The development and implementation of integrated weed management (IWM) strategies that provide good weed control while reducing dependence on herbicides, and preferably without having side effects on the overall system economic performance, is still a challenge that has to be met. In 2011 and 2012, nine on-farm experiments (i.e., real field conditions on commercial farms, with natural weed flora) were conducted in three important European maize producing regions-countries, which represent the range of climatic and edaphic conditions in Europe, to evaluate the efficacy of different locally selected IWM tools for direct weed control in maize vs. the conventional approach (CON) followed by the farms. The IWM tools tested were: (1) early post-emergence herbicide band application combined with hoeing followed by a second hoeing in Southern Germany, (2) early post-emergence herbicide broadcast application when indicated by a predictive model of weed emergence after performing one scouting in the field to supply data for the model, followed by hoeing in Northern Italy, and (3) tine harrowing at 2–3rd leaf stage of maize and low dose of post-emergence herbicide in Slovenia. Results showed that the IWM tools tested in the different countries: (1) provided sufficient weed control without any significant differences in yields, (2) greatly reduced maize reliance on herbicides, and (3) IWM implementation was economically sustainable as no significant differences in gross margin were observed in any country compared to CON.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4603240
Maize represents in Slovenia for many years the most widespread field crop. For the last 10 years it has been grown on average, on 40 % of arable land, which ranks us first in Europe. The maize production is also known for its impacts on the environment. Above all, weeds are those that represent the greatest threat to maize production both in terms of economics as well as environmental impacts. This paper presents the technology of maize production in the past and its impacts on the environment, particularly groundwater. Additionally the approach of integrated plant protection, which has been developing from the concept of weed eradication to the weed management within integrated crop production, is described.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4640104
Majority of the intensive agricultural production in Slovenia is concentrated on the fertile arable land in the lowlands. However, the sources for most of the Slovenian drinking water are groundwater aquifers recharged through intensively cultivated shallow alluvial soils. Conservation tillage management practices where main crops are planted in the plant residues exhibited positive environmental implications not just in protecting soils from erosion, but also from preventing of leaching agrochemicals into groundwater. In the period from 2012 to 2014 series of field experiments in maize production was conducted at Agricultural institute of Slovenia in Jablje, where conventional and strip- till management systems were compared. Experimental plots were established in the field, where previous year cover crops, radish (Raphanus sativus L.), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) where planted in the wheat stubble. In conventional plots, cover crops where incorporated in the spring with moldboard plough, followed by spring tine cultivator seed bed preparation and maize planting. In the strip-till system, cover crops were terminated with glyphosate one week before planting and mulched if needed after which maize was planted in the cultivated strips. Early post emergence herbicide treatment was applied in both production systems. Our preliminary three years experimental results indicate, that similar germination and early growth rate of maize was determined in strip-till management systems, compared to conventional maize production system. Strip-till production system displayed alternative technology and potential for achieving high maize yields.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4638056