Weed infestation of a spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop under the conditions of plough and ploughless tillage

Andrzej Woźniak

doi:10.5586/aa.2011.040

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in the period 2007- 2009 in the Uhrusk Experimental Farm (Lublin region) belonging to the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. Different tillage systems - plough and ploughless tillage - were the experimental factors. In the plough tillage system, tillage involved skimming done after the harvest of the forecrop and autumn ploughing. In the ploughless tillage system, only the herbicide Roundup 360 SL (active substance - glyphosate) was applied after the harvest of the forecrop. In both tillage treatments, spring tillage involved field cultivating and the use of a tillage assembly consisting of a cultivator, cage roller, and harrow. The present experiment evaluated weed infestation of the crop expressed by the number and air-dry weight of weeds and their species composition. Under the conditions of ploughless tillage, air-dry weight of weeds in the spring wheat crop was shown to increase significantly compared to plough tillage. The tillage systems under comparison did not differentiate the number of weeds per 1 m2. Spring wheat sown using plough tillage was colonized most extensively by the following weed species: Avena fatua L., Stellaria media (L.) Vill., Galium aparine L., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Chenopodium album L., and Consolida regalis Gray. In the ploughless tillage treatments, the following weeds were predominant: Stellaria media (L.) Vill., Avena fatua L., Fallopia convolvulus (L.) A. Löve, Papaver rhoeas L., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Galium aparine L., and Chenopodium album L.

Highlights

The weed infestation level in cereal crops is affected by many factors, among which the most important role is attributed to the soil diaspore bank, agricultural practices used, and habitat conditions (Kraska and Pałys, 2006; Sekutowski and R o l a, 2006)
It can be presumed that these conditions affected the weed infestation parameters, in particular the number of weeds and their air-dry weight
High rainfall increased the number of weeds per 1 m2, in particular under the conditions of plough tillage

Summary

Introduction

The weed infestation level in cereal crops is affected by many factors, among which the most important role is attributed to the soil diaspore bank, agricultural practices used, and habitat conditions (Kraska and Pałys , 2006; Sekutowski and R o l a , 2006). Similar conclusions were made by Gawęda (2007) She showed an increase in the weed infestation rates under the conditions of ploughless tillage compared to plough tillage. Plough tillage promoted the increase in the number of weed species compared to ploughless tillage. Sekutowski and R o l a (2006) draw attention to the increase in the number of fruits and seeds in the soil under the conditions of ploughless tillage, whereas Dzienia and Dojss (1999) to their distribution in the soil. In ploughless tillage systems diaspores accumulate primarily in the topsoil, when they germinate they affect weed infestation of the crop plant

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