Abstract
The field experiment was carried out in 2006-2008 in the Felin Experimental Farm (University of Life Sciences in Lublin) on podzolic soil developed from dusty medium loam. Root chicory (<i>Cichorium intybus</i> L.) var. <i>sativum</i> (Bisch.) Janch. cv. Polanowicka was involved in the experiment. The experimental factors were 3 species of intercrop plants: common vetch (<i>Vicia sativa</i>), phacelia (<i>Phacelia tanacetifolia</i>), oat (<i>Avena sativa</i>) and 2 dates of ploughing-in: pre-winter and spring. In total, 26 taxons characteristic for vegetable plantations were identified in chicory weed infestation. Monocarpic species dominated, among which <i>Senecio vulgaris</i>, <i>Chenopodium album</i>, <i>Lamium amplexicaule</i>, <i>Galinsoga ciliata</i>, and <i>Capsella bursa-pastoris</i> were predominant. The date of ploughing-in did not significantly affect the status and size of weed infestation of chicory plots. Short-lived species occurred after pre-winter ploughing-in, while perennial - after spring ploughing-in. The application of intercrops significantly reduced chicory weed infestation as compared to the cultivation with no intercrop. The ploughing-in of <i>Avena sativa</i> biomass appeared to be the most efficient. The intercrop plants reduced the occurrence of <i>Senecio vulgaris</i> and <i>Capsella bursa-pastoris</i> which were the most numerous in the treatment without intercrops. Biomass of <i>Vicia sativa</i> favored the growth of <i>Chenopodium album</i> and <i>Lamium amplexicaule</i>. The secondary weed infestation did not depend on agrotechnical factors applied during the experiment.
Highlights
Weeds compete with crops through negative influences on their growth and yielding
The intercrop plants reduced the occurrence of Senecio vulgaris and Capsella bursa-pastoris which were the most numerous in the treatment without intercrops
The pre-winter ploughing-in reduced the number of Capsella bursa-pastoris to 0.58 per 1 m2, while up to 3.58 per 1 m2 of the species were identified after the spring ploughing-in
Summary
Weeds compete with crops through negative influences on their growth and yielding. The harmfulness of weeds for horticulture can be seen in many aspects, the major ones being as follows: competition for water, light, and nutrients. It leads to a reduction in crop growth, and in consequence, to a yield decrease. Namely the lack of prewinter ploughing-in, which results from a will to reduce labor and energy inputs during cultivation, most often lead to the increase of weed infestation (Kęsik and Błażewicz - Woźniak , 1994; K u ś , 1998; Boström and Fogelfors , 1999; Dzienia and Dojss , 1999; Błażewicz - Woźniak , 2003; Weber and Hryńczuk , 2005). Weeds are seen as crop competitors, and as an element that improves the diversity in an agrocenosis (Marshall et al 2003), and even one which has a positive effect on crop growth (Promsakha et al 2006)
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