Einflüsse von Minimalbodenbearbeitung und Transfermulch auf die perennierende Beikrautflora im Kartoffelbau

Reduced tillage enhances soil fertility and can help to avoid erosion. The drawback of increased weed pressure is a challenge for organic farmers due to the prohibition of herbicides. Mulch could be a way to suppress weeds and to introduce reduced tillage systems in potato cultivation. The number of perennial weeds were monitored in a comparison of two potato cultivation systems: conventional ploughing and hilling versus reduced tillage with dead mulch. In 2014, perennial weeds in the mulch system increased to double the number compared to the ploughed system. The reverse pattern was observed in 2015. This reversed effect was due to improved application methods of mulch with smaller particle size and a closer C/N-Ratio in the mulch in 2015 in combination with a severe spring drought in 2015 but not in 2014