Weed growth and sweet corn yield as affected by planting patterns and mulch types in organic farming practice

Abstract

Weed is the main problem in organic agriculture. Intercropping is an agricultural practice to control weeds. The study intended to compare weed growth and sweet corn yield in intercropping and monoculture patterns with different mulch types and to determine the best planting pattern and mulch type for crop growth and yield. A field experiment was conducted at the CAPS Research Station situated in Air Duku Village, Rejang Lebong, Bengkulu, at 1054 m above sea level. The experiment used Completely Randomized Block Design (RCBD) with two factors. There were no interactions between planting patterns and organic mulch types on weed growth and sweet corn yield. Intercropping sweet corn-kidney bean and sweet corn-string bean suppressed the growth of weeds. Also, intercropping of sweet corn-kidney bean or sweet corn-string bean had similar sweet corn yield with monoculture. Rice straw and rice husk mulch suppressed weeds growth better than coffee husk mulch.