A trait-based analysis to assess the ability of cover crops to control weeds in a tropical island

Cover crops have a high potential to manage weeds through competition for shared resources in tropical agrosystems. Assessing the abilities of large number different plant species compete with requires experiments pedo-climatic environments. Our study was based on set 10 trials including 46 cover performed from 2016 2018 three sites Reunion Island. aim identify and measure traits that maximize ground weed control under climate. We characterized two interest (mean rate increase cover) compared family, area origin life cycle crops. The ability soil increased height leaf appearance tended decrease thermal time emergence. Accordingly, efficiency (low dry mass) positively correlated cover, biomass. Using functional characterize enabled us could be used agrosystems as an alternative herbicides, instance, sugarcane