The effect of agricultural management systems on the weed incidence in cereals
Joniskelis Research Station of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture, Joniskelis,LT-39301 Pasvalys District, Lithuania; e-mail: joniskelio_lzi@post.omnitel.net
Abstract:
Two field trials were carried out at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture’s Joniskelis Research Station on an Endocalcari-Endohypogleyic Cambisol. The experiments were designed to identify the effects of legume pre-crops and intercrops as well as the impact of their biomass incorporated as green manure on the weed incidence in succeeding cereals. The effects of legume pre-crops red clover, sown lucerne, and vetch and oats mixture on the incidence of weeds were determined by their weed incidence and the cereal crop’s suppressive power that formed under its effect. Undersown intercrops (Trifolium pratense L., Lolium multiflorum Lam., Dactylis glomerata L.), reduced the number of weeds in cereals (on average 13.9%). During the cereal post-harvest period red clover performed best at suppressing weeds, and its positive effect persisted in the year following incorporation of intercrops biomass. The effect of intercrops as post-crops (Raphanus sativus L., Sinapis alba L.) on weed incidence in the cereal crop depended upon the weather conditions that determined intercrop emergence time and intensity of plant development.
Key words:
clay loam, intercrops, legume pre-crops, weed infestation