Conventional and organic cropping systems at Suitia IV: weeds

Abstract

At Suitia, Southern Finland, weed populations in different crop rotations at conventional and organic cropping systems were investigated in 1982—1988. The number of weeds and the dry matter yields of weeds were greater in organic cropping (on average 324 weeds/m2 and 425 kg DM/ha) compared to conventional cropping (94 weeds/m2 and 61 kg DM/ha). There were least weeds in the conventionally cultivated ley. The first year, clover ley in organic cropping prevented the growth of weeds as well as the grass ley in conventional cropping. Overwintering damages in organically cultivated leys increased the amounts of weeds in the following ley years. Organically cultivated winter wheat reduced the amount and weight of weeds almost as well as conventionally cultivated winter wheat although its biomass was three-fourths of the conventionally cultivated winter wheat. The biomass of organically cultivated barley later on in the rotations was only one-fifth of the conventionally cultivated barley and had five times more weeds. In conventional cropping, the number of weeds in almost all weed species was decreased or stayed at the same level during the experiment. In organic cropping, the number of most weeds in weed species increased from the level for 1982. Most increased Stellaria media, Fallopio convolvulus, Lamium sp and Chenopodium album.