Yield, Quality Parameters and Nitrogen Uptake of Sugar Beet affected by Combined Mechanical-Chemical Weed Control Methods in Post-Emergence Strategy

Weed control is crucial for successful arable farming. Combining mechanical and chemical methods can achieve high weed control efficacy while reducing herbicide use. In addition to effective, herbicide reduced weed control, maintaining high crop yield and quality remains essential. In this study yield and quality parameters were specifically examined depending on different combinations of broadcast herbicide application, herbicide band spraying intrarow combined with mechanical hoeing interrow, and mechanical hoeing interrow without herbicide application intrarow as part of the threefold post-emergence strategy in sugar beet. Both aboveground biomass (leaf apparatus) and belowground biomass (root) of the sugar beets were analyzed in order to quantify yield and quality performance of combined mechanical-chemical weed control methods and to examine possible growth-promoting benefits from mechanical weed control interrow. Compared to solo broadcast herbicide application an average of all treatments including mechanical hoeing interrow showed a 13.26% higher N uptake (highest 45.61%) in the leaf apparatus and a 9.00% higher sugar yield (highest 16.93%) in one trial year with herbicide savings of up to 65.59%. This study suggest that mechanical weed control methods applied during the advanced vegetation period may promote sugar beet growth. However, growth-promoting effects appear to be highly dependent on weather conditions. The findings further highlight the potential of integrated weed management (IWM), including mechanical hoeing, for promoting more sustainable agriculture.