The influence of soil tillage intensity on weed emergence

Abstract

The increase of weed infestation has always been held one of the main limiting factors for reduced and no-tillage systems, as ploughless tillage and shallow loosening necessary leads to higher amount of weeds (Pranaitis, 1999; Torresen et al,. 2002). According to the results of many trials, reduced soil tillage enhances spread of perennial weeds, such as Elytrigia repens L., Sonchus arvensis L., Cirsium, arvense L. While annual weeds - Poa annua L., Tripleurospermum perforatum Merat. M. Lainz and other can be successfully controlled with herbicides. (Stancevicius et al., 1996). Results of long-term tillage trials, especially when appropriate crop rotation is applied, indicate that increasing soil structure and better knowledge on how to work with reduced tillage systems, allows to avoid additional herbicide usage. (Corina et al., 1994). Crop weedness under reduced tillage systems depends not only on tillage, but also on plant variety and it's ability to compete weeds. According to the data of Seavers and Wright (1999) plant competition ability depends on leaf area, ability to develop proper number of stems, plant height and stage of development. The results of this investigation showed that oats were able to compete Galium aparine L. better then barley or wheat. The aim of the investigation was to evaluate the influence of different intensity tillage and direct drilling systems on weed emergence.