A smother crop forms a thick, rapid canopy that blocks sunlight from reaching weed seeds on the soil surface. Farmers plant species like buckwheat, sorghum-sudangrass, or winter rye to choke out invasive plants without chemical herbicides. Once the crop has done its job, it is usually mowed or tilled into the soil as green manure.
Heard on the job
We'll drill a heavy stand of buckwheat as a smother crop to choke out the thistles before we plant garlic.
Also heard as
- cover crop
- catch crop
Related terms
Trap crop
A sacrificial plant stand grown to lure pests away from a primary cash crop.
Fallow crop
A crop grown on land that is otherwise resting, typically to suppress weeds or improve soil structure before being ploughed under.
Living mulch
A low-growing cover crop planted alongside a main crop to suppress weeds and protect the soil.