Abstract
Jason Jones of The Homestead near Pleasant Hill planted white mustard (Sinapis alba) fall 2009 to test its impact on weed germination in spring 2010. White mustard germinated uniformly and winter killed in late November 2009. Weed counts were not statistically different between mustard plots and the bare ground control. Carrot germination was slightly less in the mustard plots than in the bare ground control, but not enough to create a statistical difference.
While results did not show that there was reduced spring weed germination, Jason was satisfied with the cover mustard provided on his field for erosion control. Since the mustard winter killed, no cultivation was necessary in the spring and the bed was clean enough to plant into without a spring tilling.