Weeds control by legume companion plants

Can legume companion plants control weeds without decreasing crop yield?

Valentin Verret, Antoine Gardarin, Elise Pelzer, Safia Médiène, David Makowski, Muriel Valantin-Morison, 2017, Field Crops Research, Volume 204, Pages 158-168

Highlights:

  • Legume companion plants are used to suppress weeds, but also compete with the crop.
  • Companion plants reduced weed biomass without yield loss in systems not weeded.
  • Yield of maize with companion plants was 37% higher than for non-weeded control treatments.