest can usually only be sown late growing season North-West Europe to tackle these problems efficiently. Intercropping grass species such as tall fescue has potential result a timely developed sward before winter, capable assimilating important quantities carbon residual nitrogen buildup matter. Yet, intercropped might compete for water nutrients. Here, we report, first time, effect (i) herbicide combinations, (ii) sowing density method, (iii) morphotype, (iv) maturity group on functioning forage fescue. We assessed yields studied N uptake grass. found that every kg dry ha−1 aboveground matter, present at end autumn, came cost 1.4 yield. Herbicide treatments regulate grass-maize competition, whereas lower densities or different methods had no effects. Despite superior winter growth Mediterranean morphotype compared continental fescue, reduction was similar both morphotypes. demonstrate an alternative cover maize, reduce leaching, compensate losses production.