Gomez, P., and J. Gurevitch. 1998. Weed community responses in a corn-soybean intercrop. Applied Vegetation Science 1: 281-288.
Weed community responses were examined in a maize-soybean intercrop, with and without nitrogen fertilization, in southwestern Michigan, USA. Weed suppression was observed when intercropping was additive. The depression in above-ground weed biomass was not due to a synergistic effect of crop diversity, but to the effects of crop density and crop type. Intercropping did not have a greater suppressive effect than monocultures on weed biomass when crop densities were similar to those in monocultures. Intercropping per se did not alter the diversity, species richness or composition of the weed community. The presence and density of maize was more important than soybean density or intercropping itself in affecting the weed community. Fertilization and the interaction between fertilization and crop type had few effects on the weed community.