Noninversion tillage with tine- or disc-based cultivations prior to crop establishment is the most common way of reducing tillage for arable cropping systems with small grain cereals, oilseed rape, and maize in Europe. However, new regulations on pesticide use might hinder further expansion of reduced-tillage systems. European agriculture is asked to become less dependent on pesticides and promote crop protection programs based on integrated pest management (IPM) principles. Conventional noninversion tillage systems rely entirely on the availability of glyphosate products, and herbicide consumption is mostly higher compared to plow-based cropping systems. Annual grass weeds and catchweed bedstraw often constitute the principal weed problems in noninversion tillage systems, and crop rotations concurrently have very high proportions of winter cereals. There is a need to redesign cropping systems to allow for more diversification of the crop rotations to combat these weed problems with less herbicide input. Cover crops, stubble management strategies, and tactics that strengthen crop growth relative to weed growth are also seen as important components in future IPM systems, but their impact in noninversion tillage systems needs validation. Direct mechanical weed control methods based on rotating weeding devices such as rotary hoes could become useful in reduced-tillage systems where more crop residues and less workable soils are more prevalent, but further development is needed for effective application. Owing to the frequent use of glyphosate in reduced-tillage systems, perennial weeds are not particularly problematic. However, results from organic cropping systems clearly reveal that desisting from glyphosate use inevitably leads to more problems with perennials, which need to be addressed in future research.

Apera spica-venti is a winter annual grass and, increasingly, a severe weed problem in autumn-sown crops. Non-inversion tillage has become more common in Denmark in recent years, but may accentuate problems with A. spica-venti. These problems may be avoided, if selected preventive and cultural weed management practices are adopted. To this end, we conducted a 4-year field study investigating the effects of crop rotation, tillage method, location and limited herbicide input on A. spica-venti population dynamics and crop yield. Additionally, detailed studies were performed on the fate of A. spica-venti seeds when incorporated to different soil depths. The location with a lighter soil texture, cooler climate and higher rainfall favoured A. spica-venti growth and consequently crop yield loss, especially in the crop sequence comprised only of autumn-sown crops and with non-inversion tine tillage. Incorporating A. spica-venti seeds in the soil improved their survival, explaining the higher A. spica-venti proliferation seen with tine tillage as opposed to direct drilling. The rotations including an even mixture of spring-and autumn-sown crops did not lead to noteworthy changes in the A. spica-venti population, irrespective of tillage method. Thus, in many regions, management of A. spica-venti will require rotations that balance autumn-and spring-sown crops.

The possibility of combining novel monitoring techniques and precision spraying for crop protection in the future is discussed. A generic model for an innovative crop protection system has been used as a framework. This system will be able to monitor the entire cropping system and identify the presence of relevant pests, diseases and weeds online, and will be location specific. The system will offer prevention, monitoring, interpretation and action which will be performed in a continuous way. The monitoring is divided into several parts. Planting material, seeds and soil should be monitored for prevention purposes before the growing period to avoid, for example, the introduction of disease into the field and to ensure optimal growth conditions. Data from previous growing seasons, such as the location of weeds and previous diseases, should also be included. During the growing season, the crop will be monitored at a macroscale level until a location that needs special attention is identified. If relevant, this area will be monitored more intensively at a microscale level. A decision engine will analyse the data and offer advice on how to control the detected diseases, pests and weeds, using precision spray techniques or alternative measures. The goal is to provide tools that are able to produce high-quality products with the minimal use of conventional plant protection products. This review describes the technologies that can be used or that need further development in order to achieve this goal.

This paper describes results from experiments which investigated the effects of light intensity during soil disturbance on germination and emergence pattern of weeds. Different emergence patterns were demonstrated for seeds which are instantly flash induced compared to seeds which are induced to germinate by integrating a weak light signal over a period of time. A reduced and delayed emergence is achieved after a disturbance in darkness compared to a soil disturbance in daylight. The increased emergence after soil disturbance in daylight is due to additional plants originating from seeds placed at a soil depth in the pots where daylight cannot penetrate and induce seeds to germinate, but which are induced during the short exposure period. A close relationship between soil disturbance intensity and number of weed plants emerging was found in field experiments with shallow harrowings. It was also shown that a portion of the increased number of seedlings arising when soil disturbance is carried out in daylight, compared to soil cultivation in darkness, originates from seeds germinating from deeper soil layers, resulting in a deeper average germination depth.

Regional differences in the disturbances of the diameter response to increased blood pressure may contribute to the regional differences in the distribution of diabetic retinopathy lesions. In the central retinal areas, the diameter response to increased blood pressure and retinal metabolism interacted in a way that may potentially protect this area from ischaemia, whereas this protective mechanism was absent in the peripheral retinal arterioles. An elucidation of the mechanisms underlying diameter regulation to increased blood pressure and retinal metabolism, and the interaction between these two mechanisms, may help in understanding the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy.