New Crop Mixtures Show Promise in Weed Control in Dry Environments
Intercropping different types of crops together can help control weeds and produce good forage. A study in Canada tested mixtures of annual forage crops in different row spacings. Mixtures with radish and barley were best at reducing weeds. Row spacing didn't make a big difference. Forage production was highest in July with the barley-radish mixture. In a greenhouse experiment, radish was better at controlling weeds than barley, but the mix of both had the best results. This shows that planting multiple crop species, especially forage radish, can help control weeds in dry environments.