ANALYSIS OF WEEDS BIOMASS AND WINTER COVER CROPS PRIOR SOYBEAN SOWING IN SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
Keywords:
cover crops, weeds, low input production, organic production, soybean
Abstract
This study investigates the role of winter cover crops in controlling weeds within low-input and organic farming systems prior soybean sowing. Weeds are a persistent challenge in crop production, especially in organic production, requiring effective management strategies to ensure high yields, production and environmental sustainability. Traditionally, herbicides were commonly used, but growing concerns over their environmental impact have shifted the focus toward sustainable agricultural practices. The research explores the use of winter cover crops, such as rye and pea-oat mixtures, to reduce weed biomass in fields under low-input and organic farming conditions. Trials were conducted over three years in Serbia (2019-2022), the results demonstrate that cover crops significantly reduce weed biomass, with rye proving to be a strong competitor. The study highlights the potential of cover crops as an effective ecological strategy for weed management prior soybean sowing, offering benefits such as reduced herbicide use, conservation tillage, improved soil health, erosion prevention, and better long-term crop yields.
References
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9. Koudahe, K., Allen, C., S., Djaman, K.: Critical review of the impact of cover crops on soil properties. International Soil and Water Conservation Research, 10 (3), 343-354, 2022.
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11. Kovačević, D., Momirović, N.: Uloga agrotehničkih mera u suzbijanju korova u savremenim konceptima razvoja poljoprivrede. Acta herbologica 17(2), 23-38, 2008.
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15. Restuccia, A., Scavo, A., Lombardo, S., Pandino, G., Fontanazza, S., Anastasi, U., Abbate, C., Mauromicale, G.: Long–Term Effect of Cover Crops on Species Abundance and Diversity of Weed Flora. Plants. 9(11):1506, 2020 https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9111506
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18. Rueda-Ayala, V., Jaeck, O., Gerhards, R.: Investigation of biochemical and competitive effects of cover crops on crops and weeds. Crop Protection, 71, 79-87, 2015.
19. Schappert, A., Schumacher, M., Gerhards, R.: Weed Control Ability of Single Sown Cover Crops Compared to Species Mixtures Agronomy, 9(6), 294; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9060294, 2019.
20. Simić A., Krga I., Simić M., Brankov M., Vučković S., Bijelić Z., Mandić V.: Mogućnost suzbijanja korova združenim gajenjem jarog stočnog graška sa ovsem. Acta herbologica, 2(27),109-119, 2018.
21. Smith, R. G., Warren, N. D., & Cordeau, S.: Are cover crop mixtures better at suppressing weeds than cover crop monocultures? Weed Science, 68(2), 186-194, 2020.
22. Teasdale J. R.: Contribution of Cover Crops to Weed Management in Sustainable Agricultural Systems. Journal of Production Agriculture Research, 9 (4), 475-479,1996. (pristup: 5 Mart 2025)
23. Vilà, M., Beaury, E., Blumenthal, D., Bradley, B., Early, R., Laginhas, B., Trillo, A., Dukes, J., Sorte, C., & Ibáñez, I.: Understanding the combined impacts of weeds and climate change on crops. Environmental Research Letters, 16, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abe14b.
24. Yang, H., Zhang, W., Li, L.: Intercropping: feed more people and build more sustainable agroecosystems. Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering, 8(3): 373–386, 2021.
2. Baraibar, B., White, C. M., Hunter, M. C., Finney, D. M., Barbercheck, M. E., Kaye, J. P., ... & Mortensen, D. A.: Weeds in cover crops: context and management considerations. Agriculture, 11(3), 193, 2021.
3. Böcker, T., Möhring, N., Finger, R.: Herbicide free agriculture? A bio-economic modelling application to Swiss wheat production, Agricultural Systems, 173, 378-392, 2019.
4. Brust, J., Claupein, W., & Gerhards, R.: Growth and weed suppression ability of common and new cover crops in Germany. Crop Protection, 63, 1-8, 2014.
5. Chauhan, B. S., Matloob, A., Mahajan, G., Aslam, F., Florentine, S. K., Jha, P.: Emerging challenges and opportunities for education and research in weed science. Frontiers in plant science, 8, 1537, 2017.
