Weed Mortality Caused by Row-Crop Cultivation in Organic Corn–Soybean–Spelt Cropping Systems

Abstract

To assess the effectiveness of interrow cultivation, counts were taken before and after cultivation of corn and soybean during the first two crop rotations in a corn–soybean–spelt organic grain cropping systems experiment. Overall control per cultivation event in soybean was 73%, about equal to the 67% of the interrow area actually covered by cultivator tools. Weed control per cultivation event in corn was higher, and exceeded 91% at later cultivations. The greater weed control in corn relative to soybean, particularly at later cultivations, was probably due to more soil being thrown into the corn row, burying a greater proportion of the weeds. Perennial weeds emerging from roots and rhizomes were less controlled by cultivation events than weeds emerging from seeds. Relatively poor control of perennials was due both to rapid resprouting during the few days between cultivation and assessment and to a lower probability of death in the zone indirectly disturbed by cultivator tools. Seedlings of perennial species suffered greater mortality from cultivation than annual weeds, probably because the low relative growth rate of perennials resulted in small seedlings that were susceptible to cultivation. Common ragweed was less controlled by cultivation than other annual weeds, probably because its heavier seeds produced larger seedlings at the time of cultivation. These larger seedlings were less likely to be buried during hilling-up operations at later cultivations. Counts of weeds before and after individual cultivation events provide insight into the processes affecting weed mortality during mechanical management.