This paper presents a 2-year study on the effect of no exposure to light during soil cultivation and sowing on weed infestation in winter rape. Light exposure was limited in two ways: soil cultivation and sowing at daytime with tools with tightly covered working parts (light-resistant shields) and soil cultivation and sowing at night. The control field was cultivated and sown at daytime. Pre-sowing cultivation was done as ploughing and disc-tillage. The results showed that the amount of weeds was lower under a limited light exposure during soil cultivation and sowing than in the soil cultivation at daytime. A reduction in the abundance of weeds on objects treated with shielded tools, depending on the research date and the tillage tool, ranged from 8 to 16%, while after the night tillage and sowing – from 9 to 19%. As compared with plough tillage, the application of disc-harrow in each variant and sowing of winter rape increased the stand weed infestation.

203-208