Evaluation of potential environmental and economic risks of mechanical weed control in sugar beet

Autor/in: Fishkis, O., H.-J. Koch
Jahr: 2021
Zeitschrift: Abstracts of the ASSBT Virtual Meeting March 1 – March 4, 2021
Seite/n: 60-61, DOI: 10.5274/JSBR.58.1.57

Published in Projekt Additional publications of the department agronomy / Abteilung Agronomy

Abstract

Sugar beet field trials were conducted in Southern Lower Saxony to evaluate the potential risks of mechanical, combined mechanical-chemical and chemical weed control. Here we present our first results on the impact of each weed control method on soil erosion, soil structure, earthworm population and crop yield. Most striking results were obtained in regard to soil erosion in 2019. At Site 1 the cumulative soil loss was two times higher for hoeing than for spraying, most probably due to increased soil roughness through hoeing. At Site 2, however, the cumulative soil loss was eight times lower for hoeing than for spraying due to increased infiltration and retarded onset of surface runoff under hoeing. Earthworm population and crop yield were only slightly affected by hoeing operations. The ratio of endogeic to anecic earthworm biomass was significantly reduced by hoeing at Site 2 but not affected by weed control method at Site 1. A slightly higher sugar- and root yield was collected for spraying in comparison to hoeing at Site 1, but no difference in yield was found between weed control methods at Site 2. The slight decrease in yield under hoeing compared to spraying (Site 1) was in line with a bigger mulch loss under hoeing.

FaLang translation system by Faboba