Submit to Agronomy Review for Agronomy Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Conservation Agriculture and Agroecological Weed Management

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Weed Science and Weed Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 June 2021) | Viewed by 42547

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Stéphane Cordeau

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, INRAE, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21000 Dijon, France
Interests: weed biology; no-till; cover crop; weed suppression; integrated weed management; biodiversity-based systems; functional traits

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Conservation agriculture (CA) relies on three fundamental pillars: diversified crop rotation, permanent soil cover, and no soil disturbance (i.e., only the soil disturbance by the seeder is tolerated). In CA, there are fewer weed control possibilities because pre-sowing tillage and in-crop mechanical weeding are not possible. This may impact the weed community’s taxonomic or functional composition and thus weeding tactics over time. Despite all the ecosystem services provided by CA systems, weed/crop volunteer management as well as cover crop termination mainly rely on the use of herbicides such as glyphosate, worldwide.

This Special Issue will focus on “Conservation Agriculture and Agroecological Weed Management”. We welcome new research, reviews, and opinion articles covering all related topics, including the relative role of the three pillars on weed management, biodiversity-based weed management in CA, new practices to limit weed establishment or spread, weed dynamics over time, functional approaches, weed–crop competition, seedbank, interactions between weeds and others organisms, successful experiences in designing and testing pesticide-free CA systems, and the role of livestock in CA systems to manage weeds.

Dr. Stéphane Cordeau
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

conservation agriculture
cover crop
no-till
biodiversity-based weed management
trait
cropping system
livestock
weed suppression
weed–crop competition

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (11 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Other

12 pages, 4785 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Conservation Agriculture and Agroecological Weed Management

by Stéphane Cordeau

Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 867; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040867 - 31 Mar 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4882

Abstract

Conservation agriculture (CA) relies on three fundamental pillars [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Agriculture and Agroecological Weed Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Other

16 pages, 1229 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Herbicide in Weed Management of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Rainy Season Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Conservation Agricultural System

by Taslima Zahan, Md Faruque Hossain, Apurba K. Chowdhury, Md Omar Ali, Md Akkas Ali, Eldessoky S. Dessoky, Mohamed M. Hassan, Sagar Maitra and Akbar Hossain

Agronomy 2021, 11(9), 1704; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11091704 - 26 Aug 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4682

Abstract

Conservation agriculture (CA) based practices are gaining popularity in smallholder farming systems recently because they ensure soil quality and soil health, and they also reduce the total cultivation costs. However, weeds are a major hinderance to achieving the desired yield of crops in cereal-based cropping systems under CA-based practices. Proper weed management is a big challenge for crop growers to reduce the labor demand and cost of production. Considering these burning issues, a field study was done with a CA-based rice–wheat–mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) cropping pattern in two consecutive years (2017–2018 and 2018–2019). The study aimed to understand the types and distribution of weeds in non-puddled rice fields and also in strip-planted wheat fields in sandy loam textured soil with low organic matter (0.87%) content. Furthermore, we also tried to discover the most economic and effective ways to manage weeds in both cereals of the cropping pattern. The performance of two herbicides—pendimethalin (as pre-emergence) and carfentrazone–ethyl + isoproturon (as post-emergence)—for strip-planted wheat and three herbicides—two pre-emergence herbicides pretilachlor and pyrazosulfuron–ethyl as well as one post-emergence herbicide, bispyribac–sodium—for non-puddled rainy season rice were evaluated, where the ‘weedy check’ and ‘weed free’ treatments were considered as a control. In a two-year field experiment, eight weed species in the strip-planted wheat field during the first year and fourteen species in the second year were identified. Among them, three grasses such as Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. and Echinochloa colona (L.) Link and one broadleaf weed Physalis heterophylla (L.) Nees, were found to the dominant in both years. During the first season, the dominant weed species in strip-planted wheat was Physalis heterophylla (L.); Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop was dominant in the second year. In a non-puddled field of rainy season rice, eleven weed species were found in the first year and twelve species were found in the second year. Among the weed species, four types of grasses (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees, Echinochloa colona (L.) Link and Leersia hexandra (Sw.), one sedge (Fimbristylis miliacea (L.) Vahl) and four broadleaf weed species (Ludwigia decurrens (Walter), Jussiaea repens (L.), Enhydra fluctuans (Lour) and Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R.Br. ex DC.) were found the common in both years. The most dominant weed in non-puddled rainy season rice was Leptochloa chinensis (L.) for the first year and Alternanthera sessilis (L.) for the second year. The study revealed that the sequential application of pendimethalin as pre-emergence treatment followed by carfentrazone–ethyl + isoproturon as post-emergence treatment were most effective and economically viable for weed control in strip-till wheat because they achieved the highest grain and straw yields. For weed management in non-puddled rainy season rice, the herbicide pyrazosulfuron–ethyl applied as pre-emergence treatment and bispyribac–sodium as the post-emergence application were found to be the most effective combination to obtain a desirable yield. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Agriculture and Agroecological Weed Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3417 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Long-Term Different Crop Rotations and Monoculture on Weed Prevalence and Weed Seed Content in the Soil

