Experimental plots were overlaid on commercial fields of broccoli (Brassica oleraceae L. var. Italica) and cauliflower (Brassica oleraceae L. var. botrytis L.) to evaluate legume species as interseedings in vegetable production. White clover (Trifolium repens L.), red clover (T. pratense L.), yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis L.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) and crimson clover (T. incarnatum L.) were seeded 4-5 weeks after an early planting of broccoli and a late planting of cauliflower. Crop yields, forage biomass, weed biomass and percent fall ground cover were recorded. / A dry year coupled with difficulties in applying the treatments resulted in low forage biomass. Hairy vetch yielded the most within the early broccoli planting system. High rainfall the next year resulted in high biomass yields. Over the two year study, hairy vetch and crimson clover emerged as the two most productive species. Significant effects on fall weed biomass were observed with broccoli in the second year of the study, where interseeded plots reduced weed populations by at least 66%. No evidence was seen of weed suppression by interseedings prior to harvest. Crop yields were not affected by interseedings. All interseeded treatments provided the minimum of 30% ground cover required to help reduce erosion.

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