NDBMJF4P

2706

18 janvier 2021 16:44

18 janvier 2021 16:44

Living mulches are generally seen as a possible way to decrease the reliance on pesticides. We investigated the effect of a frost-sensitive legume living mulch on weed control during the autumn and cash crop performance, in winter oilseed rape crops. A field trial was carried out over two years, comparing seven legume species—fenugreek, spring faba bean, grass pea, lentil, field pea, berseem clover and spring common vetch—and three legume mixtures, as living mulches, in crops with two levels of soil mineral nitrogen content before sowing. The presence of the legume living mulch decreased weed abundance before winter. Field pea, berseem clover, common vetch and the common vetch/faba bean/berseem clover mixture were particularly effective, regardless of the growing conditions, decreasing weed abundance by 20–75% with respect to that in the crop grown alone, in the absence of herbicide application. Weed abundance before winter was negatively correlated with total intercrop biomass, and this relationship was dependent on the legume species considered and soil mineral nitrogen content. As with other legume intercrops, the level of soil mineral nitrogen had a strong influence on intercrop structure, modifying the proportion of legume biomass produced. The legume/oilseed rape biomass ratio was also found to be a useful indicator in all growing conditions: the higher the ratio, the more efficient the weed control. However, a high ratio was associated with a higher risk of competition with the cash crop. The choice of the most appropriate legume living mulch is therefore a compromise between the anticipated ecosystem services and the potential disservices provided by the legume mulch. The introduction of a legume living mulch did not entirely prevent weed growth, but was clearly a relevant agroecological solution for decreasing herbicide, while increasing the sustainability and diversity of weed-control strategies in cropping systems.

None

• AB - Utile à l'AB
• FREDO adventice
• FREDO fertilisation
• FREDO lutte
• GEO France
• sowing pattern
• colza
• huile
• légumineuses

• agroecology
• intercropping
• interspecific competition
• legume living mulch
• soil nitrogen availability
• weed control
• winter oilseed rape

European Journal of Agronomy

71

96-105

November 1, 2015

1 novembre 2015

10.1016/j.eja.2015.09.001 Le DOI est une URL unique de référencement d'une publication. Il est donc plus fiable et permanent qu'une URL classique

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