Weed control in rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp)

Abstract: Field investigations were carried out during 1999 and 2000 to identify effective chemical/ cultural methods of weed control in rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp). The treatments comprised pre-emergence applications of oxyfluorfen (0.15, 0.20 and 0.25 kg AI ha(-1)) and pendimethalin (0.50, 0.75 and 1.00kg AI ha(-1)), successive hand weeding, hoeing and mulching using spent of lemon grass (at 5 tonnes ha(-1)) 45 days after planting (DAP), three hand-weedings 30, 60 and 90 DAP, weed-free (frequent manual weeding) and weedy control. Broad-leaf weeds were more predominant than grass and sedge weeds, accounting for 85.8% weed density and 93.0% weed dry weight in 1999 and 77.2% weed density and 93.9% weed dry weight in 2000. Unrestricted weed growth significantly reduced geranium oil yield, by 61.6% and 70.6% in 1999 and 2000, respectively. Pre-emergence application of pendimethalin (0.75-1.00 kgAI ha(-1)) or oxyfluorfen (0.25 kg AI ha(-1)), successive hand-weeding, hoeing and mulching and three hand-weedings were highly effective in reducing weed density and dry weight and gave oil yield comparable to the weed-free check. Application of oxyfluorfen (0.15 or 0.20 kg AI ha(-1)) and pendimethalin (0.50 kg AI ha(-1)) were less effective in controlling the weed species in geranium. None of the herbicides impaired the quality of rose-scented geranium oil measured in terms of citronellol and geraniol content.     

Performance of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl in non-puddled transplanted rainy season rice and its residual effect on growth of the succeeding crop in rice-wheat cropping pattern

Abstract

A study was carried out in sandy clay loam textured soil of Mymensingh, Bangladesh to evaluate weed control efficiency of pre-emergence herbicide pyrazosulfuron-ethyl either alone or in sequential application with post-emergence herbicide in transplanted rainy season rice under non-puddled strip-tilled (NPST) field condition and also to examine the residual effect of those herbicides on germination and growth of the subsequently grown wheat crop. Five treatment combinations of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl were tested against one weedy check and one weed-free check. The study revealed that NPST rice field was mostly infested by grass and sedge weeds and herbicide treatments offered a wide range of control (above 50% to 95%) on all types of weeds. Application of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl followed by (fb) orthosulfamuron fb butachlor plus propanil provided the most effective and economic weed control over two years of the study. Moreover, micro-plot bioassay study claimed germination and growth of subsequently grown wheat were not adversely affected by herbicides that were applied in rice. Therefore, application of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl followed by post-emergence herbicide could be effective and economic to control weeds in NPST rice under rice-wheat system, but proper rate and time of application should strictly be followed.     

Recent Developments in the Use of Herbicides in Rubber and Oil Palm

Abstract

Recent developments in the use of herbicides during the establishment of leguminous cover crops and the mature phases of rubber and oil palm plantings are discussed. Results of 12 semi-commercial and commercial scale trials showed that chemical weeding using paraquat and diuron post-emergence or oxyfluorfen pre-emergence with supplementary manual or chemical control was considerably cheaper than exclusive manual weeding during the six months following the sowing of legumes. Reductions in weeding costs ranged from 6 to 66%. In the mature phase a wide range of herbicide treatments involving extensively used herbicides such as paraquat, MSMA, 2, 4-D amine and sodium chlorate for the suppression of weed growth along rubber tree rows and in oil palm circles and harvesters' paths were compared. Results indicate that there are several suitable alternatives to sodium arsenite, a formerly widely used herbicide which is now banned for general weed control. In both crops, the most cost effective treatments for controlling mixed vegetation were Ustinex Special (MCPA + diuron + amitrole, 2:3:6) at 1.48 kg a.i.ha + Gramoxone (paraquat) at 0.22 kg a.i./ha and Paracol (paraquat + diuron, 1:1) at 0.56 kg a.i./ha + DMA Amine (2, 4-D) at 0.50 kg a.e./ha.     

Chemical Control of Weeds in Cotton in the Sudan Gezira

Abstract

Early work on chemical weed control in the fallow towards the end of the Second World War is reviewed briefly. Attempts to use contact residual herbicides as pre-emergence applications in the early 1950s are also described.

