Cover Crops for Effective Weed Management in Black Cumin Cultivation
摘要
Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) is a significant medicinal and aromatic crop whose cultivation is hindered by intense weed competition, as weeds emerge earlier and shade the crop more effectively. This study investigated the effects of various cover crops, including barley, rye, hairy vetch, common vetch, and their mixtures, on black cumin yield and weed suppression. The experiment was conducted during the 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 growing seasons using a randomized complete block design with four replications. In 2023, the highest total weed biomass, approximately 168 g m−2, was recorded in weedy control plots, where the dominant species were Amaranthus retroflexus L., Chenopodium album L., Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl, and Fumaria officinalis L. In 2023, the hairy vetch-barley mixture reduced weed biomass by approximately 92%. In contrast, in 2024, the control plots again showed the highest weed biomass, with the same dominant weed species. However, barley alone provided the most effective suppression, resulting in a 93 % decrease in weed biomass. Regarding yield, the highest black cumin production in 2023 was obtained from the common vetch and barley treatments and the hairy vetch-barley mixture, whereas in 2024, the highest yields were recorded in common vetch, hairy vetch, and barley treatments. Although similar weed species occurred in both years, differences in rainfall and temperature likely affected crop-weed competition, as evidenced by differences in weed suppression and yield performance. The results show that cereal and legume cover crops have significant potential for weed suppression.