Growth and Development of Six Barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare L.) Cultivars in Response to a Model Weed (Sinapis alba L.)

The aim was to study the growth and development of six spring barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare L.) cultivars as a response to a model weed population of Sinapis alba L. The development of light interception profiles over time was characterized for each cultivar in weed‐free stands. The cultivars were chosen such that they represent a range of weed‐suppressive abilities based on previously performed trials. One field experiment each was conducted in 1996 and 1997 at a site SE of Uppsala, Sweden. The two cultivars with low competitive ability against weeds, Etna and Blenheim, allowed the highest weed biomass and the lowest crop biomass in competition with the weeds. These two cultivars transmitted more photosynthetic active radiation through the canopy down to 20 and 40 cm height than did the other cultivars. Although the biomass of cv. Etna was low, the grain yield was higher than that of the other cultivars when grown in competition with weeds. In 1997, cv. Svani with good competitive ability against weeds transmitted least light and had greater grain yield than most other cultivars. The absence of a relationship between high grain yield and low weed suppressive ability in the present study indicates that it should be possible for plant breeders to combine high grain yielding capacity with approved weed‐competitive ability.     

Variation Between Barley Cultivars in Early Response to Weed Competition

An experiment was conducted with three spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare L.) cultivars of contrasting competitiveness to identify variations in their early competitive response to weed competition and to study canopy architecture and growth development at the early stages of cultivar growth. The aim was also to investigate whether differences in shoot morphology, growth development and competitive response could explain the differences in competitive ability against weeds. The barley cultivars were grown outdoors in boxes either in monoculture or in a mixture with white mustard ( Sinapis alba L.) as a model weed. The experiment was run until the barley cultivars were in the stem elongation stage. The varieties with strong to medium competitive ability against weeds shortened the time of emergence in the presence of S. alba in contrast to the least competitive cultivar. The results also indicated that spring barley cultivars with strong competitive ability against weeds have an early stem extension as a response to weed competition and a low competitive response. Morphological traits, namely large length of the two first internodes, long main shoot in the tillering stage and a small leaf angle, may be important traits in competition for light.     

Field scale functional agrobiodiversity in organic wheat: Effects on weed reduction,disease susceptibility and yield

Deployment of diversity at the species and at the genetic levels can improve the ability of crops to withstand a wide range of biotic and abiotic stressors in organic and low-input cropping systems, where the response to stresses through external input is limited or restricted in comparison with conventional systems. Although there are several strategies to use agrobiodiversity in wheat-based systems, their implementation is limited by the lack of a clear relationship between agrobiodiversity and provision of key agroecosystem services. In a three-year field trial in Central Italy we compared common wheat Italian and Hungarian pure lines, Italian old cultivars and Hungarian and British Composite Cross Populations (CCPs), grown with or without a contemporarily sown Subterranean clover living mulch. We aimed at linking crop performance, in terms of yield, weed reduction and disease susceptibility, to three categories of functional diversity: (1) functional identity, represented by the identifying traits of cultivars, (2) functional diversity, represented by the genetic heterogeneity of wheat crop population, and (3) functional composition, represented by the co-presence of wheat and the living mulch.Concerning cultivars, effects of functional identity were predominant for weed reduction and grain yield. Old cultivars tended to better suppress weeds but to be less yielding. Italian cultivars were more advantaged than cultivars of foreign origin, thanks to a better matching of their growth cycle into local climate. Functional diversity effects on yield and weed reduction were confounded with identity effects, given that all the CCPs were of foreign origin. In fact, the performance of CCPs was generally aligned with a central-European pure line. However, differences in yield components suggest that CCPs can evolve peculiar yield formation strategies. Moreover, CCPs were less susceptible than pure lines to foliar diseases. For functional composition, the living mulch was able to reduce dicotyledonous weed abundance and weed biomass without reducing wheat yield unless wheat was poorly established. Despite the strong morphological and phenological differences among the tested cultivars, no interactions were found between cultivar and living mulch presence, suggesting that, in conditions similar to our experiments, there is room to freely combine elements of crop diversity. Crop diversification strategies in wheat should be further explored and optimized, especially by constituting CCPs from locally adapted germplasms and by improving the feasibility and efficacy of legume living mulches.     

