CombCut : selective control of docks (Rumex spp.) in grassland

Abstract

Rumex spp. are known as troublesome weed species in grassland, both in pastures and on arable land, reducing both grass yield and forage quality. A novel machine called CombCut (Just Common Sense AB) has been designed to selectively cut weeds. Three different experiments in Akershus, Norway were carried out to investigate selective cutting of Rumex spp. in leys, with the CombCut. Vegetative and flowering Rumex spp. m-2 , Rumex spp. biomass and grass yield were investigated for the different treatments. The treatments were various CombCut settings, herbicide application and control treatments with normal sward management. The CombCut left several Rumex spp. plants uncut after treatments and there was no clear reduction of flowering nor vegetative Rumex spp. Running the CombCut two passes reduced weed biomass significantly compared with one-pass treatments. Grass yield was not affected by the CombCut treatments. Even though the experiments did not show a clear effect on reducing Rumex spp., more information on the time of cutting, ideal field conditions for selective cutting and CombCut adjustments are needed to conclude on the effect of cutting Rumex spp. with the CombCut.