Sustainable methods for weed control in cereals

Perennial weeds such as creeping thistle, couch grass, and wild oat are particularly difficult to control. In organic cereal farming, these are often controlled through intensive soil cultivation. Conventional farming relies on glyphosate, especially if ploughing is not used.

“The one-sided use of herbicides can lead to environmental and health problems, as well as the risk of herbicide resistance in the weeds,” says NIBIO researcher Dr Therese W. Berge.

“It is also important to reduce the use of intensive soil cultivation. This can be harmful to soil health, with risks of erosion, nutrient leaching, and soil structure damage.”

In the project, researchers will combine cover crops with a new root cutter from Kverneland Group. Cover crops can compete with the weeds, cover the soil in the autumn and winter, and reduce erosion and nutrient leaching. At the same time, more carbon is stored in the soil, contributing to improved soil fertility.

Dr Berge is responsible for the use of drones for mapping perennial weeds in cereals within SUSWECO. The goal is to develop new software for image analysis that also works where cover crops have been sown.

“Drone mapping will help reduce the use of herbicides, as well as energy and diesel used for mechanical measures, because the actions will only be performed in the areas of the field where there is actually a weed problem. Drones will not only contribute to more efficient weed control but also minimise the environmental impact of the measures,” she says.