Mechanische Beikrautregulierung im ökologischen Sojaanbau

Summary

Successful mechanical weed control is a crucial aspect in organic soybean production. Six weed control techniques (spring tine harrow, inter row hoe with duckfoot sweeps, separately used or in combinations, inter row hoe with additional tools: finger weeder, torsion weeder, ridging wings) were evaluated concerning the effects on weed ground cover and on plant losses. Soy bean plant stands have been established in various rows spacing using different types of seeders (12.5 cm with seed drill for harrowing variant and 50 cm with single seed drill for hoeing variants). The field trials were conducted at two sites in three years (2011-2013).
The weed ground cover in the harrowing variant was higher than in the hoeing variants in three of five environments. In these environments, an additional, late treatment could be realized in the hoeing variants, but not in the harrowing variant. Additional tools above all ridging wings or combinations with spring tine harrow increased the success of mechanical weed control. The plant losses depended on the adjustments of the techniques and on the time of treatment. Plant losses, caused by working in the row or into the row, should be compensated by higher seeding rates.