Method for suppressing the growth of spontaneous companion vegetation plants using helper plants

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for suppressing the growth of spontaneous companion vegetation plants in a cultivated soil which is provided for at least one species of cultivated plant, or a cultivated plant stock comprising at least one species of cultivated plant. The method comprises the combined sowing of at least one helper plant species with the at least one cultivated plant species, wherein at least one helper plant species has at least one property selected from the group consisting of non-frost-tolerant, mechanically easily removable, and / or sensitive to a herbicide to which the cultivated plant species is resistant or less sensitive.

Description

[0001] Method for suppressing the growth of plants of spontaneous accompanying vegetation using helper plants

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present application relates to methods for suppressing the growth of plants of the spontaneous companion vegetation by means of helper plants.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] In agriculture, crops are grown on designated agricultural land (cultivated soil) to produce food and animal feed.

[0006] When one crop species is grown on a single area, it is referred to as monoculture or pure culture; when several crop species are grown on a single area at the same time, it is referred to as mixed culture.

[0007] In addition to the crop, other plants may also grow on the cultivated area. These are referred to as weeds, accompanying plants, or spontaneous vegetation. These plants are generally neither desired nor contribute to the crop yield. They are detrimental to the crop and reduce the crop yield.

[0008] Current technology involves suppressing the growth of spontaneous accompanying vegetation with herbicides. This can not only pose environmental and health risks but also entails considerable costs. Currently, it is also being observed that accompanying plants such as blackgrass are developing resistance to available herbicides. This makes many herbicides significantly less effective.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to develop a method that reduces or even suppresses the growth of spontaneous accompanying vegetation, while allowing the possibility of reducing, modifying or even eliminating the use of herbicides.

[0010] These and other objects are achieved by the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims disclose embodiments of the invention that may be preferred under certain circumstances. Likewise, the description discloses further embodiments of the invention that may be preferred under certain circumstances.

[0011] SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0012] Figure 1 shows results of a cultivation experiment in which the density of blackgrass (AFS) in plants per m 2 was determined.

[0013] Figure 2 shows results from another cultivation experiment in which the density of blackgrass (AFS) in plants per m 2 was determined.

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Before describing the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the individual components of the seed product or process steps of the described methods, as these products and methods may vary. It is understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0016] It should be noted that the singular forms used in the description and the appended claims include singular and / or plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Where parameter ranges are specified that are limited by numerical values, it is understood that the specified ranges include these limits.

[0017] It is further understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be understood as isolated embodiments that do not relate to one another. Features discussed in connection with one embodiment are also intended to be disclosed in connection with other embodiments shown herein. If in one case a certain feature is not disclosed in connection with one embodiment but with another embodiment, this does not mean to a person skilled in the art that this feature is not disclosed in the other embodiment or is even excluded. A person skilled in the art will be aware that it is the purpose of this application to disclose the said feature for the other embodiment as well, but that this may not have been done for reasons of clarity and in order to keep the description within a manageable scope.

[0018] Furthermore, the content of the prior art documents cited herein is to be considered incorporated by reference into the disclosure of this application. This applies in particular to prior art documents that disclose standard or routine processes. In this case, the primary purpose of incorporation by reference is to enable a sufficiently comprehensive disclosure and to avoid tedious repetition.

[0019] According to a first aspect of the invention, a method for suppressing the growth of plants of the spontaneous accompanying vegetation in

[0020] (i) a cultivated area intended for at least one crop species, or

[0021] (ii) a crop stand comprising at least one crop species, provided, The method comprises the combined sowing of at least one helper plant species with the at least one crop species, wherein at least one helper plant species has at least one property selected from the group consisting of • not frost tolerant

[0022] • easily removable mechanically, and / or

[0023] • sensitive to a herbicide to which the crop species is resistant or less sensitive.

[0024] The term “non-frost tolerant” defines plants that die by 50% after one and a half hours of exposure to temperatures of +2°C or colder (T50 < 2°C).

[0025] The term ‘sensitive to a herbicide to which the crop species is resistant or less sensitive’ defines, for example, in one embodiment, plant protection products which are selectively active against dicotyledonous plants, but not, or less so, against monocotyledonous plants (where the helper plant species belongs to the former and the crop species to the latter).

[0026] In another embodiment, the term defines, for example, plant protection products which are selectively active against monocotyledonous plants, but not, or less strongly, against dicotyledonous plants (if the helper plant species belongs to the former and the crop plant species to the latter).

