Night-Time Soil Cultivation and Intra-Row Brush Weeding for Weed Control in Carrots (Daucus carota L.)

ABSTRACT Night-time soil cultivation and intra-row brush weeding for weed control in carrot (Daucus carota L.) production were investigated in Sweden during 1995–1997. The interactions between the two methods were also studied. Experiments were carried out in weed-free and weedy fields in order to study weed control effectiveness as well as impact on yield quantity and quality. Night-time cultivation reduced weed emergence by 14–25%. Intra-row brush weeding had a control effect of about 80% on common annual weeds at the two-four true-leaf stage, but the effect was only about 35% when performed at the six-eight true-leaf stage. The overall weed control effect was not improved by seedbed preparation and sowing at night. Brush treatment had little influence on total and marketable yield when performed at the two-three true-leaf stage of the carrots. The frequency of branched carrots was not affected by brushing at this developmental stage. It was concluded that the timing of the brush treatment, when using n...