Pre-sowing applications of residual herbicides were found more phytotoxic to cotton than pre-emergence applications. The closer the time of pre-sowing application to cotton sowing, the more effective was suppression of weeds competing with cotton.

Mechanical cultivations and particularly disc ploughing and rotovation to a depth of more than 15 cm were found more effective in the control of Cynodon dactylon than pre-sowing herbicide applications.

Fluometuron, noruron and prometryne were found very effective as pre-emergence herbicides. Optimum rates of application were found to be only 25-50% of rates recommended for the USA and other countries. Resistant weeds included Cyperus rotundus, Cynodon dactylon, and Rhyncosia memnonia.

A large-scale trial with fluometuron, covering 125 feddans at Wad el Nairn showed that yields obtained were equal to those with normal weeding. Costs of herbicide treatments were also comparable to costs of hand-weeding in a year of exceptionally low hand-weeding costs.     

背负式静电喷雾器静电喷施对2种玉米田除草剂的减量效应

为了明确背负式静电喷雾器静电喷施对玉米田除草剂的减量效应,以土壤处理除草剂40%乙·莠SE和茎叶处理除草剂30%苯唑草酮SC+90%莠去津WG+专用助剂作为参试除草剂,测定了背负式静电喷雾器在不同施药剂量下的静电喷施效果。结果表明:背负式静电喷雾器静电喷施对40%乙·莠SE和30%苯唑草酮SC+90%莠去津WG+专用助剂均有明显的减量效应。当40%乙·莠SE和30%苯唑草酮SC+90%莠去津WG+专用助剂中90%莠去津WG的施用量分别降至2 850 mL/hm~2和825 g/hm~2时,较各自推荐施用量分别减少用药量36.67%和21.43%,对玉米田主要杂草仍有理想的控制效果,株防效超过64%,鲜重防效超过95%;并可最大限度地改善玉米茎、穗部性状,减轻对玉米产量的影响,较人工除草分别减产1.96%和0.29%。可见,背负式静电喷雾器在玉米田土壤处理除草剂和茎叶处理除草剂喷施中具有较大的应用价值。     

Impact of Irrigation Timing and Weed Management Practices on Chlorophyll Content and Morphological Traits of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.)

Weeds are a major biotic constraint; compete with crop for the same resources and ultimately reduce productivity. This study evaluated the impact of irrigation intervals and weed management treatments on chlorophyll content and morphological growth of tomato to find an appropriate integrated weed management strategy. Two-year field experiments (2018/2019) were conducted at district Mardan (34°15′38″ N and 72°6′36″ E). Tomato F1 hybrid (Taj?3592) was transplanted during March. The experiments were laid out in a randomized complete-block design in split-plot arrangement with three replications. The main block comprised three irrigation intervals (3, 6, and 9 days) and the sub-block included weed management treatments: transparent polythene, black polythene, weeding except Orobanche, sole weeding of Orobanche, weeding of all weeds, copper oxychloride 1.5?kg a.i ha^?1 (single dose), copper oxychloride 1.5?kg a.i ha^?1 (split doses), copper oxychloride?+?humic acid 25?kg ha^?1 (single dose), copper oxychloride?+?humic acid 25?kg ha^?1 (split doses), copper sulphate 2?kg ha^?1 (single dose), copper sulphate 2?kg ha^?1 (split doses), ammonium sulphate 200?kg ha^?1 (single dose), ammonium sulphate 200?kg ha^?1 (split doses), pendimethalin 33 EC 1.44?kg a.i ha^?1, glyphosate 48 SL 1.5?kg a.i ha^?1, and weedy check. Lowest relative weed density (RWD) of O. cernua (2.23%) and highest RWD of O. cernua (38.01%) were recorded in the 3? and 9?day irrigation intervals, respectively. However, 3?day irrigation interval resulted in highest fresh weed biomass (5794?kg ha^?1). Moreover, the 6?day irrigation interval significantly increased chlorophyll content by 11 and 5%, leaf area by 23 and 6%, and number of branches plant^?1 by 30 and 22% compared to 9? and 3?day irrigation intervals, respectively. Among the weed management treatments, black polythene resulted in the highest weed control efficiency (96%), increasing chlorophyll content by 16%, leaf area by 33%, and number of branches plant^?1 by 64% vs. weedy check. Consequently, 6?day irrigation intervals?×?black polythene could be the best weed management strategy, followed by transparent polythene, weeding of all weeds, pendimethalin, glyphosate, and ammonium sulphate.

