Control of <i>Elymus repens</i> by rhizome fragmentation and repeated mowing in a newly established white clover sward

Bergkvist, Göran; Ringselle, Björn; Magnuski, Ewa; Mangerud, Kjell; Brandsæter, Lars Olav

doi:10.1111/wre.12246

Cited by 15 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Independently, both rhizome fragmentation and mowing had a negative influence on E. repens . However, the difference between fragmentation combined with mowing, and mowing alone was not significantly different (similar to Bergkvist et al, 2017 ). Potentially, the high mowing frequency used in the study, which strongly suppressed E. repens , may have hidden potential interactions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…However, for perennial weeds with stolons, shallow rhizomes, or shallow creeping roots [e.g., creeping bentgrass ( Agrostis stolonifera L.), redtop ( Agrostis gigantea Roth), E. repens , and field sow thistle ( Sonchus arvensis L.)], it could provide farmers with an additional tool for weed control in growing crops, at a relatively low cost and environmental impact. For example, Bergkvist et al (2017) found that when E. repens rhizomes were fragmented in a 10 cm × 10 cm grid using a flat spade in a newly established white clover sward, rhizome production was reduced by up to 60% compared with only white clover competition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A very high shoot cutting frequency, around every 2 weeks, is necessary to prevent E. repens from producing new rhizomes ( Turner, 1966 ; Håkansson, 1969 ). Moreover, there appears to be seasonal variation in shoot cutting efficacy ( Bergkvist et al, 2017 ). Consequently, most field experiments have found low and/or inconsistent effects of shoot cutting on E. repens rhizome biomass acquisition ( Brandsæter et al, 2012 ; Ringselle et al, 2015 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rhizome Fragmentation by Vertical Disks Reduces Elymus repens Growth and Benefits Italian Ryegrass-White Clover Crops

et al. 2018

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Tillage controls perennial weeds, such as Elymus repens, partly because it fragments their underground storage organs. However, tillage is difficult to combine with a growing crop, which limits its application. The aim of this study was to evaluate how soil vertical cutting with minimum soil disturbance and mowing affect the growth and competitive ability of E. repens in a grass–clover crop. A tractor-drawn prototype with vertical disks was used to fragment E. repens rhizomes with minimal soil and crop disturbance. In experiments performed in 2014 and 2015 at a field site close to Uppsala, Sweden, the rhizomes were fragmented before crop sowing (ERF), during crop growth (LRF), or both (ERF+LRF). Fragmentation was combined with repeated mowing (yes/no) and four companion crop treatments (none, Italian ryegrass, white clover, and grass/clover mixture). The results showed that in the grass–clover crop, rhizome fragmentation reduced E. repens rhizome biomass production and increased Italian ryegrass shoot biomass. ERF and LRF both reduced E. repens rhizome biomass by about 38% compared with the control, while ERF+LRF reduced it by 63%. Italian ryegrass shoot biomass was increased by 78% by ERF, 170% by LRF and 200% by ERF+LRF. Repeated mowing throughout the experiment reduced E. repens rhizome biomass by about 75%. Combining repeated mowing with rhizome fragmentation did not significantly increase the control effect compared to mowing alone. We concluded that rhizome fragmentation using vertical disks can be used both before sowing and during crop growth to enhance the controlling effect of grass–clover crops on E. repens.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rhizome Fragmentation by Vertical Disks Reduces Elymus repens Growth and Benefits Italian Ryegrass-White Clover Crops

et al. 2018

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“…Comparatively, Courtney [114] found that a four-week mowing interval was sufficient to prevent rhizome production; Štýbnarová et al [108] found that three harvests per year kept E. repens below 10-15% of the grassland coverage; and Pavlu et al [115] found E. repens populations gradually decreasing already at two grassland harvests per year. Moreover, more recent studies in Sweden found that when cut every time it reached two leaves during summer, E. repens rhizome biomass was reduced by >75% compared to no mowing [83,116]. However, there appears to be some influence of season on mowing efficacy, as mowing post-cereal harvest has had a limited effect on E. repens, at least in the Nordic countries [102,103,116].…”

