Abstract

BERLINGERI, Chiara; YUNCOSA, Nelida  and  PEREZ, Trinidad. Evaluation of five legumes as cover crops for weed control in the Motatan river plains, Trujillo, Venezuela ¹. Agronomía Trop. [online]. 2008, vol.58, n.2, pp.117-123. ISSN 0002-192X.

Five Leguminosae species were evaluated to be used as cover crop in the ecological conditions of the Maracaibo lake land plain, Andrés Bello Municipality, Trujillo State. The experiment was a randomized completely blocks design with five treatments and three replications. The treatments included: Mucuna pruriens, Stizolobium aterrimum, Vigna unvellab, Vigna unguiculata, Crotalaria juncea, and fallow.  The species were seeded at different seed rates and row spacing. Canopy coverage and plant height of the Leguminosae species were recorded. Canopy coverage, plant height, and aerial biomass of weed species were also registered. There were statistical differences among treatments related to canopy coverage and plant height of Leguminosae and weed species. Fresh and dry weight of weed species collected one month after cropping from each plot of Leguminosae species also showed statistical differences among treatments. Vigna unguiculata and Mucuna pruriens showed the greatest soil protection. Both species had 100% of soil coverage at the end of their cycles.

Keywords : Leguminosae; improved fallow; mulch; motatán; Trujillo State.