Effects of winter wheat cultivars and seed rate on the biological characteristics of naturally occurring weed flora

Summary Differential competitive ability of six winter wheat cultivars and traits that confer such attributes were investigated for a range of seed rates in the presence or absence of weeds for a naturally occurring weed flora in two successive years in split-plot field experiments. Crop height and tillering capacity were considered suitable attributes for weed suppression, although competitiveness is a relative rather than an absolute characteristic. Maris Huntsman and Maris Widgeon were the most competitive cultivars whereas Fresco was the least competitive. Manipulation of seed rate was a more reliable factor than cultivar selection for enhancement of weed suppression, although competitiveness of cultivars Buster, Riband and Maris Widgeon was not enhanced by increased seed rate. Crop densities ranging between 125 and 270 plants m⁻² were found to offer adequate weed suppression. Linear relationships were observed between individual and total weed species dry weight and reproductive structures per unit area.     

Long-term management of Striga hermonthica: strategy evaluation with a spatio-temporal population model

The parasitic weed Striga hermonthica poses a serious threat to cereal production in sub-Saharan Africa. Striga hermonthica seedbanks are long-lived; therefore, long-term effects of control strategies on the seedbank only emerge after several years. We developed a spatially explicit, stochastic model to study the effectiveness of control strategies in preventing invasion of S. hermonthica into previously uninfested fields and in reducing established infestations. Spatial expansion of S. hermonthica and decrease in millet yield in a field was slower, on average, when stochasticity of attachment of seedlings to the host was included and compared to the deterministic model. The spatial patterns of emerged S. hermonthica plants 4–7 years after point inoculation (e.g. seeds in a dung patch) in the spatial-stochastic model resembled the distribution typically observed in farmers' fields. Sensitivity analysis showed that only three out of eight life cycle parameters were of minor importance for seedbank dynamics and millet yield. Weeding and intercropping millet with sesame or cowpea reduced the seedbank in the long term, but rotations of millet with trap crops did not. High seedbank replenishment during years of millet monoculture was not sufficiently offset by seedbank depletion in years of trap crop cultivation. Insight from simulations can be employed in a participatory learning context with farmers to have an impact on S. hermonthica control in practice.     

Growth of Parietaria debilis in fallow and in undisturbed areas

Parietaria debilis is a dominant annual weed in many non‐tillage fallow and undisturbed areas in Argentina. Herbicides control P. debilis inconsistently. A study on the growth of P. debilis, in a fallow in a soyabean–maize rotation including glyphosate‐resistant cultivars and in an undisturbed area without crops or weed control, was conducted in the central soyabean area of Argentina. The biomass dynamics of all species in the community, as well as biomass, density and growth traits of P. debilis were assessed. Biomass of several species including P. debilis and total biomass were greater in undisturbed than in fallow plots in both years of the study. Diversity was greater in undisturbed plots in 2000, but no differences in diversity were observed in 2001. In both treatments, P. debilis emergence began in March and finished in October and density increased from March to May. High mortality occurred in June and July, particularly in undisturbed plots. In the fallow plots, no other tall weed species were present and light interception was higher in spring when fruit production was at its peak. Conversely, in the undisturbed plots, P. debilis was substantially taller and had greater leaf area due to lower light interception by the high canopy of the rest of the community. In fallow, P. debilis is favoured by single applications of glyphosate, because the herbicide eliminates competitors. Control, if applied, should be directed to both fallow and undisturbed environments, as the weed produces considerable numbers of seeds and can invade extensively managed areas.     

Site-specific weed control technologies

Site-specific weed control technologies are defined as machinery or equipment embedded with technologies that detect weeds growing in a crop and, taking into account predefined factors such as economics, take action to maximise the chances of successfully controlling them. In this study, we describe the basic parts of site-specific weed control technologies, comprising weed sensing systems, weed management models and precision weed control implements. A review of state-of-the-art technologies shows that several weed sensing systems and precision implements have been developed over the last two decades, although barriers prevent their breakthrough. Most important among these is the lack of a truly robust weed recognition method, owing to mutual shading among plants and limitations in the capacity of highly accurate spraying and weeding apparatus. Another barrier is the lack of knowledge about the economic and environmental potential for increasing the resolution of weed control. The integration of site-specific information on weed distribution, weed species composition and density and the effect on crop yield, is decisive for successful site-specific weed management.     

