Project

Strip Cultivation: Strip Edges and Weed Proliferation

The aim of this project is to explore the impact of strip edges on weed proliferation in strip cultivation. Our focus is on studying the weed seedlings at the edges of the crop strips in strip cropping systems to understand their role in contributing to the weed problem. Data will be collected from a strip cropping experiment located on the Droevendaal experimental farm in Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Project description

Strip cropping is a developing intercropping system allowing individual crop management while preserving biodiversity benefits. Various questions still remain about weed pressure. Therefore, further research is needed to assess unintended weed proliferation and the benefits of increased crop diversity for weed management. Strip cropping systems are characterised by multiple edges between crop strips. Monitoring weed seedlings on strip boundaries will help identify their contribution to the weed problem.

To investigate this issue, a study will be conducted at the Droevendaal experimental farm. Weed seedling emergence and survival data will be collected and compared between strip edges and the middle between cabbage and oats as reference crops.

Objectives and methods

The research will involve two key components:

Weed seedlings will be monitored before and after
implementing crop-specific weed management practices in both the oat and
cabbage strips.
Weed biomass samples will be collected from the
strip edges and the middle, and comparisons will be made between these areas.