Since 2019, Belgian research centre pcfruit has been doing research into mechanical weed control. In a pear orchard, a trial has been set up where chemical weed control is compared with mowing weed, hoeing or a combination of techniques. The various weed control measures have been carried out every year under the same trees. In addition to the effect on production and fruit quality, the researchers looked at the effect of the weed control measures on soil life. This is exactly where remarkable differences showed up.
You can read more about this in the article in the EFM July/August issue.