[0027] Such selective herbicides differ from total herbicides or broad-spectrum herbicides, which are effective against all plant species.

[0028] The plant protection product may also contain adjuvants, such as certain surfactants, in addition to the herbicide. These adjuvants can also contribute to selectivity against monocotyledonous plants, for example, by significantly promoting the uptake of the herbicide into the plant or protecting it from premature degradation.

[0029] The Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) has introduced a classification of herbicide mechanisms of action using a letter (old) and numbers (new). Furthermore, the mechanism of action of herbicides is indicated on the label and in the instructions for use.

[0030] In addition, the specialist has access to tables, for example from the HRAC, and constantly updated online databases, for example from the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety, which can be used to select the use of specific herbicides or a specific mixture of herbicides.

[0031] For example, the use of the herbicide acetyl coenzyme A (CoA) carboxylase inhibitor, or ACCase inhibitor (HRAC Group 1), particularly Axial 50® and Traxos®, is suitable for controlling the growth of monocotyledons.

[0032] ACCase binds activated CO2 to acetyl coenzyme A. Two malonyl-CoA units are formed, which are further metabolized into fatty acids. This reaction takes place in chloroplasts, thus being specific to plants.

[0033] Furthermore, the effect of named ACCase inhibitors is particularly pronounced in monocotyledons, such as blackgrass. The enzyme ACCase differs structurally between monocotyledons and dicotyledons. ACCase inhibitors target this structural difference, allowing them to be used specifically against monocotyledons.

[0034] Herbicides that are also selective and thus suitable for removing specific dicotyledonous or monocotyledonous helper plants include acetolactate synthase inhibitors, or ALS inhibitors (group 2), cell growth inhibitors (groups 3, 23, 0), synthetic auxins (group 4), photosynthesis inhibitors (group 5, 6), carotenoid synthesis inhibitors (groups 12, 13, 27, 32), protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitors, or PPO inhibitors (group 14), lipid synthesis inhibitors (group 15), cellulose synthesis inhibitors (group 29), and / or fatty acid inhibitors (group 30).

[0035] In any case, the approach discussed, which involves using a helper plant sensitive to a herbicide to which the crop species is resistant or less sensitive, offers the possibility of significantly reducing herbicide use compared to state-of-the-art methods. This is because the herbicide does not control all of the spontaneous accompanying vegetation (the helper plant takes care of that). The term "easily removable by mechanical means" refers, for example, to the helper plant's ability to be removed by mechanical means, e.g., using a harrow.

[0036] A harrow is a device with downward-facing metal hooks. The harrow is pulled across the cultivated soil, for example, by a tractor, so that the metal hooks extend into the upper soil layer. As it is pulled across the cultivated soil, parts of the helper plant become entangled in the metal hooks and are mechanically pulled out of the soil by the pulling motion of the harrow. The harrow can be adapted to the specific application by adjusting the hook position, number and spacing of the hooks, depth, and pulling speed.

[0037] Since the root and shoot architecture of the helper plant and the crop plant often differ, the helper plant can be mechanically removed with the appropriate harrow setting. For example, some cultivated plants, such as cereals (monocotyledonous), grow on a narrow stem, while a dicotyledonous helper plant, such as buckwheat, has a bushy, branched growth habit. In this case, the harrow can be adjusted to grip the bushy elements of the helper plant, but not the narrow stems of the cereal plant.

[0038] Furthermore, the root and shoot architecture of the helper and cultivated plants change depending on the respective development stage, the current weather conditions, and the time of day.

[0039] The specialist takes these influences into account when selecting a suitable harrow depending on the combination of crop and helper plants. The use of the harrow leads to the successful mechanical removal of the helper plant. The crop plant remains in the cultivated soil.

[0040] The term “spontaneous companion vegetation”, as used here, refers to plants that are commonly referred to as “weeds” or “companion plants”, i.e., plants that are not intentionally sown but germinate spontaneously and compete with the cultivated plant species.

[0041] The method according to the invention takes advantage of the fact that the said helper plant species germinates quickly and, due to its comparatively rapid growth, prevents the growth of plants of the spontaneous accompanying vegetation, but can then be easily removed or dies, thus paving the way for the cultivated plant species to grow.

[0042] In this way, the use of herbicides to suppress the growth of plants of the spontaneous accompanying vegetation can be reduced or even avoided, which brings significant advantages from a cost, health and environmental point of view.

[0043] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, at least one helper plant species further comprises at least one property selected from the group consisting of

[0044] • fast-germinating

[0045] • shadow-forming, and / or

[0046] • exerting allelopathic effect.