     

河北省夏播玉米田杂草的发生及化学防除

本文论述了河北省夏播玉米田杂草群落的组成、翻耕和免耕两种不同种植方式的玉米田杂草的发生及消长规律 ,并就不同种植方式的玉米田提出了相应的化学防除药剂及施用技术 :在翻耕玉米田 ,以喷施乙阿合剂做播后苗前土壤处理为主 ;免耕贴茬玉米田 ,在作物播后苗前喷施农达混用乙阿合剂 ;麦垅套种的玉米田 ,在小麦收获后立即喷施玉农乐或玉农乐与阿特拉津混用做茎叶处理 ;采用克芜踪行间定向喷雾防除玉米生育后期的杂草     

Efficiency of Different Herbicides for Weed Control in Peas

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for two years during 1977–78 and 1978–79 to evaluate the efficiency of methabenzthiazuron, terbutryn and metoxuron in controlling weeds in peas (Pisum sativum) at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. Pre-emergence application of methabenzthiazuron at 1.05 and 1.40 kg a.i./ha gave efficient weed control and gave comparable yields to two hand hoeings. Post-emergence application of methabenzthiazuron proved inferior. Terbutryn pre-emergence showed promise but as a post-emergence application it was ineffective. Metoxuron both pre- and post-emergence showed phytotoxic effects on the crop.     

湖南省烟田杂草种群调查

为了明确湖南省烟田杂草种群与分布,采用对角线五点取样法在全省烟田进行了系统调查。结果表明,烟田杂草共有30科77种,其中禾本科杂草占比14.29%,阔叶杂草占比81.82%,莎草科杂草占比3.89%;一年生杂草占比75.32%,多年生杂草占比24.68%。相对多度大于3%的杂草有铁苋菜、酸模叶蓼、稗、碎米荠、马唐、繁缕、喜旱莲子草、看麦娘、通泉草、鸭跖草、水苦荬等11种,其中铁苋菜、酸模叶蓼、稗为湖南省烟田优势杂草种群,碎米荠、马唐、繁缕、喜旱莲子草、看麦娘、通泉草、鸭跖草、水苦荬为湖南省烟田区域性优势杂草种群。湖南省烟田杂草防除主要采用苗前土壤处理和苗后茎叶处理相结合的化学防除方法,主要使用的化学除草剂是精异丙甲草胺和砜嘧磺隆。本研究结果表明,湖南省烟田杂草存在区域性差异,应因地制宜制定合适的化学防治方案。     

Interaction between timings and doses of quindorac in rice

Quinclorac (3,7-dichloro-8-quinolinecarboxylic acid) is a new herbicide in United States rice production. Field studies were conducted in 1990 and 1991 in Mississippi to determine the influence of application timings and rates on weed control efficacy and rice yield. Control of Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. (barnyard-grass), Sesbania exaltata (Raf.) Rydb. ex A. W. Hill (hemp sesbania) and Ipomoea wrightii Gray (palmleaf morning glory) were greatest with early post-emergence application. Efficacy of pre-emergence application depends strongly on soil moisture, with significantly reduced weed control resulting when applied to dry soil. Weed control with pre-emergence application to moist soil was comparable with early post-emergence application at higher rates of quinclorac. Pre-plant and incorporated quinclorac controlled weeds effectively. Control of E. crus-galli, S. exaltata and I. wrightii ranged from 73 to 99%, 75 to 99%, and 92 to 99% at 28 days after treatment, respectively. Rice yield generally reflected weed control. No rice injury was observed for any treatment. Results indicate that early post-emergence application of quinclorac is the best time for using reduced rates and field conditions at application should be considered with these rates pre-emergence.     

Weed control in wheat with pyroxasulfone and its combinations with other herbicides

