False Seedbed and Stale Seedbed Against Important Broadleaf Weeds: A Case Study and a Step Closer to Agroecology

Wheat production can be reduced due to competition from weeds, with farmers relying almost exclusively on chemical solutions. However, there are alternative farming practices available. Therefore, in a field trial in Greece, we assessed the efficacy of false and stale seedbed against important broad...

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Main Authors: Panagiotis Kanatas, Ioannis Gazoulis, Dimitra Petraki, Metaxia Kokkini, Nikolaos Antonopoulos, Ilias Travlos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/4/564
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author Panagiotis Kanatas
Ioannis Gazoulis
Dimitra Petraki
Metaxia Kokkini
Nikolaos Antonopoulos
Ilias Travlos
author_facet Panagiotis Kanatas
Ioannis Gazoulis
Dimitra Petraki
Metaxia Kokkini
Nikolaos Antonopoulos
Ilias Travlos
author_sort Panagiotis Kanatas
collection DOAJ
description Wheat production can be reduced due to competition from weeds, with farmers relying almost exclusively on chemical solutions. However, there are alternative farming practices available. Therefore, in a field trial in Greece, we assessed the efficacy of false and stale seedbed against important broadleaf weed species and their impact on grain yield parameters. Our study determined that false seedbed resulted in a decrease in the density and biomass of broadleaf weed species like catchweed bedstraw (<i>Galium aparine</i> L.) up to 75% and 69% compared with the untreated control (normal seedbed preparation), respectively. The efficacy of false seedbed was higher when combined with post-emergence chemical control. Stale seedbed also resulted in adequate weed control, with a biomass reduction of up to 81%, and grain yield increased by 30% compared with the normal seedbed preparation without any herbicide use. Our results highlight the differences in the response between the weed species and also emphasize the potential of adding an alternative farming practice (like false and stale seedbed) as part of an integrated farming strategy for a sustainable and agroecological crop and weed management. In order to validate the trends observed in this case study, further field-to-field or year-to-year replication is required.
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spelling doaj-art-36f24936397f4a8f95f0c4816d9c75852025-08-20T02:03:27ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-02-0114456410.3390/plants14040564False Seedbed and Stale Seedbed Against Important Broadleaf Weeds: A Case Study and a Step Closer to AgroecologyPanagiotis Kanatas0Ioannis Gazoulis1Dimitra Petraki2Metaxia Kokkini3Nikolaos Antonopoulos4Ilias Travlos5Department of Crop Science, University of Patras, 30200 Mesolonghi, GreeceDepartment of Crop Science, University of Patras, 30200 Mesolonghi, GreeceDepartment of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 75, Iera Odos Str., 11855 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 75, Iera Odos Str., 11855 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 75, Iera Odos Str., 11855 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 75, Iera Odos Str., 11855 Athens, GreeceWheat production can be reduced due to competition from weeds, with farmers relying almost exclusively on chemical solutions. However, there are alternative farming practices available. Therefore, in a field trial in Greece, we assessed the efficacy of false and stale seedbed against important broadleaf weed species and their impact on grain yield parameters. Our study determined that false seedbed resulted in a decrease in the density and biomass of broadleaf weed species like catchweed bedstraw (<i>Galium aparine</i> L.) up to 75% and 69% compared with the untreated control (normal seedbed preparation), respectively. The efficacy of false seedbed was higher when combined with post-emergence chemical control. Stale seedbed also resulted in adequate weed control, with a biomass reduction of up to 81%, and grain yield increased by 30% compared with the normal seedbed preparation without any herbicide use. Our results highlight the differences in the response between the weed species and also emphasize the potential of adding an alternative farming practice (like false and stale seedbed) as part of an integrated farming strategy for a sustainable and agroecological crop and weed management. In order to validate the trends observed in this case study, further field-to-field or year-to-year replication is required.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/4/564false seedbedstale seedbedwheatweed management
spellingShingle Panagiotis Kanatas
Ioannis Gazoulis
Dimitra Petraki
Metaxia Kokkini
Nikolaos Antonopoulos
Ilias Travlos
False Seedbed and Stale Seedbed Against Important Broadleaf Weeds: A Case Study and a Step Closer to Agroecology
Plants
false seedbed
stale seedbed
wheat
weed management
title False Seedbed and Stale Seedbed Against Important Broadleaf Weeds: A Case Study and a Step Closer to Agroecology
title_full False Seedbed and Stale Seedbed Against Important Broadleaf Weeds: A Case Study and a Step Closer to Agroecology
title_fullStr False Seedbed and Stale Seedbed Against Important Broadleaf Weeds: A Case Study and a Step Closer to Agroecology
title_full_unstemmed False Seedbed and Stale Seedbed Against Important Broadleaf Weeds: A Case Study and a Step Closer to Agroecology
title_short False Seedbed and Stale Seedbed Against Important Broadleaf Weeds: A Case Study and a Step Closer to Agroecology
title_sort false seedbed and stale seedbed against important broadleaf weeds a case study and a step closer to agroecology
topic false seedbed
stale seedbed
wheat
weed management
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/4/564
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