[0047] The term “fast-germinating,” as used here, refers to helper plants that germinate faster relative to the respective crop or to typical plants of the spontaneous accompanying vegetation.

[0048] Germination is the beginning of seed development. It encompasses the growth process of the embryo within the fertile seed, from the emergence of the radicle to the complete formation of the seedling.

[0049] For germination to occur, several conditions must be met. The most important are warmth, water, light (or lack of light), and oxygen. These conditions vary for different plant species.

[0050] Heat ensures that the right temperatures, which the seedling needs for its further development, already exist outside the germination environment. Water is another essential prerequisite for germination: many seeds have very little water (survival stage) and must first absorb a large amount of water (swell) before they can germinate. Plants can be classified according to the light conditions they require. So-called light germinating seeds usually have small seeds; they therefore do not have enough energy to penetrate a dense layer of soil and need light or warmth to germinate. Examples include basil (Ocimum basilicum) and grasses such as rye (Secale cereale). Dark germinating plants, on the other hand, do not germinate in light; they require complete darkness. Examples are corn (Zea mays) and monkshood (Aconitum napellus). Oxygen is needed for plant metabolism.The breakdown of reserve substances (and thus the generation of the energy needed for germination) occurs through dissimilative processes. Oxygen is required as an electron acceptor. The oxygen content in the soil differs from the oxygen content in the air. It depends, among other things, on excessive irrigation, waterlogged soils, flooding, or high soil density.

[0051] The term dormancy refers to a form of developmental delay in plants that prevents premature seed germination under unfavorable conditions. This mechanism protects mature seeds from adverse climatic conditions. Seed germination occurs delayed, i.e., only in a favorable season, so that the seedling finds optimal growth conditions. Dormancy is common in wild plants. In agriculturally optimized crops, this trait has largely been bred out, as the seeds are all harvested and sown back into the field at the same time. Seed dormancy would negatively impact yields.

[0052] Black-grass flowers and disperses its seeds from May to July. Due to the biology of black-grass, the seed falls through any soil cover from primary dormancy into secondary dormancy. In this secondary dormancy, germination is not possible in the current year. From secondary dormancy, the seed only germinates the following year when light and moisture are present. For example, shallow soil cultivation with a harrow after harvesting the crop when the primary dormancy is short and the soil is moist led to the emergence of black-grass plants. Older black-grass seeds, which are located in the upper soil horizon, are worked to the surface by soil cultivation, where they receive light stimulation and then germinate from secondary dormancy. The secondary dormancy of black-grass can last up to 10 years.

[0053] For example, blackgrass, as a typical plant of spontaneous companion vegetation, germinates within approximately four to six weeks, whereas the germination time of some exemplary helper plants according to the invention is shorter, as shown in Table 1:

[0054] Table 1: Germination time of exemplary helper plants according to the invention

[0055] The term “shade-forming,” as used here, refers to plants that develop sprawling stems or foliage soon after germination, thus reducing the access of potential plants of the spontaneous companion vegetation to sunlight.

[0056] If a seed from a spontaneous accompanying vegetation falls into the dark zone, it enters secondary dormancy. As a result, the seed will not germinate. Likewise, insufficient light can lead to stunted growth and subsequent death or displacement of the accompanying vegetation.

[0057] The term “allelopathic effect”, as used here, refers to plants that impair the growth of any neighboring plants of the spontaneous accompanying vegetation by releasing self-produced exudates (allelochemicals).

[0058] Allelochemicals belong to the subgroup of secondary metabolites, which are usually not directly required for the metabolism (i.e., growth, development and reproduction) of the allelopathic plant.

[0059] Specific examples of allelopathic plants include the black walnut (Juglans nigra), the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), the black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), the spotted orchid (Centaurea stoebe), the garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), plants of the genera Allocasuarina and Casuarina, and the tuberous sedge (Cyperus rotundus). Many invasive plant species affect native plants through allelopathy.

[0060] Well-known allelochemicals are for example

[0061] • Glucosinolates such as sinigrin (in garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), which can impair the interactions between the roots of native trees and their mycorrhizal fungi.

[0062] • Juglone, produced by the black walnut (Juglans nigra)

[0063] • toxic amino acids produced by the white-headed mimosa (Leucaena leucocephala) that inhibit the growth of other plants, but not the growth of their own species,

[0064] • Capsaicin, which is found in many peppers.