Field and pot investigations were conducted to determine the effectiveness of pyroxasulfone alone and its combinations with other herbicides against diverse weed flora of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) including multiple herbicide-resistant (MHR) littleseed canarygrass (Phalaris minor Retz.). Applications of pyroxasulfone 100–127.5 g/ha as pre-emergence (PE) or early post-emergence (EPOE) @ 63.75 g/ha at 21–23 days after sowing (1 day before irrigation) were highly effective for control of grass weeds namely P. minor and wild oat (Avena ludoviciana Dur.). It was poor for control of broad-leaved weeds (Medicago denticulata Willd. and Rumex dentatus L.). However, pyroxasulfone in tank-mix combination with metsulfuron 4 g/ha, triasulfuron 20 g/ha, and pyroxsulam 18 g/ha effectively controlled (96.5%–99.8%) the diverse weed flora and improved the wheat grain yield (69.5%–285.9%) over untreated weedy control. Also, the pre-mix of pyroxasulfone + pendimethalin applied as PE was superior to either of these applied alone for weed control and grain yield. Pyroxasulfone 100–127.5 g/ha had yield gain of 119.6%–125.4% and 10.1%–26% over untreated control and pendimethalin 800–1250 g/ha, respectively. In pot studies, straw burnt ash drastically reduced the pyroxasulfone efficacy against P. minor and A. ludoviciana. Pyroxasulfone was also effective in pot studies for control of MHR P. minor having resistance against acetyl-coA carboxylase (ACCase), acetolactate synthase (ALS), and photosynthesis at the photosystem-II site-A (PS-II) inhibitor herbicides (clodinafop, sulfosulfuron, and isoproturon, respectively). The studies indicate that pyroxasulfone as PE or EPOE can be an alternative grass weed control herbicide in wheat in particular for the control of MHR P. minor.     

湖南省棉田杂草调查

对湖南省棉花主产区棉田杂草的种类、发生规律及化学除草情况进行了调查。结果发现, 湖南省棉田常见杂草包括12科, 28种, 其中禾本科杂草占25.00%, 阔叶杂草占67.86%, 莎草科占7.14%; 一年生杂草占78.57%, 多年生杂草占21.43%。相对多度10%以上的杂草有7种, 其中马唐、牛筋草、千金子、铁苋菜、小飞蓬5种杂草为湖南省棉田杂草的优势种, 相对多度分别为37.79%、33.64%、29.15%、26.23%、23.83%。杂草发生呈现3个高峰期, 分别为5月下旬, 6月中下旬, 7月下旬至8月初, 杂草防除主要采用苗前土壤处理和苗后茎叶处理相结合的化学防除方法。     

Chemical management of weeds in corn hybrids

Corn stands out among the cultivars because of its high importance in food, animal feed and raw materials for energy production. The quantity and quality of the harvested grain can be reduced, mainly due to inadequate weed management. Nowadays, weed control is accomplished with the use of herbicides as pre‐emergence and postemergence, applied alone or in a tank mix. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the control of weeds and phytotoxicity of the herbicides that were applied in tank mix or isolated in the corn hybrids, Formula TL® and SYN 7B28 . Two experiments were conducted: in the 2012/2013 season (Formula TL®) and 2013/2014 season (SYN 7B28). There was a low initial phytotoxicity of all the tested herbicides in the initial evaluation; however, from 14 days after treatment, it was minimal. The weed control of Ipomoea indivisa, Urochloa plantaginea and Euphorbia heterophylla in both experiments was better, in general, when using the tank mixtures of atrazine + simazine + tembotrione and atrazine + simazine + mesotrione, respectively. The application of atrazine + simazine + tembotrione in the SYN 7B28 hybrids provided, with the exception of the thousand‐grain weight, the best expression of grain yield components, combining a low phytotoxicity and best control of the weeds. The Formula TL® hybrid presented the highest mass of a thousand grains and yield with the application of nicosulfuron + tembotrione. The yield average difference of the herbicide treatments and the unweeded control showed an increase of 27.66 and 34.59% in the grain yield of the corn hybrids, Formula TL® and SYN 7B28, respectively.     

3种除草剂对水稻旱直播阔叶杂草防效及安全性研究

为明确不同除草剂茎叶处理对旱直播水稻田旱生阔叶杂草防除及安全性的影响,采用随机区组试验设计,选用30% 2,4-滴丁酸钠盐AS、84%氯酯磺草胺WG、480 g/L灭草松AS 3种除草剂在水稻4叶期、5叶期施用,施药后每间隔7 d测定杂草株防效、鲜重防效和水稻目测药害,同步测定水稻生长指标和抗逆酶活性。结果表明:30% 2,4-滴丁酸钠盐AS 900.0 g/hm2在水稻4叶期的杂草防效最佳,第28天杂草株防效及鲜重防效仍可达93.55%和96.42%,且对大龄鸭跖草防效显著,施药后水稻生长与人工除草相比无显著差异。叶片SOD、POD活性和MDA含量均先升后降,至施药后28 d恢复正常。30% 2,4-滴丁酸钠盐AS 900.0 g/hm2可高效防除阔叶杂草,该药剂在水稻4叶期和5叶期施用对旱直播水稻安全。     

