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Crop Rotation and Weed Control as Factors in the Sustainable Cultivation of Winter Oilseed Rape

Author

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  • Arkadiusz Stępień

    (Department of Agroecosystems and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Katarzyna Wojtkowiak

    (Department of Vehicles and Machinery, Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Ewelina Kolankowska

    (Department of Vehicles and Machinery, Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland)

Abstract

The competitive ability of weeds against crop plants is determined by the amount of macronutrients taken up from the soil. Macronutrient uptake is influenced by nutrient concentrations in plants and, above all, the amount of weed biomass produced per unit area. The present study was conducted as a part of a field experiment with winter oilseed rape, which has been carried out since 1967. Winter oilseed rape has been grown continuously since 1967 in the same field and in a six-field crop rotation. In winter oilseed rape monoculture, weed management was implemented to mitigate soil fatigue. Winter oilseed rape yields were twice as high in crop rotation than in monoculture, and weed biomass was more than three times higher in the continuous cropping system than in crop rotation. Winter oilseed rape yields were higher in crop rotation without a weed control than in monoculture, including monoculture with a weed control. Nitrogen (N) uptake by rape seeds and straw was significantly higher, whereas N uptake by weeds was lower in crop rotation than in monoculture. In all years of this study, N uptake by weed biomass was higher in monoculture than in crop rotation due to higher weed infestation levels in the continuous cropping system, and N uptake was not significantly affected by N content. The weed control induced a greater increase in N uptake by rape seeds and straw in monoculture than in crop rotation. The results indicate that integrating crop rotation with herbicide protection can help increase yields while reducing weeds, which promotes a more sustainable crop production system. The use of crop rotation contributes to a more efficient use of nitrogen by crops, while reducing its uptake by weeds.

Suggested Citation

  • Arkadiusz Stępień & Katarzyna Wojtkowiak & Ewelina Kolankowska, 2025. "Crop Rotation and Weed Control as Factors in the Sustainable Cultivation of Winter Oilseed Rape," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-24, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:11:p:5065-:d:1669677
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lucie Vykydalová & Tomáš Jiří Kubík & Petra Martínez Barroso & Igor Děkanovský & Jan Winkler, 2024. "The Relationship between the Density of Winter Canola Stand and Weed Vegetation," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Artur Szatkowski & Mateusz Sokólski & Dariusz Załuski & Krzysztof Józef Jankowski, 2023. "The Effects of Agronomic Management in Different Tillage Systems on the Fall Growth of Winter Oilseed Rape," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Dorota Gawęda & Małgorzata Haliniarz & Urszula Bronowicka-Mielniczuk & Justyna Łukasz, 2020. "Weed Infestation and Health of the Soybean Crop Depending on Cropping System and Tillage System," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-20, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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