Selection of cereals for weed suppression in organic agriculture: a method based on cultivar sensitivity to weed growth

Cereal cultivars conferring a high degree of crop competitive ability, especially against aggressive weeds, are highly beneficial in organic farming as well as other farming systems that aim to limit the use of herbicides. In this study, thirteen winter wheat cultivars, plus one spring wheat and one winter oat were assessed for their competitive ability at key growth stages, across three seasons. The natural population of weed species was allowed develop without agronomic intervention. Weed suppression ability for each cultivar (S _var) was calculated as the difference between weed growth in plots for each cultivar and the maximal weed growth (W _max) from adjacent uncropped areas. The sensitivity of S _var in response to changes in weed growth (S _var^W) was derived from the linear regression coefficient of S _var plotted against W _max. There was significant variation in S _var between cultivars and strong evidence for cultivars to vary in S _var^W. Amongst groups of cultivars with similar levels of S _var some could be defined as being of higher or lower sensitivity to changes in weed growth. Some cultivars also had relatively good S _var at high levels of weed growth. The use of both weed suppression ability and sensitivity across different levels of weed growth or weed populations has considerable potential for selecting new cultivars suitable for organic agriculture. Ideally new cultivars will be selected on the basis of high S _var and/or low S _var^W. This analysis provides the means to measure sensitivity of cultivar performance across a range of favourable and unfavourable conditions.     

不同耕作方式对小麦田杂草发生规律及产量的影响

为了摸清新型耕作模式下四川小麦田杂草发生规律及防除方法,通过以传统翻耕为对照,连续5年定田定点研究了不同耕作方式对小麦田杂草发生规律及产量的影响,结果表明：不同耕作方式下,小麦田杂草种类基本相同。免耕不覆盖处理的杂草数量最多,翻耕次之,免耕覆盖稻草最少。小麦田杂草有2个出苗高峰：小麦播后2~3周有一个大的出苗高峰;播后6~7周有一个小高峰。不同耕作方式下杂草对小麦株高和分蘖无明显影响;免耕覆盖稻草与翻耕处理的小麦产量相当,且均明显高于免耕不覆盖处理。说明免耕覆盖稻草既可以显著降低杂草发生数量和为害,同时又可以明显增加小麦产量,应用前景广阔。     

施肥与光照强度对冬小麦田杂草野老鹳草和大巢菜生长及竞争的影响

为了研究施肥及光照强度对冬小麦田杂草的影响,以有效利用施肥模式综合治理冬小麦田间优势杂草。通过盆栽试验,研究了施肥对2种冬小麦田主要杂草野老鹳草(Geranium carolinianum)和大巢菜(Vicia sativa)种子萌发的影响,以及不同光照强度下施肥对2种杂草生长及竞争的影响。结果表明,野老鹳草种子与大巢菜种子相比,萌发起始较早,萌发较快,萌发率也较高。在萌发的过程中不同营养元素对2种杂草种子萌发的作用不同,并且混合播种时大巢菜种子比野老鹳草种子表现出了更强的竞争力。不同光照条件影响施肥对2种杂草生长的作用,在2种杂草竞争的情况下,随着光照强度的降低野老鹳草对各营养元素的竞争力逐渐增强,表现出了更强的适应性。由以上结果可知,2种杂草在不同生长发育阶段对养分元素的竞争能力差异较大,并且不同光照条件可以改变2种杂草对养分元素的竞争,这就为农业生产中合理施肥进行田间杂草综合防治提供了可能。     

Clover as a cover crop for weed suppression in an intercropping design: II. Competitive ability of several clover species