浙沪小麦田杂草调查及优势杂草化学防除技术研究

为了明确浙沪小麦田杂草发生情况及优势杂草控制技术,采用唐氏五级目测法和随机取样计数法相结合的方法,对上海和浙江的116块冬小麦田杂草进行了抽样调查,同时采用盆栽试验和田间小区试验测定了7种除草剂对主要危害杂草的防效。结果表明,浙沪冬小麦田共调查到杂草43种,隶属于14科,其中菊科杂草种类最多,有10种,其次是禾本科杂草9种,再次是石竹科杂草5种。杂草群落组成以禾本科杂草为主,优势杂草为日本看麦娘Alopecurus japonicus Steud.、菵草Beckmannia syzigachne(Steud.) Fern.、棒头草Polypogon fugax Nees ex Steud.、硬草Sclerochloa dura(L.) Beauv.、早熟禾Poa annua L.、鹅肠菜Myosoton aquaticum(L.) Moench、救荒野豌豆Vicia sativa L.、猪殃殃Galium spurium L.和小藜Chenopodium ficifolium Smith。室内除草活性及田间药效试验结果表明,日本看麦娘可用15%炔草酯WP、5%唑啉草酯EC、30 g/L...     

发展化学除草重视综合治理

我国农田杂草有２５０多种，全国农田受草害面积４３００多万ｈｍ２，平均受草害减产１３．４％，每年减产粮食１７５０万ｔ，皮棉２５．５万ｔ和大豆５０万ｔ。传统农业生产采用机械作业及人力等除草。随着农村经济的发展，化学除草面积迅速扩大，全国农田化学除草面积从１９７５年的１７０万ｈｍ２增加到１９９５年的４１３３万ｈｍ２。但是，长期化学除草也带来了除草剂土壤残留对后茬作物药害、农田杂草种群更替和产生抗药性等新问题。必须重视农田杂草综合治理，通过采用各种有效的农业技术措施，为农作物保持良好的生态条件，结合化学除草才是最有效的防除杂草方法     

Weed flora and weed management in established olive groves in Albania

Weed flora were surveyed during 2000 and 2001 in 10 established olive groves that were located in the area of Vlora, in south‐western Albania. The effectiveness of six weed management treatments (soil tillage, straw mulch, cover cropping [a mixture of rye with peas], and grazing, as well as glyphosate and diuron application) on the weed flora, olive yield, and fruit quality also were investigated in two locations during 2000, 2001, and 2002. More than 80 weed species were recorded, representing a total of 14 families, in which the families Poaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Ranunculaceae, and Rosaceae predominated. The glyphosate application provided the highest and most consistent level of weed control, whereas diuron achieved sufficient weed control. The straw mulch provided acceptable weed control but the cover crop and the grazing did not sufficiently control the weeds. The highest fruit and oil yields were produced by the trees treated with the straw mulch as a result of the highest mean fruit weight in each year, followed by the soil tillage treatment. However, the olive trees in the plots treated with glyphosate or grazing provided lower or equal, respectively, fruit and oil yields than did those in the untreated plots (control). The results indicated that certain non‐chemical weed control methods, such as straw mulch, can be implemented successfully in established olive groves, providing satisfactory control of weeds and promoting the highest fruit and oil yields.     

施肥对农田杂草生理生态及群落形成的影响综述

本文综述了施肥对农田杂草群落及土壤杂草种子库的影响,并探讨施肥可显著改变农田杂草发生的原因,论证合理的施肥能改善作物与杂草之间的关系,有效控制一些恶性杂草的发生,保持生物多样性。梳理了农田杂草研究的一些新的发展方向,并认为农业生态系统中施肥对杂草群落的演替、优势杂草种群的确定及其生理生态和遗传进化规律的影响是今后研究的重点和难点。     

Weed flora and soil seedbanks in fields dominated by Imperata cylindrica in the moist savannah of West Africa

Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel is a dominant and infamous grass weed in the savannah of West Africa. Research to reduce the weed to non-damaging levels is a priority activity at many agricultural institutions. The successful development and implementation of long-term I. cylindrica management strategies depend on the ability to predict changes in weed composition after I. cylindrica has been controlled effectively. The weed flora and soil seedbank were assessed from 329 fields dominated by this species in the fringes of the humid forest (HFF), coastal/derived savannah (CDS) and in the southern Guinea savannah (SGS) in 1996 and 1997. The objectives of the study were to correlate species composition of the weed flora with that of the soil seedbank and to determine the effect of management factors and soil properties on the composition of the weed flora. Species richness in the weed flora and in the weed seedbank was higher in the SGS than in the CDS and HFF. Mean weed density per field was generally higher in the HFF (156 ± 25.0 weeds m^–2) than in the CDS (108 ± 8.1 weeds m^–2) and in the SGS (92 ± 6.3 weeds m^–2). Weed composition varied with agroecological zone as well as with management factors and soil properties. Sørenson's index of similarity was low (mean=0.20) in all zones, indicating poor similarity between the weed flora above-ground and the soil seedbank.     

