The influence of soil tillage systems and weed control methods on weed infestation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in the years 2002- 2004 at the Zawady Agricultural Experimental Station (52^o06' N; 22^o06' E), belonging to the University of Podlasie in Siedlce, Poland. The investigated factors were two soil tillage systems (traditional and reduced) and seven methods of weed control in potato canopies with herbicide application. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of tillage systems and weed control methods on the weed species composition and weed density. Tillage systems, weed control methods and atmospheric conditions prevailing in the study years significantly varied weed infestation of potato canopies at the beginning of vegetation and before tuber harvest. The lowest number of weeds, compared to the control treatment, was recorded in the treatments in which chemical and mechanical weed control had been applied. The treatments with the traditional tillage system also showed lower weed infestation than those in which simplifications had been applied.