Weed suppression using living mulch plant mixtures

Weed pressure in crop systems can be effectively managed using living mulches—complementary plant species like clover or lucerne intercropped with cereals or oilseed rape. These mixtures reduce weed growth by covering up to 95% of the soil surface, enhancing resource use efficiency and supporting sustainable farming. In organic systems, perennial forage legumes are sown at the end of winter in winter wheat or simultaneously with oilseed rape, and must be terminated before sowing the next crop. In conventional systems, termination is increasingly tested. Biomass of the living mulch should not exceed one ton per hectare at wheat flowering to avoid competition. The method is applicable across Europe, year-round, and requires no special equipment. Farmers are encouraged to test and share results via the organic farm knowledge platform.