{Tool} Designing mixtures to control weed pressure (ReMIX Practice abstract). Creator(s): Labreuche, Jérôme. Issuing Organisation(s): ARVALIS - Institute du végétal, IFOAM EU. ReMIX Practice abstracts, no. 5. (2020)
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(Designing mixtures to control weed pressure)
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Document available online at: https://www.remix-intercrops.eu/content/download/4088/38976/version/1/file/%235%20Designing%20mixtures%20to%20control%20weed%20pressure.pdf
Summary in the original language of the document
Outcome
Although the regulation of weed pressure is difficult to quantify for living mulch, ongoing experiments show that living mulch can cover up to 95% of the soil surface during the intercropping period.
Practical recommendations
- Perennial forage legume species can be sown in a first cash crop, for example, red or white clovers established in winter wheat at the end of winter in organic farming or clovers or lucerne sown at the same time as oilseed rape in conventional farming.
- After harvesting, the living mulch (e.g. clovers) keeps growing during the intercropping period, especially if the summer weather is not too dry.
- The cover crop can then be destroyed before establishing the following crop or be kept alive during part or the entire cycle of the second crop. In organic farming, the cover crop must be destroyed before sowing the second crop since its development cannot be suppressed with herbicides. In conventional farming, more and more farmers are testing this practice. The biomass of the living mulch shouldn’t exceed 1 ton per hectare, at the wheat flowering stage, for optimal wheat growth.
Practical testing/ Farmers’ experiences
We recommend that you test this method under your own farm conditions. Visit the farmknowledge platform to share your experiences with other farmers, advisors, and scientists!
EPrint Type: | Practice tool |
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Teaser: | Living mulch can regulate weed pressure during intercropping. |
What problem does the tool address?: | Weeds compete with the main crop for light, water and nutrients. Chemicals and, to a lesser degree, mechanical treatments are widely used to suppress weeds. |
What solution does the tool offer?: | Mixing species with complementary properties and that benefit from each other. We will focus on living mulch or 'plant teams' (cereal cash crops associated with non-harvested "companion" species). |
Country: | France |
Type of Practice Tool: | Practice abstracts |
Keywords: | cropping systems, diversification, arable farming, low input agriculture, intercropping, cereal crops, legumes, weed control |
Agrovoc keywords: | Language Value URI English diversification http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2344 English cropping systems http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1971 English arable farming http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_36528 English low input agriculture http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_34370 English intercropping http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3910 English cereal crops http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_25512 English legumes http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_4255 English weed control http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_8345 |
Subjects: | Crop husbandry > Crop combinations and interactions Crop husbandry > Weed management |
Research affiliation: | European Union > Horizon 2020 > Remix France > ARVALIS - Institut du végétal International Organizations > International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements IFOAM > IFOAM Organics Europe |
Horizon Europe or H2020 Grant Agreement Number: | 727217 |
Related Links: | https://www.remix-intercrops.eu/, https://www.arvalis-infos.fr/index.html, https://www.organicseurope.bio |
Deposited By: | De Simone, Dr. Ambra |
ID Code: | 39715 |
Deposited On: | 21 Apr 2021 12:00 |
Last Modified: | 15 Mar 2023 08:21 |
Document Language: | English |
Status: | Published |
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