Establishment and growth of chicory (Cichorium intybus) undersown to conventionally cropped cereals
2015
Gunnarsson, A., Hushållningssällskapet Skåne (Rural Economy and Agriculture Society Scania), Kristianstad (Sweden). Dept. of Research and Development
Chicory is suitable as an undersown catch crop for several reasons, but establishment in conventional cropping systems is often unsatisfactory. This project examined establishment of chicory undersown in conventional cereals. Field trials were performed in summer barley and winter wheat, combined with evaluations of tests conducted by practical farmers in their fields (seven fields of cereals). In summer barley, early sowing on the soil surface followed by rolling (ESR) gave more chicory plants and more biomass than early sowing with seed incorporated with coulters or late sowing on the surface. With ESR as sowing method, weed harrowing gave the best results for chicory establishment and biomass (34 plants mE-2 and 1520 kg fresh weight haE-1) and an equivalent weed effect to herbicides. Harmony Plus was the most selective herbicide and Starane XL, Hussar and Legacy were the least selective. After winter wheat, number of chicory plants and amount of biomass in October were greater when herbicides (Baccara or Lexus WG + Boxer EC + Legacy) were used only in the autumn. After summer barley, chicory biomass in October was deemed too low to achieve the desired effect on N losses, soil structure and improvement of soil organic matter except on one farm, in an irrigated winter barley field where chicory was undersown in early April and herbicides were only used in autumn (2.1 tonnes chicory dry matter haE-1). Therefore further research should focus on these conditions. Another conclusion was that combining a few field trials with evaluation of tests carried out by farmers in their own fields can increase knowledge faster than working with field trials alone.
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