[0065] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that at least one helper plant species is sown before, at the same time as or after at least one crop plant species.

[0066] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, seeds of at least one helper plant species are mixed with seeds of at least one cultivated plant species and sown.

[0067] In this embodiment, it is preferably provided that the seeds of the helper plant species and the cultivated plant species do not differ too significantly in size, to ensure uniform mixing and sowing. Seed sizes are typically specified in "1000 kernel weight (1000K)," i.e., the weight of 1000 seeds in grams.

[0068] In embodiments it is provided that the 1000K values ​​of the seeds of

[0069] Crop species and helper plant species by < 75%, < 70%, < 65%, < 60%, < 55%, < 50%,

[0070] < 45%, < 40%, < 39%, < 38%, < 37%, < 36%, < 35%, < 34%, < 33%, < 32%, < 31%, <

[0071] 30%, < 29%, < 28%, < 27%, < 26%, < 25%, < 24%, < 23%, < 22%, < 21%, < 20%, < 19

[0072] %, < 18 %, < 17 %, < 16 %, < 15 %, < 14 %, < 13 %, < 12 %, < 11 %, < 10 %, < 9 %, < 8 %

[0073] < 7%, < 6%, < 5%, < 4%, < 3%, < 2% or < 1%. In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, seeds of at least one helper plant species or of one cultivated plant species are mixed in the form of seed pellets or encrusted seeds with seeds of at least one cultivated plant species or of one helper plant species and then sown.

[0074] The term "seed pellet," as used here, refers to seeds coated with a material, preferably of mineral or organic origin. When exposed to moisture, the material breaks or dissolves, releasing the seed. Pelleting is often combined with seed dressing.

[0075] This allows the seeds to be given a round, smooth, and uniform shape and size, making them less likely to jam in a mechanical seed drill. The goal, among other things, is to ensure reliable and precise seed placement during sowing. This can be particularly useful for crops that respond to uneven seed spacing with reduced yield.

[0076] In addition, the 1000K value can also be increased and adjusted, for example, to that of a second seed sown at the same time. Alternatively, "seed pellets" are also called "seed pills."

[0077] Encrustation is a process in which small or irregularly shaped seeds are coated with a coating that increases the size or weight of the seeds, but not necessarily a uniform shape. The goal is to achieve more reliable seed separation through the increased weight or size—also resulting in a higher 1000 K value—while precise placement is not necessarily required.

[0078] Both embodiments are particularly suitable for situations in which the seeds of the helper plant species and the cultivated plant species have different sizes. In this case, the smaller seeds are preferably used in the form of seed pills or in encrusted firm. In this way, the 1000 K value of the smaller seeds can be artificially increased and thus made more similar to that of the seeds of the other species. This in turn facilitates or even enables the simultaneous sowing of both species. If seeds of one species are more than 25% smaller in their 1000 K value than seeds of the other species, the aim can be to reduce this deviation to less than 25% by processing them into seed pellets or by encrusting them.

[0079] In embodiments it is provided that the 1000K values ​​of the

[0080] Seeds of cultivated plant species and helper plant species by > 15%, > 16%, > 17%, > 18

[0081] %, > 19 %, > 20 %, > 21 %, > 22 %, > 23 %, > 24 %, > 25 %, > 26 %, > 27 %, > 28 %, > 29

[0082] %, > 30 %, > 31 %, > 32 %, > 33 %, > 34 %, > 35 %, > 36 %, > 37 %, > 38 %, > 39 %, > 40

[0083] %, > 41 %, > 42 %, > 43 %, > 44 %, > 45 %, > 46 %, > 47 %, > 48 %, > 49 %, > 50 %, > 51

[0084] %, > 52 %, > 53 %, > 54 %, > 55 %, > 56 %, > 57 %, > 58 %, > 59 % or > 60 %.

[0085] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, seeds of at least one helper plant species or one cultivated plant species are present or used in treated form.

[0086] Seed dressing is a process in which the surface of the seed is modified or enhanced through physical or chemical treatment. The aim of the treatment is to protect the seed and, after germination, the seedling from external biotic and abiotic factors such as disease or drought, and thus prevent plant losses. Seed dressing can also have a positive effect on the technical properties of the seed, such as flowability and particulate matter formation. Unlike seed pills or encrustation, chemical and physical seed dressing generally do not significantly alter the seed's shape, size, or weight. Seed pills and encrusted seeds are often additionally treated.

[0087] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the cultivated plant species is a cultivated form from the Poaceae family, optionally wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), rye (Secale cereale), spelt (Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta) or tricitale (Triticale).

