Environment and agriculture: The dichotomy of erosion and weed control

A newly developed weed control model that is integrated with erosion models and an economic decision making module is used to analyse the trade-offs between reduced tillage and herbicide use. Our models suggest reduced tillage or direct seeding to reduce soil erosion for soils where erosion risks are high. The weed control model indicates a substantial increase in the number of weed control treatments for reduced tillage and direct seeding. Lowering the number of herbicide applications under reduced or no till leads to increased weed problems over time. Therefore reducing the number of herbicide applications in cereal production at the same time as one mandates universal reduced tillage or direct seeding is not recommended. Spring ploughing seems to combine tolerable soil losses with moderate use of herbicides, and may therefore be recommended on soil types suitable for this tillage system.