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Effects of Non-Inversion Tillage and Cover Crops on Weed Diversity and Density in Southeastern Romania

Author

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  • Mădălin Radu

    (Moara Domnească Agricultural Research and Development Didactic Station, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
    Soil Sciences Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 011464 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Ciprian Bolohan

    (Soil Sciences Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 011464 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Costel Mihalașcu

    (Moara Domnească Agricultural Research and Development Didactic Station, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 011464 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Andrei Măruțescu

    (Syngenta Crop Protection AG, 4058 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Max John Newbert

    (Syngenta Crop Protection AG, 4058 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Vasileios P. Vasileiadis

    (Syngenta Crop Protection AG, 4058 Basel, Switzerland)

Abstract

Conservation agriculture is increasingly recognized as a sustainable alternative to conventional farming in temperate regions due to its benefits in terms of reducing soil erosion, enhancing water retention, and mitigating climate change. Despite these benefits, these practices are not broadly adopted, partially due to perceived weed management challenges in conservation systems. This paper explores how a conservation system that uses cover crops and non-inversion tillage (chiselling) influences the weed flora abundance and evolution before cover crop termination and over a complete rotation cycle (sunflower–winter wheat–maize–sunflower) in southeastern Romania when compared to conventional tillage (ploughing). Overall, the conservation system significantly reduced weed density by 31%, preserving a higher diversity and evenness ( H′ = 0.75, E = 0.46) by the end of the rotation cycle and an evenly distributed weed community compared to the conventional system, where the opportunistic species Veronica hederifolia exhibited dominance.

Suggested Citation

  • Mădălin Radu & Ciprian Bolohan & Costel Mihalașcu & Andrei Măruțescu & Max John Newbert & Vasileios P. Vasileiadis, 2025. "Effects of Non-Inversion Tillage and Cover Crops on Weed Diversity and Density in Southeastern Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:13:p:6204-:d:1696030
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