[0088] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the crop species is a crop from the rapeseed family (Brassica napus). In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the crop species is a winter cereal, optionally winter wheat, winter rye, winter barley, winter spelt, or winter triticale.

[0089] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the crop is winter-hardy rapeseed. Rapeseed is only frost-hardy down to approximately -15 to -20 °C on snow-free ground. However, it can also tolerate lower air temperatures under a protective blanket of snow.

[0090] The use of a winter cereal as a crop is particularly suitable in combination with a non-decay-tolerant helper plant. Both are sown simultaneously or close to each other in the fall and germinate. Through its growth, the helper plant suppresses the growth of plants in the spontaneous accompanying vegetation until it itself dies at the onset of the frost period. At the beginning of the subsequent growing season, the crop then has a growth advantage over any new germinating plants in the spontaneous accompanying vegetation and is thus less affected by them. This embodiment ideally does not require the use of herbicides.

[0091] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the helper plant species is selected from the group of knotweed plants (Polygonaceae), optionally buckwheat (Fagopyrum esciilenlum), Tatarian buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum), or bindweed (Polygonum convolvulus or Fallopio convolvulus).

[0092] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the helper plant species is selected from the group of Boraginaceae, optionally bee pasture (Phacelia sp.), optionally Phacelia tanacetifolia.

[0093] Buckwheat, Tatar buckwheat, and bindweed are all dicotyledonous plants from the knotweed family and the order Caryophyllales. They are not winter hardy and therefore particularly suitable for combination with winter cereals in the process according to the invention. They generally do not tolerate temperatures below 5°C. The Boraginaceae are a family of angiosperms. The name Boraginaceae refers to the characteristic hairiness of the leaves and stems, which many of the Central European species possess. The mostly alternate leaves are simple and entire. The Central European species generally have a double-coiled inflorescence. In particular, plants of the genus Phacelia sp. are not winter hardy and freeze in frost.

[0094] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the helper plant species is selected from the group of legumes (Fabaceae), optionally vetch (Vicia villosa).

[0095] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the helper plant species is selected from the group of cruciferous plants (Brassicaceae), optionally oil radish (Raphanus sativus var. Oleiformis).

[0096] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the helper plant species is selected from plants of the genus Avena, optionally sand oats or rough oats (Avena strigosa).

[0097] Preferably, the helper plant species is selected in such a way that it is at least taxonomically and / or functionally different from the dominant species of the spontaneous accompanying vegetation expected for the cultivated soil or crop stand in question.

[0098] It should be noted that for a particular cultivated soil or crop stand, the spontaneous accompanying vegetation that will develop, and in particular the dominant species, can be predicted for the next growing season, for example. Therefore, a targeted selection of a suitable helper plant species is possible, i.e., a helper plant species that is at least taxonomically and / or functionally distinct from the dominant species of the spontaneous accompanying vegetation in question.

[0099] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that this comprises at least one combination of crop and helper plant species selected from the following group: • Wheat / Polygonaceae,

[0100] • Barley / Polygonaceae,

[0101] • Rye / Polygonaceae,

[0102] • Spelt / Polygonaceae,

[0103] • Tricitale / Polygonaceae, and / or

[0104] • Rapeseed / Polygonaceae. The term "Polygonaceae" includes, among others, Tatrian buckwheat, bindweed, and buckwheat.

[0105] Further preferred combinations of crop and helper plant species are disclosed in the following tables.

[0106] Table 2: preferred combinations of crop and helper plants

[0107] Table 3: preferred combinations of crop and helper plant species

[0108] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the spontaneous accompanying vegetation comprises at least one species selected from the group comprising: • Black-grass (Alopercurus myosuroides) ALOMY

[0109] • Common Windgrass (Apera spica-venti) APES V

[0110] • Wild oats (Avena fatua) AVEFA

[0111] • Annual meadow grass (Poa annua) POAAN

[0112] • Pigeon brome (Bromus sterilis) BROST

[0113] • Burdock bedstraw (Galium aparine) GALAP

[0114] • Common hollow tooth (Galeopsis tetrahit) GAETE

[0115] • Bindweed (Polygonum convolvulus or Fallopia convolvulus) POLCO

[0116] • Odorless chamomile (Matricaria inodora or Tripleurospermum perforatum Matricaria chamomilla) MATIN / MATCH

