1. Effect of cover crop termination with Glyphosate on soil microorganisms - Glyphosate with cover crop; Glyphosate free with cover crop; Control 1: Glyphosate free + hand weeding; Control 2: Glyphosate only

 Key findings

• The main crops showed no difference between the treatments, neither in yield quantity nor quality.
• Weed infestation and soil cover in the main crop in spring were higher with cover crops. There was no effect of glyphosate.
• The biodiversity and abundance of soil organisms depend on the input, quantity and quality of a carbon source.
• Earthworms benefit from a cover crops mixture from the first cultivation onwards.
• Glyphosate application tended to increase beta-glucosidase activity, this indicating temporary stress in microorganisms. No effects were found on earthworms.
• For maximum erosion control, direct seeding systems are best, however, managing this without glyphosate is hardly possible.