Abstract
White clover (Wc) has been reported as one of the effective living mulch plants.We investigated sweet corn (Sc) yield under Wc living mulch without trimming during the growth period of Sc in southern Kanto. Wc was sowed in the field of Kanagawa Prefecture on Oct. 7, 2002 and Feb. 21, 2003, at the rate of 5g and 10g per m2, respectively. Wc was mown once before Sc seeding. Wc growth in fall sowing was superior to that in spring sowing. However, there was not much difference in Wc growth between the two sowing rates. Wc sown in fall definitely controlled weeds,and the ear of Sc in the field with fall-sowing Wc fully matured and had a high quality. Wc sown in spring did not prevent spreading of broad-leaved weeds in summer. The number of Sc individuals decreased after Sc seeding under Wc living mulch. However, Sc yield in fall-sowing Wc was not less than that in common cultivation. The above results suggested that Sc cultivation with Wc living mulch may be available as a farming system without using chemical herbicides in southern Kanto.