[0117] • Field mother (Viola arvensis) VIOAR

[0118] • Chickweed (Stellaria media) STEME

[0119] • Red deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) LAMPU

[0120] • Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) CENCY

[0121] • Cranesbill species (Geranium pusillum; Geranium dissectum) GERPU, GERDI

[0122] • Speedwell species (Veronica persica) VERPE

[0123] • Corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) PAPRH

[0124] • Couch grass

[0125] • Field Pennywort (Thlaspi arvense)

[0126] • Field forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis)

[0127] • Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla)

[0128] • Report (Ar triplex), and / or

[0129] • Volunteer rapeseed (Brassica napus)

[0130] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the ratio of germinating seeds of the helper plant to germinating seeds of the cultivated plant is in the range between > 0.08 and < 1.5. In embodiments, the lower threshold value

[0131] > 0.1; > 0.12; > 0.14; > 0.16; > 0.18; > 0.2; > 0.22; > 0.24; > 0.26; > 0.28; > 0.3; > 0.32; > 0.34;

[0132] > 0.36; > 0.38; > 0.4; > 0.42; > 0.44; > 0.46; > 0.48; > 0.5; > 0.52; > 0.54; > 0.56; > 0.58; > 0.6;

[0133] > 0.62; > 0.64; > 0.66; > 0.68; > 0.7; > 0.72; > 0.74; > 0.76; > 0.78; > 0.8; > 0.82; > 0.84; > 0.86; > 0.88; > 0.9; > 0.92; > 0.94; > 0.96; > 0.98 or > 1. In embodiments, the upper threshold may be < 1.5; < 1.48; < 1.46; < 1.44; < 1.42; < 1.4; < 1.38; < 1.36; < 1.34; < 1.32; < 1.3; < 1.28; < 1.26; < 1.24; < 1.22; < 1.2; < 1.18; < 1.16; < 1.14; < 1.12; < 1.1; < 1.08; < 1.06; < 1.04; < 1.02; or < 1.

[0134] Table 4 shows preferred seeding densities for germinating seeds of the helper plant and the crop plant.

[0135] Table 4: Preferred seeding densities of crop and helper plant species

[0136] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a sowing product comprising at least one combination of seeds of a crop and a helper plant species is selected from the following group:

[0137] • Wheat / Polygonaceae,

[0138] • Gesture / Polygonaceae,

[0139] • Rye / Polygonaceae,

[0140] • Spelt / Polygonaceae,

[0141] • Tricitale / Polygonaceae, and / or

[0142] • Rapeseed / Polygonaceae. To avoid unnecessary repetition, the preferred combinations of crop and helper plant species disclosed above are also considered disclosed for this embodiment.

[0143] In one embodiment, it is provided that the seeds of the cultivated plant species and / or the seeds of the helper plant species are in the form of seed pills or in encrusted form.

[0144] In one embodiment of the sowing product according to the invention, it is provided that the seed of the cultivated plant species and the seed of the helper plant species are present in a common packaging unit and / or are packaged for spatially and / or temporally bundled distribution.

[0145] In one embodiment, the seeds of the crop plant species and the seeds of the helper plant species are present in joint seed pills or in a jointly encrusted form. The ratio of germinating seeds of the helper plant to germinating seeds of the crop plant in a seed pill or in an encrusted form can be in the range between > 0.08 and < 1.5.

[0146] Furthermore, the invention provides a seed product as described above for use in one of the methods as described above.

[0147] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method for producing at least one crop species or at least one harvested product of a crop species is provided. The method comprises at least the steps of a) carrying out the method according to the above description, b) cultivating the crop, and c) harvesting the crop or at least its harvested product. Optionally, the extraction of the harvested product from the harvested crop is also provided.

[0148] The term “harvest product” as used here includes, for example, seeds, fruits, grains, oil, roots, pods, tubers or berries.

[0149] EXAMPLES

[0150] Although the invention is illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, these illustrations and descriptions are to be considered as illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations of the disclosed embodiments may be understood and practiced by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, based on the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. All reference numerals in the claims are not to be construed as limiting the scope of application.

[0151] Example 1

[0152] Effectiveness of Tatar buckwheat with two different dosages (80 and 50 germinable grains per m 2 ) in the mixture with winter barley.

