Corn production with perennial ground covers: evaluation of cover species and their effects on corn growth and development

The use of perennial ground covers (PGC) in corn production may offer a long term and ecological solution to soil conservation issues while allowing the removal of corn stover for biofuel production. This system has historically offered many challenges as yields have been quite variable among studies, and management practices required for PGC production systems vary from modern day practices. Issues of using perennial ground covers appear to encompass a complex genetic x environmental x management interaction that deals with availability of nutrients and light quality, as well as timing and types of management practices used with ground cover species. The overall focus of the following chapters is to elucidate certain aspects of this three-way interaction and to expand scientific knowledge of the corn and perennial ground cover production systems to expedite the development of a successful system