by Lina Marija Butkevičienė, Lina Skinulienė, Ingė Auželienė, Vaclovas Bogužas, Rita Pupalienė and Vaida Steponavičienė

Agronomy 2021, 11(7), 1367; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11071367 - 5 Jul 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3359

Abstract

Equally effective way to achieve sustainable farming and the challenge set by the European Commission on 20 May 2020: proper crop rotation and thus reduction of the quantity of on-farm chemicals. Long-term stationary field experiments were established in 1966 at Vytautas Magnus University Experimental Station (54°53′ N, 23°50′ E). The study was conducted with intensive, three-course, field rotation with row crops, for green manure crop rotations, and rye monoculture as well during the last 5-year period of a 50-year investigation to determine the effect of crop rotation combinations and rye monoculture on weed density and seed bank and grain yield. In cereal crops, weed counting was performed twice: weed density was determined before the application of herbicides, and weed counting was done before the harvest. Weed seedlings were counted, their botanical species were determined, annual and perennial weed number was estimated. Weed seed bank was established before primary tillage in soil. The results obtained confirmed the hypothesis that with climate change and intensive farming, long-term crop rotations are likely to increase crop productivity, reduce weeds and weed seed banks in the soil, and thus contribute to maintaining agroecosystem sustainability. The winter rye 1000 grain weight and yield decreases as weed mass increases showing strong negative correlations: y = 475.56 − 11.93x, r = −0.91, p ≤ 0.05; y = 82.97 −14.82x, r = −0.97, p ≤ 0.01. Reseeding of rye crops leads to a growing prevalence of weeds such as Equisetum arvense L. and Mentha arvensis. Crop structures these days are dominated by cereals, which inevitably increase the spread of weeds, and therefore, the importance of crop rotations increases in the context of intensive farming. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Agriculture and Agroecological Weed Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 894 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Different Soil Tillage Systems and Crop Residues on the Composition of Weed Communities

by Vaida Steponavičienė, Aušra Marcinkevičienė, Lina Marija Butkevičienė, Lina Skinulienė and Vaclovas Bogužas

Agronomy 2021, 11(7), 1276; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11071276 - 23 Jun 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2055

Abstract

The composition of weed communities in agricultural crops is dependent on soil properties and the applied agronomic practices. The current study determined the effect of different tillage systems and crop residue on the soil weed community composition. The research programme encompassed 2013–2015 in a long-term field experiment located in the Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania. The soil type in the experimental field was qualified as Endocalcaric Stagnosol (Aric, Drainic, Ruptic, Amphisiltic). Weeds were categorised into communities according to soil pH, nitrogen and moisture indicators. The results of investigations were grouped using cluster analysis. Agricultural crops were dominated by different weed species depending on the soil pH and moisture. Weed species were relatively more frequent indicating nitrogen-rich and very nitrogen-rich soils. In the reduced tillage and no-tillage systems, an increase in the abundance of weed species indicating moderate acidity and low acidity, moderately wet and wet, nitrogen-rich and very nitrogen-rich soils was observed. The application of plant residues decreased the weed species abundance. In the reduced tillage and no-tillage systems, the quantitative distribution of weed was often uneven. By evaluating the association of weed communities with groups of different tillage systems with or without plant residues, their control can be optimised. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Agriculture and Agroecological Weed Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1814 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Strip Tillage and Crop Residue Retention Decrease the Size but Increase the Diversity of the Weed Seed Bank under Intensive Rice-Based Crop Rotations in Bangladesh

by Mohammad Mobarak Hossain, Mahfuza Begum, Abul Hashem, Md. Moshiur Rahman, Sharif Ahmed, Montaser M. Hassan, Talha Javed, Rubab Shabbir, Adel Hadifa, Ayman EL Sabagh and Richard W. Bell

