In order to obtain a study area with the perennial weed species
distributed as uniformly as possible, root fragments of C. arvense
and rhizome segments of E. repens, were transplanted by hand in
sub-plots after ploughing in the spring of 2003. The fragments of
roots and rhizomes, that were 2.5–4.0mm in diameter, were at
both locations collected within a restricted area of a neighbouring
field and stored for 5–7 days in a cold-storage chamber at
2–5 ◦C under moist conditions until transplanting in the experimental
field. More details concerning the transplanting procedure
are given in Fig. 1. The plots were fertilized with 40 kg N ha−1 in
cattle slurry and seeded in 2004 and 2005 with barley (Hordeum
vulgare L.) cv. Gaute (200 kg ha−1, ca 500 seedsm−2). In 2003, however,
the seeding rate was lower and row width increased, as shown
in Fig. 1, in order to ensure optimum establishment of the transplanted
weeds.