Abstract
Abstract Living mulch (LM) production systems are gaining traction as an alternative to the use of annual cover crops in the southeastern United States, warranting research on the viability and functionality of this system. Our objective was to evaluate the benefits of LM in corn silage and grain production and to evaluate the potential of LM grazing during the corn ( Zea Mays L.) growing season. The experiment was conducted in Spring Hill, TN in 2020 and 2021 and consisted of two mulch species, white clover (WC) ( Trifolium repens L.) and a mixture of crimson clover ( Trifolium incarnatum L.) and cereal rye (CCCR) ( Secale cereale L.). Cull cows were used for the grazing periods (4 weeks before planting and after the harvest of corn). The study evaluated the botanical composition, mulch mass, nutritive value, corn silage and grain production, and cow average daily weight gain (ADG). The WC treatment had a greater weed control than CCCR. In 2020, when differences in mulch mass were observed, CCCR had greater mass than WC mass due to the weed presence. Meanwhile, in 2021, the mulch mass did not differ between WC and CCCR, with both treatments showing less mass in spring and early summer. Grain production was 30% less than silage in 2020 and 90% less in 2021. The ADG was only observed for WC (0.5 kg −1 ) paddocks. It was concluded that WC as LM has greater corn production than CCCR treatments. The LM for grazing is a beneficial strategy if feeding costs are greater than $2.22 head day −1 .
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
White clover provided greater weed control than the clover rye mixture.
- Taxon
- corn
Zea mays subsp. mayst0 - Treatment
- WCe0
- Interactor
- weede0weed
- Outcome
- weed controle0
- Direction
- greatere0
- Comparator
- CCCRe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The WC treatment had a greater weed control than CCCR”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
The clover rye mulch had greater mass in 2020 because weeds were present.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- CCCRe0
- Interactor
- weede0weed
- Outcome
- mulch masse0
- Direction
- greatere0
- Comparator
- WCe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In 2020, when differences in mulch mass were observed, CCCR had greater mass than WC mass due to the weed presence”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
The two mulches did not differ in mass in 2021.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- WCe0
- Outcome
- mulch masse0
- Direction
- did not differe0
- Comparator
- CCCRe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“in 2021, the mulch mass did not differ between WC and CCCR”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Both mulch treatments had less mass in spring and early summer.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Organ / stage
- spring and early summere0
- Outcome
- masse0
- Direction
- lesse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“both treatments showing less mass in spring and early summer”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Grain production was 30% less than silage in 2020.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- Grain productione0
- Direction
- lesse0
- Value
- 30%e0
- Qualifier
- 2020e0
- Comparator
- silagee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Grain production was 30% less than silage in 2020”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Grain production was 90% less than silage in 2021.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- Grain productione0
- Direction
- lesse0
- Value
- 90%e0
- Qualifier
- 2021e0
- Comparator
- silagee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Grain production was 30% less than silage in 2020 and 90% less in 2021”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Cow daily gain in white clover paddocks was 0.5 kg.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- ADGe0
- Value
- 0.5 kg −1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The ADG was only observed for WC (0.5 kg −1 ) paddocks”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
White clover living mulch yielded greater corn production than the clover rye mixture.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- WC as LMe0
- Outcome
- corn productione0
- Direction
- greatere0
- Comparator
- CCCRe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“WC as LM has greater corn production than CCCR treatments”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Living mulch grazing was considered beneficial above a stated feeding cost.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- LM for grazinge0
- Qualifier
- feeding costs are greater than $2.22 head day −1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“LM for grazing is a beneficial strategy if feeding costs are greater than $2.22 head day −1”
t0“corn”
The same questions in other papers
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1 in the opposite direction
- negative
Trifolium repens · yield · Zea mays (maize)Results agree
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- positive
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103 papers in the same direction as this paper · 104 in the opposite direction · 14 reporting no difference from an alternative
- no effect
- no effect
- positive
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See all 222 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.