Unkrautbekämpfung in Lupinen – Erkenntnisse aus 10 Jahren Lückenindikation

In Germany, cultivation of lupines traditionally takes place only in few federal states at sites with light/sandy soil conditions. Due to this fact, there only exist a small number of field trials to close gaps in chemical weed control via herbicides. The existing pre-emergence herbicides are not able to control all of the most common weed species sufficiently-they all show efficiency gaps against single weed species. Not any of the pre-emergence herbicides tested could achieve high efficiencies against Polygonum convolvulus. The best efficiency against P. convolvulus can be achieved after a sequence of a pre-emergence spray of 0,8–1,0 l/ha Fenikan and a post-emergence spray of 0,2 l/ha Tacco. Since Fenikan and Tacco are not approved for lupine, after approval the application only in lupine stocks for seed production is possible. By taking into account only the currently legal permitted herbicides, Gardo Gold and the tank mix Boxer?+?Stomp Aqua show the best broad effects. Benefits resulting from Gardo Gold can be obtained against Chenopodium album, Viola arvensis, Centaurea cyanus, while the tank mixes Boxer?+?Stomp Aqua show advantages against Galium aparine. From the pre-emergence herbicides tested, Successor T could be applied as an addition to improve the broad effect. In tank mixes with Gardo Gold, the most common weed species can be controlled well. However, with permission also this tank mix can currently only be applied in lupine seed stock production. In the near future weed control will only be possible with the currently existing and approved herbicides, because there are no new herbicides to expect that are compatible with corn, grain and lupine. Under suboptimal application conditions of soil herbicides, weeded lupine stocks can only be harvested after siccation.     

Best timing for glyphosate treatments and possible combinations with pre and post-emergence weed control practices in no-till maize

Use of reduced and no-tillage systems has increased in recent years due to concerns for ecological and economic sustainability of agricultural production. Effective weed control is a serious concern in reduced tillage production. This study was conducted to investigate weed control practices in reduced and no-till maize production. The most effective timing of glyphosate application, either before or after sowing, was investigated in combination with pre-emergence application of acetochlor (840 g a.i/L), post-emergence application of foramsulfuron (22.5 g a.i/L), and two hoeing treatments. The treatments were maintained on the same plots during 2011 and 2012 to evaluate the cumulative effects of the treatments. Main plot treatments consisted of four timings of glyphosate application: 20 or 10 days before sowing, day of sowing, 5 days after sowing, and an untreated control. Sub-plot treatments were: pre- plus post-emergence herbicides, pre-emergence herbicide plus rotary hoeing, post-emergence herbicide plus rotary hoeing, and post-emergence herbicide plus two hoeing treatments (rotary and lister hoe). In the main plots, the lowest weed biomass was produced in glyphosate treatments at sowing and 5 days after sowing; the highest biomass was produced in control plots and in the plots with glyphosate treatments 20 days before sowing. In the sub-plots, the greatest weed biomass was produced in plots with two hoeing treatments (rotary and lister hoe). Glyphosate treatments at sowing and post-emergence herbicide treatment combinations produced the best weed control. Economic analysis revealed that pre-sowing, non-selective herbicide treatments provided a slight increase in net profit. Mechanical hoeing decreased net income due to increased production costs. The highest income was obtained from the pre-emergence plus post-emergence herbicide treatment combinations with no glyphosate.     