[0153] The aim of the trial was to determine the effect of helper plants in combination with barley on reducing blackgrass infestation. The trial was conducted with a service provider for exact trials in the field of chemical weed control to ensure a good evaluation of the effectiveness of the test variants. Furthermore, an area was selected that reflected the situation regarding the resistance of the blackgrass population and had an extremely high infestation of these plants. Each trial was repeated three times and the trial was fully randomized. In addition to two herbicide variants (barley only without helper plants) that served as benchmarks, a control (barley without herbicide) was also grown. The barley / helper plant variants were also not treated with a herbicide to determine the effect of the helper plants.The sowing date, seed rate, and sowing depth were chosen at the beginning of October, as is customary locally, and were the same for all test specimens to simulate typical environmental conditions. The number of foxtail plants was determined at stage 13 of the barley development. This was done using a 0.25 m sowing depth gauge. 2 Counting frame and four points per plot. The plot size was 10m 2 The results were statistically evaluated using the SpaTS within Family Tool. The seeds and mixtures were produced at KWS in Einbeck.

[0154] In the untreated control (barley without herbicide), 325 blackgrass plants / m 2A slight reduction in the blackgrass population was observed by treatment with the locally available standard herbicide (Liberator® 0.7 l / ha, product cost approx. €40 / ha). This value corresponds approximately to that achieved with the inventive mixture of 50 germinating seeds / m 2 Tatar buckwheat with 200 germinable grains / m 2 Winter barley. By adding 80 germinating grains / m 2 Furthermore, a significantly better reduction in black-grass density was achieved by combining Tatar buckwheat with the same amount of winter barley. The greatest reduction in black-grass was observed when treated with a very high herbicide concentration (Liberator® 0.7 l / ha + Stomp® Aqua 2.6 l / ha + Defy® 3.0 l / ha, product cost approximately €100 / ha).

[0155] Liberator® is a herbicide from Bayer Crop Science that is used primarily to control grass growth. Defy® is a herbicide from Syngenta that is specifically used to control blackgrass. Pendimethalin (sold as Stomp® Aqua by BASF) is a herbicide used to control weeds in many crops, both pre- and post-emergence.

[0156] Figure 1 shows results of this experiment.

[0157] Example 2

[0158] Effectiveness of Tatar buckwheat with two different dosages (70 and 50 germinable grains per m 2 ) in the mixture with winter barley.

[0159] Example 2 is similar to Example 1. The values ​​were normalized to 100% (324 plants of blackgrass 2 ; average of 3 repetitions). The following abbreviations were used:

[0160] • 180 / 220 = sowing rate of barley per m 2

[0161] • “Stand.” = only Kinto Plus (mordant)

[0162] • “Add on” = KintoPlus + biostimulant

[0163] • “BW” = Tatar buckwheat as a helper plant species

[0164] • “80 / 50” = sowing quantity of the helper plant species per m 2 ,

[0165] • “Herbicide high” = Liberator 0.7 l / ha + Stomp Aqua 2.6 l / ha + Defy 3.0 l

[0166] • “Herbicide low” = Liberator 0.6 1

[0167] The costs for herbicide treatment are given in pounds sterling per hectare (excluding operating costs for agricultural machinery and labor). Kinto® Plus is a seed dressing from BASF that protects cereals against soil- and seed-borne pathogens. In addition, a biostimulant was applied to test variants 1, 2, and 3 to ensure optimal establishment of the crop.

[0168] Figure 2 shows the results of this experiment. Results are summarized in Table 5.

[0169] Table 5: Test parameters

[0170] KP = crop species, HP = helper plant species

[0171] In the untreated control, blackgrass grew up to a density of 324 plants / m 2 This could be achieved by treatment with herbicides (“herbicide high”) up to a density of 261 plants / m 2 be reduced.

[0172] In comparison, with the help of the method according to the invention and using buckwheat as a helper plant, the growth density of blackgrass could be increased to up to 292 plants / m 2 reduced without the use of herbicide.

[0173] Example 3 The infestation of black-grass on a cultivated soil with spontaneous black-grass infestation was determined by counting after one vegetation period of a crop species.

[0174] The cultivated soil was divided into plots of 6 m 2The crop winter barley was sown in October 2023, combined with one helper plant per plot. The helper plant species per plot were oil radish, oat, phacelia, Tatar buckwheat, or vetch. As a control, winter barley was sown without any helper plant. In all cases, the winter barley was pretreated with the seed dressing Rubin®Plus (BASF Agrar); in the trial fields, an additional pretreatment with a biostimulant was added. The seeding rate of the crop was 180 grains per m². 2 and was the same in all plots. The seeding rate of the helper plant species was 50 seeds per m 2 Each combined sowing (test item) was tested in three random plots as triplicate.