Agronomy 2021, 11(6), 1164; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061164 - 7 Jun 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3369

Abstract

Cropping under conservation agriculture (CA) has become increasingly attractive among farmers in recent years. However, weed control may be more difficult during the transition to CA from conventional establishment methods due to the reduction in tillage intensity. Conversely, CA changes to weed dynamics can alter the weed seed bank in the longer run. In Bangladesh’s intensively cropped rice-based rotations, the nature of weed seed bank shifts over time after adopting CA are poorly known. Two 2-year studies were sampled from on-farm CA experiments under wheat-mungbean-winter rice and monsoon rice-mustard-winter rice rotations. We investigated the effects of reduced soil disruption in the form of strip-tillage (ST) combined with increased deposition of standing reside from previous crops (0 vs. 50%). The weed seed bank in 0–5, 5–10, and 10–15 cm depths of soil were quantified in a shade-house experiment by measuring weed emergence over 12 months in seedling trays. After 2 years of field study, the year-round count of emerged weeds from the seed bank showed that ST plus 50% mulch had a lower weed abundance and biomass and fewer weed species than that of conventional tillage (CT) without residue. The perennial weeds Ageratum conyzoides L., Alternanthera philoxeroides L., Cynodon dactylon L., Cyperus rotundus L., Jussia decurrence Walt., Leersia hexandra L., Scirpus mucronatus (L.) Palla., and Solanum torvum Sw. were enriched in the smaller-sized ST seed banks in terms of both density and biomass. The CT, on the other hand, was dominated by annual weeds: Cyperus difformis L., Cyanotis axillaris Roem., Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv., Eleusine indica L., Fimbristylis miliacea (L.) Vahl., and Rotala ramosior L. Overall, ST plus 50% residue had a more diverse seed bank than CT without mulch. The majority of weed seeds were amassed in the 0–5 cm soil depth of the ST, while most of them were accumulated in the 10–15 cm layer of the CT. The wheat-mungbean-winter rice rotation had a more diverse floristic composition with many more weed species than the monsoon rice-mustard-winter rice rotation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Agriculture and Agroecological Weed Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 917 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Organic and Inorganic Mulching for Weed Suppression in Wheat under Rain-Fed Conditions of Haripur, Pakistan

by Sami Ullah Khan, Xiukang Wang, Tariq Mehmood, Sohail Latıf, Saftain Ullah Khan, Sajid Fiaz and Abdul Qayyum

Agronomy 2021, 11(6), 1131; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061131 - 2 Jun 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3282

Abstract

Weeds pose a great threat to crop production subsequently distressing the equilibrium of agro-ecological systems globally. Instead of relying on chemical weed control, there is a dire need to explore alternative eco-friendly agricultural practices for weed suppression and sustainable wheat production. Mulching being eco-friendly could potentially serve the purpose towards weed suppression organically. To check the usefulness of mulching, two-year studies were conducted under field conditions in Haripur, Pakistan, during 2014 and 2015 to elucidate the response of various mulching materials for weed control in wheat. Six mulch material treatments were used along with Buctril super (used as check) at the rate of 1.235 L ha⁻¹ to control the most problematic weed species of wheat in Pakistan. Experiments were designed under randomized complete block design with four repeats. The analysis of data revealed a significant decrease in weed density, relative weed density, fresh and dry plant biomass at 25, 50 and 75 days after sowing (DAS) where Buctril super at 1.235 L ha⁻¹ and mulch of black plastic were used followed by sugarcane bagasse and dry leaves of mulberry, as compared with control (untreated). Higher density of weed, relative weed density, fresh and dry plant biomass were observed in test weed species of wheat where lentil was applied with wheat and dry leaves of mulberry were incorporated. Net economic benefits in the form of benefit cost ratio (2.55) were higher where grass clippings were applied followed by sugarcane bagasse (2.43), mulberry leaves (2.49), while the lowest net economic benefits (1.72) were obtained when lentil (grown as live mulch crop) with wheat was intercropped. It was concluded from the study that sugarcane bagasse and grass clippings could be a source to control weeds in the wheat with a minimum cost of production at Haripur, Pakistan, and similar agro-climatic environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Agriculture and Agroecological Weed Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 3837 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Weed Control by Hand Tools on Soil Erosion under a No-Tillage System Cultivation

by Rafael Blanco-Sepúlveda, Amilcar Aguilar-Carrillo and Francisco Lima

Agronomy 2021, 11(5), 974; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11050974 - 13 May 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2517

