Barley seed vigour and mechanical weed control

Author: Rasmussen^{1, 2}

Source: Weed Research, Volume 40, Number 2, April 2000 , pp. 219-230(12)

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Abstract:

Two field experiments investigated the influences of crop seed vigour on the effect of weed harrowing and crop:weed interactions in spring barley. Artificially reduced seed vigour, which was similar to the variation within commercial seed lots, caused a reduction in germination rate, delayed time of emergence and, consequently, caused reduced competitive ability against weeds. During both years, the reduced seed vigour increased the average weed biomass by 169% and 210%, and reduced the average crop yield by 16% and 21%. Without the influence of weeds, the yield reduction was estimated to be 8% and 10%. A three-times harrowing strategy reduced the weed biomass by 75% and 72% on average. However, it also caused damage to the crop and reduced yield. There was no clear interaction between barley seed vigour and weed harrowing in the experiments but, in one year, reduced seed vigour tended to decrease the effect of weed harrowing and also increased crop damage. Results in both years, however, indicate potential possibilities for successful integrated weed control by adding the use of high seed quality to a weed harrowing strategy.

Keywords: competition; crop density; selectivity; Sinapis arvensis; weed harrowing

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3180.2000.00184.x

Affiliations: 1: Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Crop Protection, Research Centre Flakkebjerg, DK-4200 Slagelse, Denmark, 2: The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Section of Agroecology, Agrovej 10, DK-2630 Tåstrup, Denmark

Publication date: 2000-04-01