engleski

Influence of winter cover crops incorporation on weed infestation in popcorn maize (Zea Mays everta sturt.) organic production

Cover cropping in fallow period brings many benefi ts in organic farming and weed suppression is one of the possible eff ect. Th e main aim of this two year research (2008/09- 2010) was to determine the infl uence of winter cover crops incorporation on weediness in organic popcorn (Zea mays everta Sturt) production. Th e fi eld trial was set up at the lessive soil of the Eastern Croatia (45°38’ 46, 52’’ N / 18°23’ 32, 73’’ E) as complete randomized block design in four repetitions. Th e fi ve cover crops treatments were used: Wr – winter rye, Ww – winter wheat and V - hairy vetch, as single crops, and cover crops mixtures WrV and WwV. Fallow area was used as a control: Z (zero). Sampling to quantify the dry matter and incorporation of cover crops were performed just before full fl owering period of cover crops and the popcorn maize was sown right aft er. Dominant weed species determined in this trial were Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Amaranthus retrofl exus L., Echinochloa crus – galli (L.) PB. and Setaria glauca (L.) PB. Treatments with the highest shoot production were Wr and WrV. Th e weediness in popcorn maize was higher at winter cover crops treatments compared to control. Looking at winter cover crops treatments only, the least weeded was WwV mixture regarding total weed number, and V and Wr treatment showed the lowest weed height, whereas height of the popcorn maize was the lowest at Wr treatment. Th e highest weed aboveground biomass was recorded on WrV treatment. Results of this experiment indicate the increasing of weed infestation caused by winter cover crops incorporation.

cover cropping ; weediness ; organic farming ; Zea mays everta

nije evidentirano