Undersown cover crop species introduced for weed management purposes should ideally combine adequate weed suppression with only marginal negative competitive effects on the main crop. The aim of this research was to identify the growth characteristics of clover species that determine weed suppressive ability and competitive ability against the main crop. In addition, the variation in these characteristics among clover species was determined, to identify whether species selection is an important component of the optimization of living mulch systems.In 2001, a field experiment was conducted in which weed suppression and competitive ability against leek of eight clover types was determined. Based on the results, three contrasting clover types were selected and their weed suppressive ability was further investigated in a field experiment conducted in 2002. Results of both experiments were related to growth characteristics that were simultaneously determined and described in a previous paper.Correlation analysis showed that the competitive effect of clover on transplanted leek was strongly correlated with maximum canopy height, indicating that yield reduction was mainly caused by competition for light. Subterranean clover, being the shortest species, gave inadequate weed suppression, whereas all other species were found to provide at least reasonable weed suppression. Subterranean clover reduced individual leek plant dry weight more strongly (60%) than expected based on its canopy height. Indications were found that this clover species was hindering the uptake of nitrogen by leek. Clover species with superior weed suppression, like Persian clover, red clover, alsike clover, berseem clover and crimson clover also gave the strongest negative effect on dry matter accumulation of leek (reductions between 70% and 90%). White clover was found to give the best compromise between adequate weed suppression and mild yield reduction, though also with this species reduction in leek plant dry weight was still 60%. It was concluded that for optimization of systems that introduce clover species as a weed suppressing cover crop species selection is important element, though additional management to restrict the competitive effect on the main crop remains a requirement.     

The effects of simulated weed pressure on early maturity soybeans

Breeding for increased weed suppression would be a sustainable contribution to improved soybean weed management, because weed infestation is a major constraint to soybean production world-wide and in organic farming in particular. However, genetic variation in the soybean–weed interaction would be necessary to enable plant breeders to select soybean genotypes based on a superior weed suppression behavior. As there is a lack of information on variation between soybean cultivars in their competitive ability against weeds, the effects of weed pressure on ten early maturity soybean genotypes were studied in a controlled field experiment over three years in Austria. Winter oilseed rape was sown into the soybean stand to simulate pressure from a seed-propagated type of weed. Weed pressure significantly affected soybean yield as well as other agronomic, phenologic and seed quality characters. In two seasons, strong competition from weeds caused a soybean yield reduction of 370 and 560 kg/ha, respectively. In a third season a significant yield increase over weed-free controls was observed at relatively low levels of weed pressure which is explained by non-competition effects of a weak weed ground cover on soybean growth. Yield loss due to weed pressure was lower in early than in late maturity genotypes which appears to be the effect of a better weed tolerance rather than weed suppression. Genotype by weed treatment interaction was not significant, and genetic variation in ground cover development or leaf area was low or not significant in the early maturity soybean cultivars investigated. As such characters are considered important for weed suppression, their variation needs to be increased to enable selection for improved weed suppressive ability.     

Improving crop competitive ability using allelopathy — an example from rice

The objective of this paper is to review the possibilities for using allelopathy to improve overall crop competitive ability against weeds, using rice, Oryza sativa, as an example. Laboratory, greenhouse and field screenings for allelopathy and overall weed suppression in rice have been made and allelopathic rice germplasm has been identified in laboratory and greenhouse screening. Field experiments revealed that allelopathy accounted for 34% of overall competitive ability in rice. For strongly allelopathic cultivars, allelopathy was the dominant factor determining competitive ability. Based on the results of the screenings, recombinant inbred line populations were developed for identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling allelopathy. Populations of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were derived through single‐seed descent from crosses between varieties with contrasting behaviour and QTL controlling allelopathy were identified. For rice and most probably also for other cereal crops, the findings presented can explain the limited success in previous breeding programmes for weed competition, as allelopathy has never before been acknowledged as an important factor. The findings in allelopathy indicate that it is possible to improve allelopathy in rice using marker‐assisted selection. Optimizing allelopathy in combination with breeding for competitive plant types could result in crop cultivars with superior weed‐suppressive ability.     

