Weed Suppressive Ability of Cover Crop Mixtures Compared to Repeated Stubble Tillage and Glyphosate Treatments

Abstract

The utilization of an effective stubble management practice can reduce weed infestation before and in the following main crop. Different strategies can be used, incorporating mechanical, biological, and chemical measures. This study aims at estimating the effects of cover crop (CC) mixtures, various stubble tillage methods, and glyphosate treatments on black-grass, volunteer wheat and total weed infestation. Two experimental trials were conducted in Southwestern Germany including seven weed management treatments: flat soil tillage, deep soil tillage, ploughing, single glyphosate application, dual glyphosate application, and a CC mixture sown in a mulch-till and no-till system. An untreated control treatment without any processing was also included. Weed species were identified and counted once per month from October until December. The CC mixtures achieved a black-grass control efficacy of up to 100%, whereas stubble tillage and the single glyphosate treatment did not reduce the black-grass population, on the contrary it induced an increase of black-grass plants. The dual glyphosate application showed, similar to the CC treatments, best results for total weed and volunteer wheat reduction. The results demonstrated, that well developed CCs have a great ability for weed control and highlight that soil conservation systems do not have to rely on chemical weed control practices.