Effect of sowing date and variety on yield and weed populations in a lentil–barley mixture

• Published in: The Journal of agricultural science 2013-10, Vol.151 (5), p.672-681
• Main Authors: WANG, L., GRUBER, S., CLAUPEIN, W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Barley; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Crop rotation; Crop science; Crop yield; Cropping systems; Crops and Soils Research Papers; Farming systems; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grain; Hordeum vulgare; Legumes; Lens culinaris; Mixed cropping; Organic farming; Parasitic plants. Weeds; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Planting; Weed control; Weeds
• ISSN: 0021-8596; 1469-5146
• DOI: 10.1017/S0021859612000895

The present study examined variation in sowing date on lentils (Lens culinaris) in a standard lentil–barley (Hordeum vulgare) mixed cropping system in the temperate climate of central Europe to determine the effect on crop yield and weed control. A 2-year (2009/10) field experiment was carried out at the organic research station Kleinhohenheim (KH) and at the conventional research station Oberer Lindenhof (OLI) of the University Hohenheim, southwest Germany. The crop was sown at three dates in the period from March to May. Grain yield was significantly higher at the earliest sowing both for lentils (3·0 t/ha at KH, 2·4 t/ha at OLI) and barley (1·2 t/ha at KH, 2·6 t/ha at OLI). Weed biomass at KH increased significantly with delayed sowing and was independent of lentil genotype, whereas sowing date had no significant effect on overall weed biomass production at OLI. Unlike weed biomass, weed density generally decreased significantly with delayed sowing at OLI. The results indicate that early sowing can increase the yield of lentils, and can be used as an indirect method of weed control in some organic farming systems.