Abstract

In conservation agriculture, the no-tillage cultivation system and the retention of permanent vegetal cover are crucial to the control of soil erosion by water. This paper analyses the cultivation of maize under no-tillage, with particular reference to the effect produced on soil erosion when weed control is performed by a hand tool (machete), which disturbs the surface of the soil, and to the behavior of the soil cover in these circumstances. The study area is located in the humid tropical mountains of northern Nicaragua (Peñas Blancas Massif Nature Reserve). The results obtained show that 59.2% of the soil surface was affected by appreciable levels of sheet and splash erosion, although the vegetal cover of the soil was relatively high (with average weed and litter cover of 33.9% and 33.8%, respectively). The use of machetes for weed control provoked considerable soil disturbance, which explained the high rates of erosion observed. Moreover, this form of soil management disturbs the litter layer, making it less effective in preventing erosion. The litter remains loose on the soil surface, and so an increase in soil cover does not achieve a proportionate reduction in the area affected by erosion; thus, even with 80–100% weed and litter cover, 42% of the cultivated area continued to present soil erosion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Agriculture and Agroecological Weed Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 1168 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Legume Ecotypes and Commercial Cultivars Differ in Performance and Potential Suitability for Use as Permanent Living Mulch in Mediterranean Vegetable Systems

by Federico Leoni, Mariateresa Lazzaro, Stefano Carlesi and Anna-Camilla Moonen

Agronomy 2020, 10(11), 1836; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10111836 - 22 Nov 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3663

Abstract

Weed control in organic conservative vegetable systems is extremely challenging and the use of legume permanent living mulches (pLM) presents an interesting opportunity. The successful use of pLM is largely determined by the choice of appropriate legumes which are able to combine adequate weed control with a marginal competitive effect on the cash crop(s). However, the availability of legumes for such systems is limited and their characterization based on growth traits can support the selection of suitable legumes for conservation organic vegetable systems. The current study investigated weed control capacity and variability in morphological and phenological traits relevant in inter-plant competition among a range of 11 commercial cultivars of legumes and seven ecotypes of Medicago polymorpha (bur medic). For commercial cultivars, Lotus corniculatus (bird’s-foot trefoil) and Trifolium repens (white clover) showed the best weed control capacity, while Trifolium subterraneum (subterranean clover) and Medicago polymopha had more suitable characteristics for a rapid and complete establishment of the pLM. Overall, legume mulches appear more effective in dicotyledonous than in monocotyledonous weed control. Trifolium subterraneum cv. Antas and T. repens cv. Haifa were identified as the potentially most suitable legumes for use as pLM and their use in mixtures could be a promising solution. In addition, the ecotypes of Medicago polymorpha Manciano and Talamone proved to be well adapted for local environmental conditions and they showed a better weed suppression than the commercial cultivars of Medicago polymorpha. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Agriculture and Agroecological Weed Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1827 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil-Mediated Effects on Weed-Crop Competition: Elucidating the Role of Annual and Perennial Intercrop Diversity Legacies

by Uriel D. Menalled, K. Ann Bybee-Finley, Richard G. Smith, Antonio DiTommaso, Sarah J. Pethybridge and Matthew R. Ryan

Agronomy 2020, 10(9), 1373; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10091373 - 12 Sep 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4241

