Effects of biomass, age and functional traits on regrowth of arable weeds after cutting

Conference: 24th German Conference on Weed Biology and Weed ControlLocation: Stuttgart Hohenheim, GERMANYDate: MAR 04-06, 2008; International audience; In sown field margin stripes or pluriannual forage crops, arable weeds are exposed to high competition and regular mowing or hay cutting, to which they may react very differently. A greenhouse experiment permitted to understand some key factors shaping the ability of common arable weeds and forage crops to grow after such cuttings. Even without competition, cutting shoots at 5cm height reduced biomass production of all 10 species studied, but 6 annual broadleaf weeds were much more affected than 2 perennial forage crops (Dactylis, Medicago) …