Branches of Gliricidia sepium used as mulch for weed control in corn

ABSTRACT Mulching using crop residue reduces the growth of weeds and increases the yield of various crops. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Gliricidia sepium branches, used as mulch, on weed control, and on grain yield in corn. A randomized block design was used, with split plots and five replications. The cultivars, 30F35H and AG 1051, were grown in the plots, and the following treatments applied in the subplots: no weeding, two weedings, and mulching with 10, 20 or 30 t ha-1 (fresh weight) gliricidia branches. The mulch material was applied between the sowing furrows after sowing the corn. Increasing the amount of gliricidia branches caused a linear reduction in weed growth, and increased growth and yield in the corn. Weed growth was less with two weedings than with mulching. Corn yield when carrying out two weedings was equivalent to yields obtained using mulch. There was no difference between cultivars for weed growth nor for growth or grain yield of corn. Maximum growth and grain yield in corn are obtained with the application of 22.0 and 25.6 t ha-1 gliricidia branches respectively, in both cultivars.