Crop and Weed Growth in a Sequence of Spring Barley and Winter Wheat Crops Established Together from a Spring Sowing (Relay Cropping)

A relay cropping system of cereals, whereby winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was undersown in two‐row spring barley (Hordeum distichum L.), was established in a field trial in central Sweden in 1999 and continued until 2000. The purpose of the study was to examine crop and weed responses to different plant densities of the undersown winter crop. Winter wheat was sown at four seed rates (187, 94, 47 and 0 kg ha^?1) immediately after the sowing of barley. Barley was harvested in the first autumn after sowing and winter wheat in the second autumn. The grain yield of barley was not affected by the seed rate of wheat, and averaged 4580 kg ha^?1. Winter wheat did not vernalize during the first growing season but remained at the vegetative stage. The grain yield of wheat was 1990 kg ha^?1 for the lowest and 5610 kg ha^?1 for the highest seed rate of wheat. Whilst the undersowing process itself stimulated weed emergence in this experiment, increasing the undersowing seed rate reduced the population of perennial weeds by 40–70 %. In the second growing season, the total biomass of weeds was 66 % higher at the highest seed rate compared with the lowest seed rate.     

Assessing innovative sowing patterns for integrated weed management with a 3D crop:weed competition model

Weed dynamics models are needed to design innovative weed management strategies. Here, we developed a 3D individual-based model called FlorSys predicting growth and development of annual weeds and crops as a function of daily weather and cropping practices: (1) crop emergence is driven by temperature, and emerged plants are placed onto the 3D field map, depending on sowing pattern, density, and emergence rate; plants are described as cylinders with their leaf area distributed according to height; (2) weed emergence is predicted by an existing submodel, emerged weed seedlings are placed randomly; (3) plant phenology depends on temperature; (4) a previously developed submodel predicts available light in each voxel of the canopy; after emergence, plant growth is driven by temperature; when shaded, biomass accumulation results from the difference between photosynthesis and respiration; shading causes etiolation; (5) frost reduces biomass and destroys plants, (6) at plant maturity, the newly produced seeds are added to the soil seed bank. The model was used to test different sowing scenarios in an oilseed rape/winter wheat/winter barley rotation with sixteen weed annuals, showing that (1) crop yield loss was negatively correlated to weed biomass averaged over the cropping season; (2) weed biomass was decreased by scenarios allowing early and homogenous crop canopy closure (e.g. reduced interrows, increased sowing density, associated or undersown crops), increased summer fatal weed seed germination (e.g. delayed sowing) or, to a lesser degree, cleaner fields at cash crop sowing (e.g. sowing a temporary cover crop for “catching” nitrogen); (3) the scenario effect depended on weed species (e.g. climbing species were little affected by increased crop competition), and the result thus varied with the initial weed community (e.g. communities dominated by small weed species were hindered by the faster emergence of broadcast-sown crops whereas taller species profited by the more frequent gap canopies); (4) the effect on weed biomass of sowing scenarios applied to one year was still visible up to ten years later, and the beneficial effect during the test year could be followed by detrimental effects later (e.g. the changed tillage dates accompanying catch crops reduced weed emergence in the immediately following cash crop but increased seed survival and thus infestation of the subsequent crops). This simulation showed FlorSys to predict realistic potential crop yields, and the simulated impact of crop scenarios was consistent with literature reports.     

A methodology for multi-objective cropping system design based on simulations. Application to weed management

