Different share types of tine type inter-row cultivator are used to remove the weeds and loosen the soil surface between the rows during the first true leaf stage of cotton. The efficiency of these ...shares can be changed by soil properties and working parameters. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of different share geometries for a tine inter-row cultivator on weed control and plant growth parameters at three different working depths (100, 150 and 200 mm) and a constant working speed (5.4 km h-1) under cotton planted field conditions. Measurements included the weeding efficiency within row and between rows, the percentage of damaged plants, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, NDVI (Normalized difference vegetation index), SPAD (the relative content of chlorophyll) values and seed cotton yield. The results indicated that the inter-row cultivation at the first true leaf stage of cotton significantly increased the plant growth parameters (root dry weight, shoot dry weight, NDVI, SPAD) and seed cotton yield. The share types had a strong effect on the weeding efficiency and the percentage of damaged plants. The increased working depth increased the weeding efficiency, plant growth parameters and seed cotton yield, but also significantly increased the percentage of damaged plants. Overall, the results from this study suggest that the inter-row cultivation during the early stage of cotton will be an effective approach in improving the weed control and the plant growth in cotton production. These outcomes depend on the share type and working depth of the tine type inter-row cultivator.
In order to examine the influence of inter-row cultivation on the soybean
yield, a trial was set up in the Agricultural School in Backa Topola from
2015 to 2017. Three soybean varieties were selected ...at the Institute of
Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad. Galina, Sava and Rubin were used. The
trials included the different number of inter-row cultivations: control -
without inter-row cultivation, one inter-row cultivation, two and three
inter-row cultivations of soybean crops. Obtained results showed that an
average yield of soybean increased with an increase in the number of
inter-row cultivations during the soybean vegetation period. With one
inter-row cultivation, the yield increase was 5.33%, with two inter-row
cultivations - 7.10% and with three cultivations - 7.33%. In the years with
a lower precipitation, the influence of intra-row cultivation was much more
effective. In 2017, the increase ranged from 10.33% to 13.62%, and in 2016
from 3.09% to 4.27%. Yield was increased due to reduced evapotranspiration
of soil moisture as well as prevention of descending of water into deeper
layers. During summer, this allowed better water conservation in the soil
for critical periods, and also increased the activity of microorganisms as
well as more intensive mineralization of organic matter, which ultimately
influenced the yield.
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A field trial was conducted (2020–2021) in a randomized complete block design arranged according to the split-plot design to evaluate the integrated effects of an alternative fertilization practice ...based on the application of a microbial biostimulant in combination with different weed control methods on weed growth and maize productivity. Two fertilization practices, conventional (CF) and alternative (AF), formed the main plots. The CF supplied maize with 160 kg N ha−1. The AF included a foliar application of the biostimulant NitroStim®, which contains N2-fixing bacteria (1 × 1012 colony forming units; CFU L−1) along with a 50% lower fertilizer incorporation rate (80 kg N ha−1). Four weed control treatments formed the subplots: one inter-row mechanical cultivation (M1), two inter-row mechanical cultivations (M2), tembotrione application (99 g a.i. ha−1; H), and an untreated control (CON). Combined over the years (p ≥ 0.05), fertilization, weed control, and their interactions affected (p ≤ 0.05) weed density and biomass, maize grain yield, and nitrogen partial factor productivity (PFPN). The AF reduced weed biomass by 28% compared to the CF. M1 resulted in a high value (389 g m−2). M2 and H reduced weed biomass compared to (M1 ≥ 70%). Weed biomass dropped below 35 g m−2 in the AF × H and AF × M2 subplots. Observations on weed density were similar. The AF resulted in 12 and 56% higher maize grain yield and PFPN than the CF, respectively. M2 increased grain yield by 18 and 25% compared to M1 and CON, respectively, and was not different from H. Moreover, AF × H and AF × M2 were the highest-yielding interactions (≥12,000 kg grain ha−1). AF × M2 increased PFPN by 56, 58, 64, and 67% compared to CF × H, CF × M2, CF × M1, and CF × CON, respectively, while AF × H resulted in similar PFPN.
