Emergence of Sonchus oleraceus (common sowthistle) is favoured under zero tillage farming systems

Abstract

The impact of different tillage treatments and seed burial depth on the emergence of S. oleraceus was evaluated in two fi eld trials. Increasing soil disturbance reduced S. oleraceus emergence and buried a greater proportion of seed below 2 cm than zero tillage or single operation tillage treatments. S. oleraceus seed emergence was greatest from depths of 0 and 1 cm, however a small amount emerged from a depth of 2 cm while no seedlings emerged from 5 and 10 cm depths. This study highlights that S. oleraceus emergence is favoured in zero tillage systems and that burial of seed through tillage below 2 cm will inhibit emergence of this weed.