6. Grün, E., Alves, A., Da Silva, A., Zanon, A., Corrêa, A., Leichtweis, E., Neto, R., Ulguim, A.: How Do Off-Season Cover Crops Affect Soybean Weed Communities? Agriculture, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091509.
7. Horvath, D., Clay, S., Swanton, C., Anderson, J., & Chao, W.: Weed-induced crop yield loss: a new paradigm and new challenges. Trends in plant science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2022.12.014, 2023.
8. Janošević, B.: Agroekološki i agronomski značaj pokrovnih useva u održivom sistemu gajenja hibrida kukuruza specifičnih svojstava. Doktorska disertacija, Univerzitet u Beogradu, Poljoprivredni fakultet, 2021.
9. Koudahe, K., Allen, C., S., Djaman, K.: Critical review of the impact of cover crops on soil properties. International Soil and Water Conservation Research, 10 (3), 343-354, 2022.
10. Kovacevic, D., Momirovic, N.: Uloga integralnih sistema suzbijanja korova u konceptu odrzive poljoprivrede I deo: Opsti i bioloski aspekti integralnih sistema suzbijanja korova. Acta Herbologica, 9(1), 29-40, 2000.
11. Kovačević, D., Momirović, N.: Uloga agrotehničkih mera u suzbijanju korova u savremenim konceptima razvoja poljoprivrede. Acta herbologica 17(2), 23-38, 2008.
12. Ljubelj, K: Poljoprivreda niskih ulaganja Zagreb, Agronomski fakultet, 2008.
13. Milošev, D., Šeremešić, S.: Đubrenje u održivoj poljoprivredi. In Manojlović, M. (Ed.), Primena đubriva u organskoj proizvodnji, Poljoprivredni fakultet, Novi Sad, 168-187, 2008.
14. Osipitan, O.A.; Dille, J.A.; Assefa, Y.; Radicetti, E.; Ayeni, A.; Knezevic, S.Z.: Impact of Cover Crop Management on Level of Weed Suppression: A Meta-Analysis. Crop Sciences, 59, 833–842, 2019.
15. Restuccia, A., Scavo, A., Lombardo, S., Pandino, G., Fontanazza, S., Anastasi, U., Abbate, C., Mauromicale, G.: Long–Term Effect of Cover Crops on Species Abundance and Diversity of Weed Flora. Plants. 9(11):1506, 2020 https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9111506
16. Rivière, C., Béthinger, A., & Bergez, J.: The Effects of Cover Crops on Multiple Environmental Sustainability Indicators - A Review. Agronomy, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12092011.
17. Romdhane, S., Spor, A., Busset, H., Falchetto, L., Martin, J., Bizouard, F., ... & Cordeau, S.: Cover crop management practices rather than composition of cover crop mixtures affect bacterial communities in no-till agroecosystems. Frontiers in microbiology, 10, 1618., 2019.
18. Rueda-Ayala, V., Jaeck, O., Gerhards, R.: Investigation of biochemical and competitive effects of cover crops on crops and weeds. Crop Protection, 71, 79-87, 2015.
19. Schappert, A., Schumacher, M., Gerhards, R.: Weed Control Ability of Single Sown Cover Crops Compared to Species Mixtures Agronomy, 9(6), 294; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9060294, 2019.
20. Simić A., Krga I., Simić M., Brankov M., Vučković S., Bijelić Z., Mandić V.: Mogućnost suzbijanja korova združenim gajenjem jarog stočnog graška sa ovsem. Acta herbologica, 2(27),109-119, 2018.
21. Smith, R. G., Warren, N. D., & Cordeau, S.: Are cover crop mixtures better at suppressing weeds than cover crop monocultures? Weed Science, 68(2), 186-194, 2020.
22. Teasdale J. R.: Contribution of Cover Crops to Weed Management in Sustainable Agricultural Systems. Journal of Production Agriculture Research, 9 (4), 475-479,1996. (pristup: 5 Mart 2025)
23. Vilà, M., Beaury, E., Blumenthal, D., Bradley, B., Early, R., Laginhas, B., Trillo, A., Dukes, J., Sorte, C., & Ibáñez, I.: Understanding the combined impacts of weeds and climate change on crops. Environmental Research Letters, 16, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abe14b.
24. Yang, H., Zhang, W., Li, L.: Intercropping: feed more people and build more sustainable agroecosystems. Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering, 8(3): 373–386, 2021.
Published
2026/02/02
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