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Maize crops on sub-optimal locations - the influence of varied lengths and impact of a series of mounds on the yield and quality benefits of the corn at the same time weed control varied
Project
Project code: 2803OE037
Contract period: 01.04.2004
- 31.12.2006
Budget: 12,672 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
The aim of the study was to develop an adapted tillage and weed control system for organic maize cultivation on marshland. Therefore three tillage systems were proved in a three-year-period (2004 to 2006).
Three different ways were compared with each other:
1) standard-variant tillage system with 75 cm row width,
2) close-sowing tillage system with 37,5 cm row width and
3) ridge-tillage system with 75 cm row width.
The following soil cultivation implements were used for weed control: weeding harrow, conventional share hoe, rolling hoe and ridging hiller, well-known from potato cultivation.
Even in 2004, the first year field experiments were carried out the ridge-tillage system has positive effects on plant growth, which led to significant yield increases (30 percent). The yields of the close-sowing tillage system were ten percent above the standard-variant tillage system. But in the following two years (2005 and 2006) both ridge-tillage and close-sowing tillage system showed no more increase of yields.
The experiment showed that the water supply in the dams was low. As a direct consequence it could be seen, that the maize kernel did not have enought water for seedgermination. Prevalent dry weather conditions exacerbated the situation and consequently caused a growth depression. In 2005 bird feeding resulted in high crop damages and plant losses. Due to these facts the data thus obtained could not be analysed.
In every year field experiments were carried out the advantages of the ridge-tillage system could be seen in its positive effects on weed control. The implement scooped up the surrounding earth. Thus it appears that monded soil has a significant impact on weed control (reduction in weed).
In contrast, the close-sowing tillage system in combination with a conventional share hoe is caracterized by high density of weed and low maize yields (2005 and 2006). Simply because the conventional share hoe has problems with the elemination of weed in small rows per hectar, a larger portion of the field remains untreated. It is to be pointed out, that this soil cultivication implement is inapplicable for maize cultivation under organic conditions.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Production
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