Weeds are harmful for crop production but important for biodiversity. In order to design cropping systems that reconcile crop production and biodiversity, we need tools and methods to help farmers to deal with this issue. Here, we developed a novel method for multi-objective cropping system design aimed at scientists and technical institutes, combining a cropping system database, decision trees, the “virtual field” model FlorSys and indicators translating simulated weed floras into scores in terms of weed harmfulness (e.g. crop yield loss, weed-borne parasite risk, field infestation), weed-mediated biodiversity (e.g. food offer for bees) and herbicide use intensity. 255 existing cropping systems were simulated with FlorSys, individual indicator values were aggregated into a multi-performance score, and decision trees were built to identify combinations of management practices and probabilities for reaching performance goals. These trees are used to identify the characteristics of existing cropping systems that must be changed to achieve the chosen performance goals, depending on the user's risk strategy. Alternative systems are built and simulated with FlorSys to evaluate their multi-criteria performance. The method was applied to an existing oilseed rape/wheat/barley rotation with yearly mouldboard ploughing from Burgundy which was improved to reconcile weed harmfulness control, reduced herbicide use and biodiversity promotion, based on a risk-minimizing strategy. The best alternative replaced a herbicide entering plants via shoot tips (during emergence) and roots after barley sowing by a spring herbicide entering via leaves, introduced crop residue shredding before cereals and rolled the soil at sowing, which reduced the risk of unacceptable performance from 90% to 40%. When attempting to reconcile harmfulness control and reduced herbicide use, the best alternative changed the rotation to oilseed rape/wheat/spring pea/wheat, replaced one herbicide in oilseed rape by mechanical weeding, delayed tillage before rape and applied the PRE herbicide before oilseed rape closer to sowing. This option reduced the risk of unacceptable performance to 30%. None of the initial or alternative cropping systems succeeded in optimal performance, indicating that more diverse cropping systems with innovative management techniques and innovative combinations of techniques are needed to build the decision trees. This approach can be used in workshops with extension services and farmers in order to design cropping systems. Compared to expert-based design, it has the advantage to go beyond well-known options (e.g. plough before risky crops) to identify unconventional options, with a particular focus on interactions between cultural techniques.     

Factors of winter wheat yield robustness in France under unfavourable weather conditions

To face increasing uncertainties, future farming systems must be sustainable not only under average conditions but also in extreme climatic and economic situations. Various concepts such as stability, robustness, vulnerability or resilience have been proposed to analyze the ability of agricultural systems to adapt to changing production conditions. The operational effectiveness of these concepts remains nevertheless limited. In this paper, we developed an original analytical framework allowing characterizing and quantifying crop yield robustness, as well as identifying agricultural practices linked to cropping systems differentiated according to their robustness pattern. This framework was applied to 2300 bread wheat plots belonging to 145 cropping systems in various regions of France over the period 2011–2014. The analysis was performed at the scale of the cropping system. In a first step, we defined a regression statistical model allowing us to link wheat yield variability to an index of abiotic perturbations constructed using the STICS agronomic model; the cropping systems were taken into account through the use of dummy variables. In a second step, the different cropping systems were positioned within four quadrants using the regional average wheat yield in conditions of average abiotic perturbations and the regional average estimated robustness to abiotic perturbations as cut-offs for the quadrants. In a third step, the cropping systems of the different spaces defined by the four-quadrant approach were compared on the basis on three types of agronomic practices, i.e., management intensification, rotation and heterogeneity practices. Empirical results show that abiotic perturbations had an impact on wheat yield variability. This impact differed from one system to another which means that there is a ”cropping system effect” of abiotic perturbations on wheat yield robustness. Several agronomic practices allowed differentiating high versus low wheat yield cropping systems. High yield cropping systems relied more intensively on chemical inputs (fertilizers and pesticides) and used more diversified rotations, with more frequently legumes as preceding crops and a lower frequency of cereals. Fewer agronomic practices allowed differentiating robust versus sensitive wheat cropping systems. In addition to the sowing date (later for robust systems) and the sowing density (greater), these practices were essentially linked to spatial adjustments of the sowing date, total pesticide use, variety earliness at heading stage and variety disease resistance.     