Abstract

Crop diversity may mediate the intensity of weed-crop competition by altering soil nutrient availability and plant-soil microbe interactions. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to analyze weed-crop competition in soils with varying crop diversity legacies. Soil greenhouse treatments included field soils (i.e., soil nutrient and microbial legacies), a sterile greenhouse potting mix inoculated with microorganisms of the field soils (i.e., microbial legacies), and a sterile greenhouse potting mix. Soils for the greenhouse experiment were sampled and assessed after two-years of conditioning with annual and perennial cropping systems under four levels of intercrop diversity. The greenhouse experiment involved growing one sorghum sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench × S. sudanese Piper) crop plant and zero to six common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) weed plants in soil from each diversity and cropping system treatment. The weed density treatments created a weed-crop competition gradient, which was used to quantify legacy effects of crop diversity. Weed-crop competition increased with crop diversity in both the field soil and inoculated soil treatments in the annual system. In the perennial system, differences in weed-crop competition intensity were driven by crop yield potential. In the perennial field soil treatment, crop yield potential was greatest in the highest diversity treatment, whereas in the perennial inoculated soil treatment, crop yield potential was greatest in the lowest diversity treatment. Results show potential for negative effects from previous crop diversity on weed-crop competition, and the divergent impact of microbial and nutrient legacies on crop yield potential. Future research should aim to evaluate the consistency of legacy effects and identify principles that can guide soil and crop management, especially in conservation agriculture where soil tillage and its microbial legacy reducing effects are minimized. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Agriculture and Agroecological Weed Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1171 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Weed Management in the Transition to Conservation Agriculture: Farmers’ Response

by Damien Derrouch, Bruno Chauvel, Emeline Felten and Fabrice Dessaint

Agronomy 2020, 10(6), 843; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10060843 - 13 Jun 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4360

Abstract

Recently adopted in France, conservation agriculture still faces some challenges to its adoption, particularly weed management. To highlight the weed management practices used by farmers in conservation agriculture and the changes induced by its adoption, a large sample of 425 French farmers were invited to complete an online survey. Weed management practices used by farmers were requested for three periods: before adoption, during the first years of conservation agriculture (one to two years after adoption), and when the agricultural system is considered “mastered” by the farmer. The use of each farming practice was firstly studied independently for each period. Then, a multiple correspondence analysis followed by a hierarchical ascendant classification resulted in groups of farmers with different combinations of practices for each period. Finally, the groups of farmers were followed through the periods. Results showed that changes in weed management done according to farmers when adopting and mastering conservation agriculture are multiple and vary according to farmers and their previous weed management. Although some similar choices were identified, some farmers’ trajectories, especially those with a prior combination driven by either a soil disturbance strategy or a crop competitiveness strategy, are difficult to identify when adopting conservation agriculture. Upon mastering the agricultural system, farmers’ choices become more apparent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Agriculture and Agroecological Weed Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Editorial, Research

14 pages, 1295 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoicePerspective

Is Tillage a Suitable Option for Weed Management in Conservation Agriculture?

by Stéphane Cordeau, Auxence Baudron and Guillaume Adeux

Agronomy 2020, 10(11), 1746; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10111746 - 10 Nov 2020

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4411

Abstract

In Europe, conservation agriculture (CA) is currently challenged by higher weed pressure, potential glyphosate ban and reduced crop yield. Based on preliminary results and a critical analysis, we provide insights on how to assess the effect of introducing different levels of tillage intensity, after a long-term CA sequence, on weed communities and crop yield. The experiment compared three types of fallow management (ploughing (CT), reduced tillage (RT), no-till with glyphosate (NT)) on four fields after 17 years of no-plough, which ended with 7 years of CA. The introduction of tillage proved to be a major driver of weed communities before weeding (density, richness and composition) in winter wheat. Weed density and species richness before weeding was greatest in RT, intermediate in CT and lowest in NT. The number of grains per ear and crop yield increased with tillage intensity (+11% for RT, +31% for CT). We provide avenues for future research through detailed methods and key references. Differences in winter wheat productivity were possibly related to enhanced soil structure and increased mineralisation of soil organic matter. Potential benefits of occasional ploughing will depend on the density and composition of the newly upwelled weed seedbank, which will need to be assessed before implementing tillage. From a multicriteria perspective, the long-term benefits associated with CA could largely exceed short-term yield increases associated with occasional tillage. Future studies will need to characterize the impact of occasional tillage operations on the long-term multiperformance of CA systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Agriculture and Agroecological Weed Management)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Conservation Agriculture and Agroecological Weed Management

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (11 papers)

Editorial

Research

Other

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI