Encouraging the use of Buckwheat Cover Crops for Weed Control by Reducing the Risk of Volunteer Seedlings

Abstract

A buckwheat cover crop is known to be an effective weed control tool, but it is underutilized. An project to reestablish its use in the modern context is ongoing. One necessary addition is better guidance on preventing and managing buckwheat volunteers. This work has identified sources of volunteers and timing to minimize those sources. Accurate information on volunteer management will greatly facilitate adoption of a practice that can reduce weed pressure in vegetable systems and thereby reduce herbicide application by one spray while providing better weed control and less soil degradation.