The Effect of Inter-row Cultivation on Yield of Weed-free Maize

Inter-row cultivation can be a means to reduce herbicide use in maize ( Zea mays L.) production. Apart from its effect on weeds, inter-row tillage may increase available water and nitrogen in the soil, affect soil temperature and damage crop roots. In 10 out of 13 field experiments conducted in the Netherlands from 1977 to 1985, 4- to 7-cm deep inter-row cultivation of a weed-free maize crop did not significantly affect whole plant dry matter yield. In two experiments yield was increased with inter-row cultivation; in one experiment inter-row cultivation significantly decreased yield. These differences in crop response could not be attributed to factors known to affect crop response to inter-row cultivation such as slope, soil texture, precipitation or mean temperature. Ten-cm deep cultivation caused yield reduction, probably due to root damage.     

Incremental crop tolerance to weeds: A measure for selecting competitive ability in Australian wheats

Total reliance on herbicides for weed control is unsustainable with the spread of herbicide resistance and the environmental need to reduce pesticide use. Strongly competitive wheat crops that have high tolerance to weed pressure and therefore maintain high yields in the presence of weeds are a low-cost option for reducing dependence on herbicides. We examined the feasibility of selecting for wheat tolerance to weeds by crossing varieties differing for traits associated with competitiveness. Competitive ability and yield potential must be treated as separate traits for selection. Current measures of crop tolerance to weed competition do not separate the two traits so that selection based on these measures is often synonymous with selection for yield potential rather than pure tolerance. We propose a new measure, termed Incremental Crop Tolerance (ICT) that reflects the incremental yield difference between genotypes associated with tolerance, over and above differences in underlying yield potential.     

Genotypic variation for competitive ability in spring wheat

Herbicides are the primary method of weed control for crop production in developed countries. For economic and environmental reasons alternative control strategies are being devised. One of these strategies is the development of competitive crop cultivars. The objectives of this research were to establish whether spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes differed in competitive ability and if those differences were related to specific growth characteristics. Sixteen genotypes of spring wheat were grown under simulated weed competition conditions at Saskatoon, Canada over a 3–year period. Four high and four low tillering genotypes from each of two crosses (Neepawa/M1417 and Ingal/M1417) were studied. Weeds consisted of cultivated oat (Avena saliva cv. ‘Waldern’) and oriental mustard (Brassicajuncea cv. ‘Cutlass’) sown at two densities (48 and 96 seeds/m² per weed species). Seedling establishment, ground cover, and seed yield for the three species were determined, as was wheat tiller number, spike number, maximum height, leaf area index, leaf orientation, and flag leaf length and size. Significant (P = 0.001) weed rate by genotype interactions involving changes in genotype rank were detected for wheat grain yield, indicating that the 16 wheat genotypes differed in competitive ability. Wheat grain yield reductions averaged over the two weed densities ranged from 45% to 59%. The highest-yielding genotypes under weed-free conditions were not necessarily the highest yielding under weedy conditions. Genotypes which suffered smaller yield reductions were more effective in suppressing weed growth. Although competitive genotypes were generally taller than non-competitive genotypes, other traits such as large seedling ground cover and flag leaf length were associated with wheat yield under competitive conditions.     

Legume cover crops as living mulches for winter wheat: Components of biomass and the control of weeds

To gain information about the possible use of legume cover crops as an alternative and sustainable weed-control strategy for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), an experiment was conducted at two sites in the Swiss Midlands in 2001/2002. Under organic farming conditions winter wheat was direct-drilled into living mulches established with four different legume genotypes or into control plots without cover crops. Compared to NAT (control plots without cover crops but with a naturally establishing weed community), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), subclover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) reduced the density of monocotyledonous, dicotyledonous, spring-germinating, and annual weeds by the time of wheat anthesis. Strong-spined medick (Medicago truncatula Gaertner) was less efficient in this regard. While the grain yield was reduced by 60% or more for all legumes when compared to NOWEED (control plots kept weed-free), a significant negative correlation between the dry matter of the cover crop and weeds as well as between the cover crop and the winter wheat was observed by the time of wheat anthesis. The effect of manuring (60 m³ ha⁻¹ liquid farmyard manure) was marginal for weeds and cover crops but the additional nutrients significantly increased total winter wheat dry matter and grain yields. The suppression achieved by some legumes clearly demonstrates their potential for the control of weeds in such cropping systems. However, before living legume cover crops can be considered a viable alternative for integrated weed management under organic farming conditions, management strategies need to be identified which maximise the positive effect in terms of weed control at the same time as they minimise the negative impact on growth and yield of winter wheat.     

