Tillage and weed control interactions on a semi-arid granitic catena. II. Weed responses
1999
Mabasa, S. (Henderson Research Station, Mazowe (Zimbabwe)) | Riches, C.R. (University of Greenwich, Kent (UK). Natural Resources Institute) | yahunzvi, S. (Henderson Research Station, Mazowe (Zimbabwe)) | Twomlow, S.J. (Silsoe Research Institute, Bedford (U.K.)) | Dhliwayo, H.H. (Agronomy Institute, Masvingo (Zimbabwe)) | Chatizwa, I. (Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Harare (Zimbabwe))
Weed management affects the availability of soil moisture to the crop and therefore needs to be incorporated as a key element in conservation tillage. In this the second of three papers, we discuss the preliminary weed responses to reduced tillage for crop establishment and weeding methods reported in paper I. The third paper addresses the socioeconomic issues of participating farmers. The low draught minimum tillage planting techniques of open plough furrow planting (OPFP) and planting into a rip line (RIP), were associated with greater weed infestations than those observed on plots established by the farmers practice of third furrow planting (TFP). High numbers of Hibscus meeusei, Commelina benghalensis, Commelina subulata, Acanthospermum hispidum and Eleusine indica were found following OPFP and RIP. TFP tended to stimulate the emergence of Richardia scabra and Fimbristylis exilis. Low numbers of some common weed species emerged following the use of weeding with the ox-plough with supplementary hand hoeing (OPHH), particularly E. indica and A. hispidum, compared to hand hoeing (HH) and hand hoeing + ox- cultivation (OCHH). The evaluated weeding methods generally gave a similar level of weed control.
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