Journal of NACAA

Corn grain and forage yield in a perennial legume living mulch system in east-central Mississippi

ISSN 2158-9429

Volume 19, Issue 1 - June 2026

Editor: Bindu Poudel-Ward

Abstract

Perennial living mulch cover crops have the potential to mitigate environmental impacts on erosive soils, offset N requirements in corn (Zea mays L.), and generate highly nutritious feedstocks for differed feeding.  The objectives of this research were to 1) compare corn grain yield across multiple perennial legume living mulch species and cultivars and 2) evaluate forage production parameters of the same living mulch species as potential baleage crops in east-central Mississippi.  A field trial was conducted from fall 2023 to fall 2025 at the Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station in Newton, MS.  The study was comprised of a randomized complete block design with three replications including three species and five cultivars, including: white clover [Trifolium repens L.; ‘Regal Graze’ and ‘Marco Polo’); red clover (Trifolium pratense L.; ‘Kenland’ and ‘GA-9908’); and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.; ‘Bulldog 805’).  Baleage was harvested from plots each spring prior to corn establishment.  Herbage mass (HM), crude protein (CP), and total digestible nutrients (TDN) did not differ between treatments.  HM, however, declined by 38% across all treatments from year to year.  Corn grain yield varied among treatments, with plots seeded in Regal Graze white clover having greater yield than all other treatments besides Marco Polo white clover in year 1 (77 bu ac^-1), and all treatments in year 2 (121 bu ac^-1).  Our results indicate that baleage and corn grain production can simultaneously be achieved in living mulch systems, however additional N sources are required to meet corn grain yield goals.