Section: Mowing/cutting/crushingmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Non-Chemical Management of Couch Grass (Elymus repens)

et al. 2020

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Couch grass (Elymus repens) is a morphologically diverse, rhizomatous, perennial grass that is a problematic weed in a wide range of crops. It is generally controlled by glyphosate or intensive tillage in the intercrop period, or selective herbicides in non-susceptible crops. The aim of this review is to determine the efficacy of non-chemical strategies for E. repens control. The review shows that indirect control measures like crop choice, subsidiary crops, and fertilizer regimes influence E. repens abundance, but usually cannot control E. repens. Defoliation (e.g., mowing) can control E. repens growth, but efficacy varies between clones, seasons, and defoliation frequencies. Tillage in the intercrop period is still the main direct non-chemical control method for E. repens and its efficacy can be increased, and negative side-effects minimized by an appropriate tillage strategy. Some new tillage implements are on the market (Kvik-up type machines) or under development (root/rhizome cutters). Alternative methods that can kill E. repens rhizomes (e.g., steaming, soil solarization, biofumigation, hot water, flooding) often have high costs or time requirements. More studies on the effect of cropping system approaches on E. repens and other perennial weeds are needed.

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“…The 'vertical cutter' fragments shallowgrowing rhizomes and creeping roots with minimal disturbance. This may have several environmental benefits, but lack of weed control of this strategy postharvest (in autumn) was recently shown by Bergkvist et al (2017). However, Ringselle et al (2018), using the same vertical cutter for control of E. repens when renewing a ley, concluded that rhizome fragmentation by this tool reduced growth of E. repens and benefited ryegrass and white clover crops.…”

Section: Strategymentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of mechanical weeding and fertilisation on perennial weeds, fungal diseases, soil structure and crop yield in organic spring cereals

Brandsæter

Mangerud

Andersson

et al. 2020

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Sc

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There is a need both in organic farming and on farms using integrated pest management for nonchemical measures that control the perennial weed flora. The effect of mechanical weeding and fertilisation on perennial weeds, fungal diseases and soil structure were evaluated in two different experiments in spring cereals. Experiment I included six strategies. The first strategy was (1) without specific measures against perennial weeds. The other strategies encompassed one or two seasonal control measures; (2) rhizome/root cutting with minimal soil disturbance in autumn, (3) hoeing with 24 cm row spacing, (4) combined hoeing and disc harrowing in autumn, (5) 'KvikUp' harrowing in spring, and (6) 'KvikUp' harrowing in spring and autumn. Experiment II included factor (i) inter-row hoeing and (ii) fertilisation level. This experiment included the comparison between normal row spacing (12 cm) with weed harrowing versus double row spacing (=24 cm) in combination with inter-row hoeing and 4 fertilisation levels (50-200 kg N ha −1). In experiment I the strategies consisting of no or one direct weed control measure (1, 2, 3 and 5) clearly did not control the perennial weeds. The two seasonal control measures (4 and 6) gave a satisfactory weed control and highest crop yield. The combination of best weed control and no measured harmful effects on soil structure or increase of fungal diseases may explain the highest yields for these strategies. In Experiment II, hoeing and 24 cm spacing gave less perennial biomass compared to 12 cm spacing. Grain yields increased linearly with increasing nitrogen input. The study shows that both inter-row hoeing and weed harrows, are important elements in integrated pest management practice and organic farming. In addition, our results indicate that efficient mechanical weeding is possible without harmful effects in crop rotation consisting of various spring cereals as regards soil structure and plant health.

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Control of Elymus repens by rhizome fragmentation and repeated mowing in a newly established white clover sward

Cited by 15 publications

References 30 publications

Rhizome Fragmentation by Vertical Disks Reduces Elymus repens Growth and Benefits Italian Ryegrass-White Clover Crops

Rhizome Fragmentation by Vertical Disks Reduces Elymus repens Growth and Benefits Italian Ryegrass-White Clover Crops

A Review of Non-Chemical Management of Couch Grass (Elymus repens)

Influence of mechanical weeding and fertilisation on perennial weeds, fungal diseases, soil structure and crop yield in organic spring cereals

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