Maize grown on sloped areas is susceptible to surface runoff and soil erosion, especially if traditional technology with tillage is employed. As a result, other solutions are being sought that ...address this risk and are acceptable to farmers. The combination of inter-row cultivation with the formation of small reservoirs appears to be a suitable alternative solution applicable in traditional corn cultivation. In the years 2020, 2021, and 2022, three plots of land in southern Bohemia, Czech Republic, were selected for testing, on which this approach was tested. During the field experiments, three variants were compared each year: inter-row cultivation with reservoirs, inter-row cultivation only, and a control without any mechanical intervention. All variants were subjected to rain simulation, from which the surface runoff was evaluated. The highest retention of runoff was manifested with reservoir cultivation by 2.4–4.2 min, compared to the cultivated variant, and 2–4.2 min compared to the control. This result would correspond to a difference of 5.7–9.8 mm retained precipitation and 4.6 to 7.3 mm, respectively. The hydraulic conductivity of the soil was evaluated after canopy closure. The lowest values were invariably reached in the reservoirs, up to 88% lower than with the cultivated variant and 79% lower than the control. The fresh matter yield of forage maize was shown to be inconclusively higher by up to 10% in 2020 and 2022 in cultivation with reservoirs. However, the dry matter yield was always lower in the variant with reservoirs compared to inter-row cultivation only. Overall, reservoir cultivation appears to be an effective method for the retention of rainwater on agricultural land with a slope up to 6° without a significant effect on the yield of maize.
► Six chickpea genotypes were grown under four different weed managements. ► Chickpea competitive ability was positively associated with chickpea fast growth. ► The most competitive genotypes had a ...lower seed yield reduction in weedy conditions. ► Combining competitive chickpea genotypes with 2-hoeings increased weed control.
Chickpea is an important pulse crop in the rainfed Mediterranean area, but its competitiveness against the weeds is very low. The combination of high competitive chickpea genotypes and inter-row cultivations could be a feasible strategy for increasing weed control. A 2-year field experiment in a typical rainfed Mediterranean environment of Central Italy was carried out to assess the competitive ability of selected chickpea genotypes grown as pure stand and in mixture with natural weed infestation partially suppressed by inter-row tillage. Experimental treatments consisted in six chickpea genotypes (Alto Lazio, C1017, C133, C134, C6150 stable lines and cultivar Sultano) and four different weed managements no weed control (weedy); 1-hoeing performed at 25 DAE (days after chickpea emergence); 2-hoeings, one performed at 25 and one at 50 DAE; weed-free. Chickpea aboveground biomass at 25 and 50 DAE, chickpea traits at harvesting, weeds, and competition parameters were recorded at final chickpea harvesting. C6150, C1017, Sultano, and Alto Lazio gave the best seed yield in the absence of weeds (on average 2.30tha−1 of DM). In weedy field conditions, the natural weeds reduced seed yield from 56.1% to 75.1%, while the1-hoeing and 2-hoeing treatments reduced the yield loss from 32.5% to 56.9% and from 5.3% to 54.9%, respectively depending on the chickpea genotypes. A good level of competitive ability combined with an elevated yield potential allowed Alto Lazio to reach the highest grain yield production in weed presence. The competitive balance index (Cb) was positively correlated with the chickpea aboveground biomass and ground coverage especially in the early stage (25 DAE), and with the chickpea plant height. 2-hoeings were more effective in reducing weed infestation than 1-hoeing, even if at chickpea harvesting the weed infestation was however high (on average 223gm−2 of DM and 65plantsm−2 of weed aboveground biomass and density, respectively). The weed aboveground biomass was mainly made up of Polygonum aviculare L. and it was positively correlated with the number of chickpea fruitless pods and negatively correlated with the chickpea seed yield. Our findings suggest that in the rainfed Mediterranean environment of Central Italy, combining highly yielding competitive chickpea genotypes with 2 inter-row hoeings, applied at 25 and 50 DAE, is a feasible strategy in order to prevent consistent chickpea seed yield reduction caused by the weeds.