九种除草剂对玉米田杂草的防除效果及其安全性评价

为明确9种常用除草剂对玉米田杂草的防除效果及其安全性。在福建省甜玉米制种田，采用茎叶喷雾法开展了9种除草剂在推荐剂量下的田间药效试验，并测定了除草剂对甜玉米及其后茬花椰菜和萝卜的安全性。结果表明，施药后25 d，9种除草剂的杂草株防效和鲜重防效均在92%以上；施药后50 d，27%烟 ? 硝 ? 莠去津可分散油悬浮剂[有效成分(下同) 810 g/hm2 ] 和25%硝磺 ? 莠去津可分散油悬浮剂 (750 g/hm2 ) 处理的杂草防除效果最好，以20%氯氟吡氧乙酸乳油 (180 g/hm2 ) 处理的杂草防除效果最差，杂草覆盖表现为重度。供试的9种除草剂对甜玉米生长安全，无明显药害症状，且部分药剂有明显的增产效果，其中以25%硝磺 ? 莠去津可分散油悬浮剂、20%烟嘧 ? 辛酰溴苯腈可分散油悬浮剂 (300 g/hm2 )、80%莠去津可湿性粉剂 (1 440 g/hm2 ) 和27%烟 ? 硝 ? 莠去津可分散油悬浮剂处理的玉米产量较高，与对照相比，增产率分别为21.03%、19.26%、18.74%和16.84%。10%硝磺草酮悬浮剂 (150 g/hm2 )、27%烟 ? 硝 ? 莠去津可分散油悬浮剂、33.5%硝磺 ? 异丙草胺 ? 莠去津悬浮剂 (1 005 g/hm2 ) 和30%苯唑草酮悬浮剂 (27 g/hm2 ) 处理对后茬花椰菜和萝卜均有较好的增产效果，增产率分别为18.05%和13.68%、3.37%和12.67%、15.45%和11.06%、8.21%和11.67%，但40 g/L烟嘧磺隆可分散油悬浮剂 (60 g/hm2 ) 对后茬花椰菜和萝卜的生长有抑制作用，与清水对照相比，分别减产9.74%和3.57%。研究结果可为甜玉米田杂草防除有效药剂的合理选择和应用提供科学依据。     

Weed interference and control in white yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir)

The climbing growth habit of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) coupled with its inability to shade the ground completely at any stage of its growth and development makes it very susceptible to weed interference. The critical period of weed interference in white yam was between the 8th and 16th week after planting (w.a.p.) for yam planted at the onset of rains. Keeping yam plants weedy for 16 w.a.p. or beyond significantly reduced tuber yield; keeping them weed-free for the same period resulted in a significant increase in tuber yield. A minimum of three weedings within 16 w.a.p. are necessary to minimize yield reduction caused by weeds. The lowest weed weight and highest crop yield from herbicide treatments were obtained where a mixture of fluometuron and metolachlor each at 2.0 kg a.i./ha was used for pre-emergence weed control.     

Cyperus rotundus control using a mechanical digger and solar radiation

Cyperus rotundus (purple nutsedge) is considered one of the most noxious weeds affecting agricultural areas worldwide. With its fast growth rate, it competes with annual crops for water, minerals, light and space. It excretes allelopathic materials that impede crop development. Controlling this weed is difficult and is done mostly by manual weeding, cultivation and herbicides, with limited effectiveness. A method was developed for the control of C. rotundus. A machine penetrates the soil and rearranges it, so that the tubers are lifted to the upper soil layer, where they are left exposed to the hot summer climate, dehydrate and die. The method was tested in seven field experiments on various soil types. Two months after the experimental plots were irrigated, 70–100% weed control was observed. The machine's speed (at 1.2 or 1.8 km h^?1) and the number of treatments (one, or two treatments a month apart) did not influence the level of weed control. The method has a very high potential to replace manual weeding and application of herbicides. Further work will test whether the treatment has a long‐term effect or should be repeated every season.     

Weed populations in winter wheat as affected by crop sequence, intensity of tillage and time of herbicide application in a cool and humid climate

Summary There is a lack of information on the combined effects of preceding crop, reduced tillage (especially no-tillage) and the time of herbicide application on the development of weed populations and the efficiency of weed control in winter wheat in humid temperate climates. An experiment was conducted with a crop rotation (winter wheat – oilseed rape – winter wheat – maize) on a sandy loam and a loamy silt soil in the Swiss midlands to investigate the impact of different preceding crops and pre- and post-emergence control of weeds in conventional tillage (CT; mouldboard plough), minimum tillage (MT; chisel plough) and no-tillage (NT; no soil disturbance systems). When winter wheat was grown after maize and winter wheat was grown after oilseed rape, the ranking order of weed density in treatments without herbicide application was NT < MT < CT and CT < MT < NT respectively. Analysis of variance and canonical discriminant analysis showed that Epilobium spp., Sonchus arvensis , Myosotis arvensis and volunteer crops were more abundant in NT than in MT and CT. The efficiency of post-emergence weed control was generally better than that of pre-emergence weed control, regardless of tillage intensity.