[0175] In addition to the number of blackgrass plants per plot, the ground cover of the plots was determined at the end of October and mid-December by evaluating aerial photographs taken using drones.

[0176] Results are summarized in Table 6

[0177] Table 6: Reduction of blackgrass infestation on cultivated soil

[0178] The results showed that when the crop was sown alone, the infestation of the cultivated soil with black-grass averaged 7.3 plants per plot. By sowing the crop and helper plants together, the infestation of black-grass was reduced to as low as 0.7 black-grass plants per plot in trials 1-5 (each in triplicate) without the use of a herbicide.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for suppressing the growth of plants of the spontaneous accompanying vegetation in (i) a cultivated area intended for at least one crop species, or (ii) a crop stand comprising at least one crop species, comprising the combined sowing of at least one helper plant species with the at least one crop species, wherein at least one helper plant species has at least one property selected from the group consisting of • not frost tolerant • easily removable mechanically, and / or • sensitive to a herbicide to which the crop species is resistant or less sensitive.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one helper plant species further comprises at least one property selected from the group consisting of • fast-germinating • shadow-forming, and / or • exerting allelopathic effect.

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one helper plant species is sown before, at the same time as or after at least one crop plant species.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein seeds of at least one helper plant species are mixed with seeds of at least one cultivated plant species and sown.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein seeds of at least one helper plant species or one crop plant species are in the form of seed pellets or encrusted Seeds are mixed with seeds of at least one crop species or one helper plant species and then sown.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the crop species is a cultivated form from the Poaceae family, optionally wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), rye (Secale cereale), spelt (Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta) or tricitale (Triticale), and / or wherein the crop species is a cultivated form of rapeseed (Brassica napus).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the crop species is a winter cereal, optionally winter wheat, winter rye, winter barley, winter spelt or winter triticale, and / or wherein the crop species is a winter-hardy rapeseed.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the helper plant species is selected from the group of • Polygonaceae, optionally buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), Tatrian buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) or bindweed (Polygonum convolvulus or Fallopia convolvulus), • Boraginaceae, optionally bee willow (Phacelia sp.), optionally Phacelia tanacetifolia, • Fabaceae, optional vetch (Vicia villosa), • Brassicaceae, optionally oil radish (Raphanus sativus var. Oleiformis), and / or • Plants of the genus Avena, optionally oat grass or rough oat (Avena strigosa) 9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one combination of crop and helper plant species selected from the following group: • Wheat / Polygonaceae, • Barley / Polygonaceae, • Rye / Polygonaceae, • Spelt / Polygonaceae, • Tricitale / Polygonaceae, and / or • Rapeseed / Polygonaceae.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spontaneous accompanying vegetation comprises at least one species selected from the group comprising: • Blackgrass (Alopercurus myosuroides) ALOMY • Common Windgrass (Apera spica-venti) APESV • Wild oats (Avena fatua) AVEFA • Annual meadow grass (Poa annua) POAAN • Pigeon brome (Bromus sterilis) BROST • Burdock bedstraw (Galium aparine) GALAP • Common hollow tooth (Galeopsis tetrahit) GAETE • Bindweed (Polygonum convolvulus or Fallopia convolvulus) POLCO • Odorless chamomile (Matricaria inodora or Tripleurospermum perforatum Matricaria chamomilla) MATIN / MATCH • Field mother (Viola arvensis) VIOAR • Chickweed (Stellaria media) STEME • Red deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) LAMPU • Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) CENCY • Cranesbill species (Geranium pusillum; Geranium dissectum) GERPU, GERDI • Speedwell species (Veronica persica) VERPE • Corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) PAPRH • Couch grass • Field Pennywort (Thlaspi arvense) • Field forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis) • Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla) • Report (Artriplexf and / or • Volunteer rapeseed (Brassica napus) 11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio of germinating seeds of the helper plant to germinating seeds of the crop plant is in the range between > 0.08 and < 1.

5.

12. Sowing product comprising at least one combination of seeds of a crop and a helper plant species selected from the following group: • Wheat / Polygonaceae, • Barley / Polygonaceae, • Rye / Polygonaceae, • Spelt / Polygonaceae, • Tricitale / Polygonaceae, and / or • Rapeseed / Polygonaceae.

13. Sowing product according to claim 12, wherein the seed of the cultivated plant species and the seed of the helper plant species are present in a common packaging unit and / or are packaged for spatially and / or temporally bundled distribution.

14. Seed product according to any one of claims 12-13 for use in any one of the methods according to any one of claims 1-11. TI

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