Wurzelsystem, Biomasseproduktion, Bestockung und Ertragsbildung von vier Winterweizensorten in einem System mit geringer Betriebsmittelzufuhr von außen

Rooting patterns, biomass production, tillering, and yield formation of four winter wheat cultivars in a low external input system Growth conditions of winter wheat in agricultural low external input systems, e.g. ecological agriculture differ from those in conventional agriculture with regard to nutrient flow, impact of diseases, and weed competition. Knowledge of the dynamics of yield formation of winter wheat cultivars is very important for further development of such systems. During two growing seasons root growth, above ground biomass production, tillering, and yield formation were studied with four winter wheat cultivars of different periods of release at two ecologically managed farms in Northern Hessia. The results can be summarized as follows: – In general, plant breeding did not lead to a reduced development of root systems or above ground biomass production in winter wheat (Stöppler et al. 1989 a). Modern wheat varieties develop an extensive root system in greater depth, which means better drought resistance. – Not only root length densities, total root length, characteristics of tillering, and yield formation showed clear genotypic differences between the winter wheat cultivars, but also the development of root systems and above ground biomass production. – Winter wheat cultivars with a high plant density seem to have a retarded root growth after tillering due to intra-plant-competition and late root growth during grain filling, whereas cultivars with a high ear weight develop an extensive root system before the grain filling period. At the beginning of this period, a great root length per culm seems to be most important to achieve a high ear weight. The results indicate that those cultivars with poor to medium tillering and high ear weight are very well adapted to the reduced nutrient flow in low external input systems of farming. –In low external input systems, a satisfactory wheat crop need be established before tillering.     

不同耕作方式对玉米田杂草发生规律及产量的影响

摘要：研究了小麦－玉米一年两熟制农田,在免耕覆盖麦秸、免耕、旋耕三种耕作方式下,玉米田杂草发生规律、喷施玉农乐对杂草的防除效果及对玉米产量的影响。结果表明：不同耕作方式杂草种类差异不大,免耕覆盖麦秸的杂草数量比免耕不覆盖的降低53％-82％,比旋耕的降低了62％-78％。玉农乐30g/hm2处理,免耕覆盖麦秸的防效最好,免耕不覆盖和旋耕田差异不大;玉米田免耕覆盖麦秸,能降低玉农乐的用药量。免耕覆盖麦秸玉米出苗率降低,但是穗粒数、百粒重及产量增加;玉农乐45-60g/hm2处理,不同耕作方式中其产量差异不大;玉农乐30g/hm2处理和对照小区的产量,免耕覆盖麦秸的最高。     

免耕玉米田杂草群落消长初探

为了研究“小麦-玉米”一年两熟制农田,连续免耕对玉米田杂草群落演替及对玉米产量的影响,进行了田间小区试验,采用倒置“W”取样法调查不同耕作方式玉米田杂草种类和数量,用生测法测杂草鲜重,玉米成熟后测产。结果表明：免耕覆盖麦秸和免耕玉米田的杂草种类由12种增加到13种,旋耕玉米田杂草种群构成没有变化,有11 种杂草。免耕覆盖麦秸1~5 年,其玉米田杂草数量比旋耕田少,6~7年,二者杂草数量差异不大;免耕1~4 年,免耕玉米田的杂草数量与旋耕田相比互有消长,从第5 年开始免耕田杂草数量一直比旋耕田多;免耕覆盖麦秸的玉米田牛筋草所占比率明显降低,而马唐所占比率呈增加趋势。连续免耕3 年后,免耕覆盖和免耕田玉米产量均下降,前者的降低幅度低于后者。免耕覆盖麦秸能减少玉米田杂草发生数量,而随免耕年限的延长抑制效果下降;免耕年限越长玉米田杂草发生越严重。