Anbausysteme für Silomais zur Optimierung von Unkrautregulierung und Bodenschutz: Unkrautwirkung

Weed control in organic maize cultivation is a major challenge due to low competitiveness of maize at the beginning of his growth, and due to a regularly wide space between maize rows (70-75 cm). Intensive mechanical weed control measures often cause soil erosion. Thus, several alternative systems with reduced to no tillage of maize after cultivation of winter hardy first crops (fc) have been proven regarding their weed dynamic. After rolled fc weed groundcover in maize increased, if any, slightly, even though no mechanical weed control has been conducted. Furthermore, regrown rolled fc have also been considered as weed in maize. Lowest weed groundcover achieved treatments with harvesting first crops before maize sowing and reduced mechanical weed control compared to conventional maize cultivation. These alternative cultivation systems have the potential to reduce risks of soil erosion as well as the demand for weed control.