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Optimising strategies for weed control in medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation with special focus on indirect and mechanical procedures, as well as the cultivation practives of chamomile and lemon balm
Project
Project code: 22015818
Contract period: 01.07.2019
- 30.06.2022
Budget: 279,392 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
The key objective of this proposal is to substantially improve integrated weed control in medicinal and aromatic plants to avoid or reduce the use of herbicides. Test crops focusses on species with low weed competition such as lemon balm, arnica, parsley, pure camomile and angelica. For that purpose the efficacy of existing weeding tools such as tine harrow, finger weeder, torsion weeder, rotary harrow and rigging hiller will be improved. In a first step individual tools will be optimized with respect to timing and settings according to site specific conditions (soil, crop and weed development) in test fields. In a second step the identified optimal time for application of individual tools will be compared in field trials with respect to efficacy. This approach is innovative since past evaluations of weeding tools did not differentiate specific weeding methods and their optimal application date. In addition a range of indirect and direct weed control methods will be tested in field trials with sown lemon balm and pure chamomile including false seed bed, repeated stubble tillage and sterilized seed rows either induced by heat or by use of sterile compost. Results from the different weed control tactics will be combined in site specific strategies that are assumed to have a higher efficacy. It is expected that farmers who grow medicinal plants with low weed competition will largely benefit from the developed strategies of integrated weed control due to the decreased application of herbizides.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Protection
- Specialised crops
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
PHARMAPLANT - Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Research and Seed Production GmbH
