Extensive vegetable production

Abstract

The opportunity to grow vegetables in a weed free environment has become a reality in the last decade and offers one of the greatest advances to be made in vegetable growing, yet this knowledge has not been exploited by the industry, probably due to lack of demonstration and extension. Traditional techniques of growing have relied on inter row cultivation as a means of weed control and for this reason vegetables are grown in rows considerable distances apart. This allows the passage of cultivation equipment but also encourages establishment and development of weeds in a competition free environment.