Field experiments were conducted in northern Greece in 2003 and 2004 to evaluate effects of tillage regimes (moldboard plowing, chisel plowing, and rotary tilling), cropping sequences (continuous ...cotton, cotton‐sugar beet rotation, and continuous tobacco) and herbicide treatments with inter‐row hand hoeing on weed population densities. Total weed densities were not affected by tillage treatment except that of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus‐galli), which increased only in moldboard plowing treated plots during 2003. Redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) and black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) densities were reduced in continuous cotton, while purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus), E. crus‐galli, S. nigrum, and johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) densities were reduced in tobacco. A. retroflexus and S. nigrum were effectively controlled by all herbicide treatments with inter‐row hand hoeing, whereas E. crus‐galli was effectively reduced by herbicides applied to cotton and tobacco. S. halepense density reduction was a result of herbicide applied to tobacco with inter‐row hand hoeing. Yield of all crops was higher under moldboard plowing and herbicide treatments. Pre‐sowing and pre‐emergence herbicide treatments in cotton and pre‐transplant in tobacco integrated with inter‐row cultivation resulted in efficient control of annual weed species and good crop yields. These observations are of practical relevance to crop selection by farmers in order to maintain weed populations at economically acceptable densities through the integration of various planting dates, sustainable herbicide use and inter‐row cultivation; tools of great importance in integrated weed management systems.
Alternative methods to control invasive fodder grasses are necessary to reduce the use of herbicides in forest restoration, which has been carried out primarily in riparian zones. We sought to ...investigate if inter-row cultivation of crotalaria (Crotalaria breviflora DC) or pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duschene ex. Poir) with native tree species is an efficient strategy to control invasive fodder grasses in restoration plantings. We tested five treatments in a randomized block design, namely (1) control of brachiaria grass (Urochloa decumbens (Stapf.) Webster) with glyphosate in the implementation and post-planting grass control of the reforestation, (2 and 3) glyphosate use in the implementation and inter-row sowing of crotalaria (2) or pumpkin (3), and control of brachiaria by mowing in the post-planting phase, (4 and 5) mowing in the implementation and inter-row sowing of crotalaria (4) or pumpkin (5), and control of brachiaria by mowing in the post-planting phase. Post-planting grass control was carried out four and nine months after tree seedling planting. Throughout 13 months, we evaluated the percentage of ground cover by brachiaria grass, pumpkin production, and native tree seedling mortality, height and crown cover. The exclusive use of glyphosate, without inter-row sowing of pumpkin or crotalaria showed the most favorable results for controlling brachiaria grass and, consequently, for tree seedling development. Hence, inter-row cultivation of green manure or short-lived crop species is not enough to control invasive grasses in restoration plantings, and complementary weeding is necessary to reduce the highly competitive potential of C4 grasses for supporting native species seedlings growth.
A guidance system is an electro-hydraulic device that solves the problem of complicated control system by simplifying it. It works with computer-controlled hydraulic power technology and controls the ...steering, speed, and attachments (e.g., a loader). It auto-enhances safety for the operator and is easy to operate. Minimalistic design solutions are visible in all mobile hydraulic implement guidance technologies today: no bulky hydraulic machinery needed to move large amounts of heavy metals and moving parts to assemble a guidance system geared up not for transportation but utility. In this paper, a low-cost embedded system is developed which is integrated with computer vision for electro-hydraulic implement guidance system. The BPPD method proved to be effective in various lighting conditions and crop conditions.
Narrower corn row widths, higher crop densities, and interrow cultivation may be used as part of integrated weed management (IWM). During a three-year study, we tested whether these factors affected ...corn growth, development and grain yield at final harvest, and weed biomass when weeds were late-emerging (after the three-leaf stage of corn). Increasing corn density from 7 to 10 plants m−2 or decreasing row width from 75 to 50 cm significantly increased corn leaf area index (LAI), and reduced photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) available for a mixture of weed species located below the corn canopy. Narrower rows and higher corn density significantly reduced biomass of late-emerging weeds. Corn yields increased significantly (10 to 15%) only when narrower rows were used. Intraspecific competition between corn plants in the higher density significantly reduced early corn growth and offset any gain in yield from reduced weed competition. In comparison to plots where late-emerging weeds grew uncontrolled, interrow cultivation did not decrease biomass of late-emerging weeds, hence did not increase corn yield. We recommend using narrower row widths to reduce weed competition and increase corn yield. Increased corn densities had no net yield benefit. Early-season weed management is crucial as the later-emerging weeds were less important in terms of their effect on yield.
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