The reported trials have been conducted in spring wheat in Sweden with equivalent results between selective cutting and MCPA. The researchers from SLU, the Swedish University of Agricultural Science show in the trials that selective cutting reduces the thistle’s seed production by a thousand times, which is comparable to pesticide control. As demonstrated in previous trials, this also resulted in an exhaustion of the root by 66-79%.
After two seasons, the researchers noted that pesticides kill a large number of thistle shoots while repeated trimming also produces a gradual exhaustion of the root of the thistle. In the long run, trimming leads to a higher reduction of thistle shoots, compared to spraying.
Combcut can be used against several weeds in cereals, grassland and some vegetables. “If there is only one physical difference between crop and weed, you can basically cut anything,” says Jonas Carlsson, inventor and developer of Combcut.
“As the transition to organic production increases, we are seeing a greater demand for mechanical weed control from several parts of the world. We also see that the interest from conventional farmers grows as weeds tend to develop resistance against pesticides,” says Christian Bjärntoft, CEO of Lyckegård Group AB. “In light of this, it is gratifying that we can simultaneously show these positive results carried out by SLU”.
Lyckegård manufactures and sells the weed cutter Combcut mainly organic farming to mainly Europe and North America. Right now, Lyckegård is exhibiting at the world’s largest agricultural fair in Hanover, Germany, where it also has a Combcut with him.
