Interference between velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) I. Growth

Three field experiments were conduced to evaluate the effect of Abutilon theophrasti on dry matter, branching and flowering node, and seed production of soybean. Low populations (2.4–4.7 plants m^?2) of the weed reduced soybean dry matter, flowering node and seed production. The effect was most pronounced on soybean seed yield, and less on flowering node and dry weight production. These effects were due to the presence of A. theophrasti with soybean, and not to changes in plant population. The effect on soybean branching node production was inconsistent between years.     

Interference between velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) II. Population dynamics

Two field experiments were conducted to determine the effect of changes in Abutilon theophrasti and soybean population numbers through the growing season on soybean dry weight and seed yields. Whether in mixtures or monoculture, the rate of mortality of both species was constant through the growing season. In general, the greater the initial population of either species the greater the rate of mortality through the growing season. Evidence presented supports the hypothesis that A. theophrasti has the adaptive ability of differential mortality at different populations when in mixed stands with soybean and when grown alone and that soybean lacks this ability when mixed with A. theophrasti. This results in smaller, less productive, individual soybean plants.     

Factors affecting threshold levels and seed production of jimsonweed (Datura stramonium L.) in soyabeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

The effects of soyabean Glycine max (L.) Merr. row width, date of planting and year on threshold levels of jimsonweed (Datura stramonium L.) and on jimsonweed seed production were examined over 3 years. Natural infestations of jimsonweed were employed and densities were determined at 3 weeks after planting and also at soyabean harvest. Date of planting affected emergence of both soyabean and jimsonweed seedlings, whereas row width affected weed seedling mortality. Percentage soyabean yield losses attributable to jimsonweed, over all treatments, were greater in the 2 years with above-average rainfall than in the one dry year. Slopes of regression equations and estimates of threshold densities varied significantly among years and between initial and final density counts. The number of jimsonweed seed capsules produced per plant and the number of seeds per capsule declined with jimsonweed density, but the mean number of seeds produced per m² remained fairly constant over a wide density range. Jimsonweed seed production did not decline significantly until well below the threshold densities determined for soyabean yields. Les facteurs du seuil de nuisibilité et de la production de graines chez Datura stramonium L. dans les cultures de soja (Glycine max. (L.) Merr.) L'influence de l'écartement des rangs de soja, Glycine max (L) Merr., de la date de semis, et de l'année, sur le seuil de nuisibilité et la production de graines chez le Datura stramonium L., a étéétudiée durant 3 années. Les études ont été effectuées sur des infestations naturelles de datura, dont les densités ont été déterminées 3 semaines après le semis ainsi qu'à la récolte. La date du semis influence à la fois la levée du soja et celle du datura, alors que l'écartement des rangs influe sur la mortalité des graines de l'adventice. Dans tous les traitements, les pertes de rendement attribuables au datura ont été plus importantes durant les 2 années où les précipitations on été supérieures à la moyenne que durant une année sèche. Les pentes des équations de régression et les estimations de seuils de nuisibilité variaient d'une manière significative selon les années et entre les comptages initiaux et finaux. Le nombre de capsules par plane et le nombre de graines par capsule diminuaient avec la densité des datura, mais le nombre moyen de graines produites par m² est resté assez constant dans une large gamme de densité. La production de graines de datura n'a décliné significativement que pour une densité de plantes située bien en dessous du seuil de nuisibilitéà l'égard des rendements du soja. Faktoren, welche die Schädigungsschwelle und Samenproduktion von Stechapfel (Datura Stramonium L.) in Sojabohnen (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) beeinflussen Während drei Jahren wurde in Sojabohnen der Einfluss von Reihendistanz und Saatzeitpunkt auf die Schädigungsschwelle und Samenproduktion von Stechapfel (Datura stramonium L.) untersucht. Diese Studie basierte auf den natürlichen Stechapfelpopulationen; die Zählungen der Populationsdichten erfolgten drei Wochen nach der Sojasaat und bei der Ernte. Der Saattermin beeinflusste das Auflaufen der Sojabohnen und der Stechapfelsämlinge, während die Reihendistanz die Mortalität der Unkrautsämlinge veränderte. Die Steigung der Regressionsgeraden und die Schätzungen der schädigenden Populationsdichte variierten signifikant in den einzelnen Jahren und zwischen der ersten und letzten Zählung. Die Anzahl der von den Stechapfelindividuen produzierten Samenkapseln pro Pflanze und Samenmenge pro Kapsel nahm mit zunehmender Populationsdichte ab; die pro m² gebildete Samenzahl blieb jedoch über einen weiten Bereich verschiedener Populationsdichten relativ konstant. Die von der Stechapfelpopulation produzierte Samenmenge nahm bis weit unter die für die Sojabohen schädigende Populationsschwelle nicht signifikant ab.     

