Weed control strategies for organic cereal crops

Weed control remains one of the most significant agronomic problems associa ted with organic arable crop production. This paper aims to report the majo r findings from a series of research projects designed to evaluate a range of weed control approaches. Crop rotation is shown to have a significant ef fect on weed levels with the most effective control resulting from the alte rnation of autumn/spring cropping as well as from the inclusion of break cr ops such as potatoes. Intercropping wheat with field beans offers a competi tive advantage over sole cropping, whilst, in isolation, cultivation in dar kness was of limited practical use. Spring-tine harrowing in winter wheat w as rarely beneficial in terms of improved yield whilst inter-row hoeing dem onstrated considerably greater potential.