Thermal weed control in strawberry

Weed control with herbicides is impossible in perennial organic agricultural systems. Alternatively, in these systems, weeds can be destroyed mechanically, thermally or by mulching with a plastic film, to minimize negative weed influence, but not to exterminate all of them. Thermal weed control requires knowledge of the plants' thermal sensitivity. The most common weeds growing between strawberry rows in Lithuania are shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa), common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris L.) and common chick-weed (Stellaria media). We have been researching thermal sensitivity of these weeds. Research has shown the results of preheating a 2-mm diameter weed stem up to 70 o C: shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa) 2.0 s., common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris L.) - 2.4 s. and common chick-weed (Stellaria media) 1.7 s. Weeds between rows were burned as mechanical control is not allowed when strawberries are flowering. To estimate the effectiveness of this method, when thermal weed sensitivity was researched, the unit speed was selected depending on the degree of weed development.