Some factors affecting the performance of fluazifop-butyl against Elymus repens (L.) Gould (=Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.)

In this series of glasshouse experiments, several factors influencing the foliar activity of fluazifop-butyl, butyl-2-[4-(5-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridylox-y)phenoxy] propionate, against Elymus repens (L.) Gould (=Agropyron repens(L.) Beauv.) were investigated. The growth stage of the weed even up to about 16 weeks of age was not found to be a major factor affecting the performance, if a dose of 1.0 kg ai ha^?1 is used. The activity of fluazifop-butyl was affected by low temperature, low humidity and water stress, all of which reduced the herbicide performance to varying extents. High post-treatment temperature or humidity favoured the activity of the herbicide, as measured from the regrowth ability of treated plants. Moderate water stress did not affect the activity significantly, but severe stress led to the plants becoming more tolerant of the herbicide. The effect of light/shade on foliar activity was not clear, bin showed a tendency of decreasing with increasing shade. Adverse effects of rain, probably due to wash-off of the retained spray droplets, reduced the performance of fluazifop-butyl, if rain fell within 6 h of spraying. Certains facteurs qui touchent à la performance du fluazifop-butyle contre Elymus repens (L.)Gould. (= Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.) Cette expérimentation en serre a porté sur plusieurs facteurs qui influent sur l'activité foliaire du fluazifop-butyle, butyle-2–4-(5-trifluorométhyl-2-pyridyloxy)phénoxy proprionate, contre Elymus repens (L.) Gould (Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.). Il en résulte que, même jusqu'à l'âge de 16 semaines, le stade végétal de l'adventice ne paraît pas jouer un rôle important dans la performance de l'herbicide à une dose de 1,0 kg ma ha^?1. L'activité du fluazifop-butyle se trouve altérée en conséquence de température faibles, d'une faible humidité et de carence d'eau; tous ces facteurs ont amené une réduction plus ou moins grande dans la performance de l'herbicide. A en juger part la croissance nouvelle des plantes traitées, une température élevée, de même qu'une forte humidité suivant l'application, favorisent l'activité herbicide. La carence d'eau n'a exercé une influence significative sur l'activité herbicide que lorsqu'elle est devenue sévère; alors les plantes ont fait preuve d'une moindre tolérance. L'influence de la lumière sur l'activité foliaire est restée imprécise mais celle-ci a eu tendance à dimineur à mesure qu'augmentait l'ombre. Les effets néfastes de la pluie, grâce sans doute au lessivage des gouttelettes retenues sur les feuilles, ont diminué l'efficacité du fluazifop-butyle lors d'une précipitation moins de 6 heures après la pulvérisation. Einflüsse auf die Wirkung von Fluazifop-butyl auf Elymus repens (L.)Gould. (= Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.) Verschiedene Einflüsse auf die Blattwirkung von Fluazifop-butyl Butyl-2-[4-(5-trifluormethyl-2-pyridiloxy)phenoxy]propionate auf die Gemeine Quecke wurden in einer Reihe von Versuchen im Gewächshaus untersucht. Das Entwicklungsstadium des Unkrauts war auch bei bis zu 16 Wochen alten Pflanzen ohne Einfluss auf die Wirkung, solange 1,0 kgAS ha^?1 angewandt wurden. Niedrige Temperatur und Luftfeuchtigkeit sowie Wassermangel setzen die Wirkung des Herbizids, die am Wiederaustrieb gemessen wurde, herab. Hohe Temperatur und Luftfeuchtigkeit nach der Behandlung begünstigten die Wirkung. Schwacher Wassermangel beeinflusste die Wirkung nicht signifikant, aber bei starkem Wassermangel waren die Pflanzen widerstandsfähiger. Die Wirkung einer Beschattung der Pflanzen auf die Wirksamkeit des Herbizids war undeutlich, aber tendenziell zeigte sich eine Abnahme der Wirkung mit Zunahme der Beschattung. Regen innerhalb 6 Stunden nach der Behandlung verminderte die Wirkung von Ftuazifop-butyl, vermutlich wegen des Abwaschens des Spritzbelags von den Blättern.     

