| The precision tined harrow had the best impact on soil and weeds, as each tine leaves its own trace. The rotary hoe just created small holes, but broke up the soil crust. Two successive treatments doubled the efficiency against weeds. Practical recommendations • Weed management in organic farming requires an integrated approach, taking into account rotation, soil, available tools, prevalent weeds, etc. • The smaller the weeds, the more sensitive they are to mechanical treatment with the harrow. The best results are achieved between the ‘sprout’ and ‘first leaf’ stage of the weeds. However, for mechanical weed management, the crop must be well established. Therefore, between the rising of the crop and the 3-leaves growth stage, mechanical control is... |
