Weed development in spring wheat after contrasting soil tillage and nitrogen management

Soil tillage and nitrogen (N) management effects on weed species composition were evaluated in 2013 and 2014 on a clayey soil after 5‐years of organic management at the Royal Agricultural University's Harnhill Manor Farm, UK. Three tillage systems – Conventional Tillage (CT), and High and Low Intensity Non‐inversion Tillage (HINiT & LINiT) – were compared at four N fertiliser rates of 0, 70, 140 and 210 kg N ha−1. Broad‐spectrum herbicide was applied before soil operations across the site in both years. Previous organic management legacy of high weed biomass promoted greater weed prevalence in 2013 while 2‐years of herbicide inclusion reduced weed biomass. Contrasting weather conditions across the seasons affected weed incidence. In the 2014 wet season, early weed dry weight (DM) was higher under HINiT than CT and LINiT, while no differences were observed in the 2013 dry year. At midseason, weed DM was higher under HINiT than CT and LINiT in both years, which was related to higher DM of the dominant weeds Stellaria media (L.) Vill. and Sinapis arvensis L. Grass weed DM was higher under non‐inversion tillage than CT. N fertilisation increased midseason total weed DM and weed prevalence at harvest. Spring wheat yield was the highest under CT while LINiT produced 17% higher yields than HINiT. Despite higher but still tolerable weed prevalence under both non‐inversion tillage systems and with the application of N, weeds alone was not the only yield‐limiting factor. However, results show that CT is the most reliable option for weed control in changing weather, while N fertilisation rates needs to be considered.