Response ofSpodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) andEarias insulana (Boisd.) larvae to azadirachtin and salannin

The effect of azadirachtin and salannin, two triterpenoids isolated from seeds of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss), on the feeding response ofSpodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) andEarias insulana (Boisd.) larvae, was investigated. Styropor (foamed polystyrene) lamellae were painted on both sides with a mixture of 5% sucrose with different concentrations of either azadirachtin or salannin dissoled in methanol-water (3∶7). Azadirachtin strongly suppressed feeding inS. littoralis larvae even at 0.001%, whereas salannin showed some antifeedant activity at 0.005% and above. Larvae ofE. insulana were deterred from feeding on azadirachtin-treated lamellae even at 0.005%, whereas salannin was effective only at 0.01% and above. Azadirachtin applied on cotton leaves deterred larvae ofS. littoralis from feeding at all concentrations ranging between 0.001 and 0.02%.     

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. competition with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A series of field experiments was conducted to evaluate the competitive effect of Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ‘Norstar’) yield. Grain yield at the centre of dense C. arvense patches ranged from 28–71% of the yield in adjacent weed-free plots, based on measurements made at 11 experimental sites over a 2-year period. The mean reduction in yield was 49%. Two models were used to describe grain yield reduction in terms of C. arvense shoot density: (a) linear regression of percentage yield reduction on the square root of shoot density, and (b) non-linear regression, based on a rectangular hyperbola. Both models give similar yield loss estimates at commonly occurring shoot densities of C. arvense, but the non-linear model accounted for more of the observed variation in grain yield. The major yield component affected by C. arvense competition was spikes per unit area, with kernel weight affected to a lesser extent.     

水葫芦[Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms.]

水葫芦又名凤眼莲 ;英文俗名为Waterhyacinth ;学名 :[Eichhorniacrassipes (Mart.)Solms .];属单子叶植物纲 (Monocotyledoneae) ,百合目 (Liliflorae) ,雨久花科 (Pontederiaceae)。1　形态特征水葫芦根状茎粗短 ,密生多数细长须根 ;叶基生 ,莲座式排列 ,叶片卵形、倒卵形至肾圆形 ,大小不一 ,宽约 4～ 12cm ,光滑 ,叶柄基部带紫红色、膨大呈葫芦状的气囊 ;有着紫色亮丽的花朵 ,最上面的花瓣上有一块兰色的扇型斑块 ,中央点缀着一个桃形鲜艳黄斑 ;绿叶杯状 ,叶茎基部膨大 ,使植株能够漂浮在水面 ;花茎单生 ,中部有鞘状苞片 ,穗状花序有…     

Velvetbean (Mucuna spp.) suppresses speargrass (Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel) and increases maize yield

Speargrass, Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel, is a serious weed, threatening crop productivity in smallholder farms in West Africa. Since the use of more effective practices such as deep tillage and chemical control is beyond the means of resource-poor farmers who carry out most agricultural activities in this region, low-input alternative technology needs to be developed. Field studies were conducted during the 1993/1994 and 1995/1996 growing seasons to investigate the influence of three velvetbean accessions and two levels of fertilizer on the control of speargrass during the year of cover crop planting and one year later. The velvetbean accessions in 1993 were: Mucuna cochinchinensis and M. pruriens var. utilis. In 1995, M. pruriens var. IRZ was included in the study. M. cochinchinensis in 1993 and M. pruriens var. IRZ in 1995 had the highest ground cover rating early in the growing seasons whereas M. pruriens var. utilis had the lowest ground cover rating in both years. Inorganic fertilizer at30 kg ha- 1 each of N, P and K increased velvetbean ground cover by 2-22%, with M. cochinchinensis (14-22%) and M. pruriens var. IRZ (5-15%) showing the highest response in 1993 and 1995, respectively. M. pruriens var. utilis showed the least response in both years. After one growing season M. pruriens var. utilis, M. cochinchinensis, and M. pruriens var. IRZ reduced speargrass shoot density by 50, 76, and 68%, and shoot dry matter by 72, 92, and 79%, respectively. Fertilizer reduced speargrass growth in velvetbean plots, while the opposite occurred in plots without velvetbean. Velvetbean residue effectively suppressed speargrass until the beginning of the subsequent cropping season. Maize grown 1 year after velvetbean required 50% less weeding than plots without velvetbean. Maize shade reduced speargrass shoot growth by 30-80% but regrowth of the weed occurred 4 weeks before maize harvest. Maize grain yield was higher in plots previously seeded to velvetbean than in plots without velvetbean. Speargrass shoot density and dry matter were negatively correlated with maize grain yield (r =_-0.42 and r =_-0.32, respectively, P < 0.01). Although velvetbean may effectively reduce speargrass during the year of establishment and the subsequent cropping phase it has a limited effect on rhizomes and, as such, does not provide a long term control.