广西城市草坪杂草的种群及发生调查

以南宁市为中心,对柳州、北海、桂林、玉林和贺州6个广西主要城市的各类草坪杂草种类及发生规律开展了调查研究。结果表明:广西城市草坪共有杂草21科83种,其中优势杂草种类有19种,菊科、禾本科的优势杂草种类最多,分别占优势种群总数的31.6％和26.3％。向阳地生境草坪主要杂草种类为酢酱草和马唐,背阳地生境草坪主要杂草种类为圆果雀稗和空心莲子草,阴潮地生境草坪主要杂草种类为空心莲子草和水沙草。春季草坪主要杂草科为酢酱科和菊科,夏季草坪主要杂草科为禾本科和酢酱科,秋季草坪主要杂草科为禾本科和莎草科,冬季草坪主要杂草科为石竹科和十字花科。     

Weed dynamics in the Mediterranean urban ecosystem: ecology, biodiversity and management

This paper presents a review of weed dynamics in the Mediterranean urban ecosystem, seen both in an ecological and biological perspective and also in relation to the interaction between human activity and the survival strategies of the various phytocoenoses. Although generalizations on urban weeds cannot easily be drawn on account of the wide range of microenvironments, anemochoric dissemination mechanisms (Asteraceae), resilience (grasses) and perennation are of particular importance. The reasons underlying the undesirability of weeds in the urban environment are investigated. Not only are weeds considered unsightly, but they may also give rise to ‘functional’ obstacles, damaging sidewalks or clogging storm drains. Furthermore, they may adversely affect human health by releasing allergenic pollen into the atmosphere. Management of urban weeds is based almost exclusively on mechanical control, as chemical measures may involve a toxicity risk for man. Paradoxically, certain weeds species may however have a positive effect if they are linked to fauna (butterflies, birds, etc.) considered to give a favourable impression in the cityscape. Finally, the possibility of favouring the biodiversity of the urban ecosystem by introducing some wildflowers typically associated with the degree of biodiversity of the surrounding environment is discussed.     

Weeds and weed management in rice production in Japan

The area of paddy rice fields in Japan was 1.79 million ha in 1998 almost all of which was planted with young seedlings from nursery boxes by a mechanical rice transplanter. Japanese farmers controlled paddy weeds mainly by chemical herbicides, which were applied around 1.8 times in one growing season of rice by sequential treatment. The cost of herbicides was 35 320 ¥/ha on average, the main of which was ‘one‐shot’ herbicides, while weeding labor for the paddy field, including herbicide application, was 19.0 h/ha, or 29 976 ¥/ha in labor cost, in 1998. Under the Integrated Weed Management (IWM) for sustainable paddy rice production, other technologies for weed management are also recommended to paddy farmers, such as ecological or cultural, mechanical, biological methods and so on.     

Image-based weed recognition and control: Can it select for crop mimicry?

As highly adaptable plants, weeds have evolved numerous mechanisms to evade control in agroecosystems. For example, reliance on herbicides has resulted in widespread evolution of resistance in many species. Minimising weed adaptation is a major driver for integrated weed management strategies. Crop mimicry is a notable example of weed adaptation, where weed species evolve to avoid control by mimicking aspects of the crop phenotype. Visual selection by hand weeding has been documented to select for crop mimics that are difficult to distinguish from the crop at the vegetative stage. With recent advancements in weed recognition technologies, image-based weed recognition for in-crop, site-specific weed control is on the cusp of becoming widely adopted. Whilst the control methods used in site-specific weed control will be varied (e.g., spot spraying or lasers), they will share weed recognition technology. Visual selection via image-based deep learning represents a selection pressure for weeds that can evade detection by mimicking crops. This mimicry may reduce weed recognition accuracy and thus weed control efficacy over time and result in difficult to manage mimetic weed phenotypes. Therefore, it is timely to explore the potential for selection of crop mimics by image-based weed recognition algorithms.     

Weed seed movement and dispersal strategies in the agricultural environment

This paper reviews the current knowledge on weed seed movement in an agricultural environment. Seed movement is analyzed both from an agronomic and ecological perspective, focusing predominantly on horizontal seed movement. Abiotic (anemochory and hydrochory), as well as biotic (autochory, myrmecochory, epizoochory, and endozoochory) weed seed dispersal typologies are examined, highlighting the mechanisms involved, the specializations displayed by weed species that have evolved by exploiting a particular dispersal mechanism, and their adaptive interaction with the surrounding ecosystem. Emphasis is also placed on the crucial role of human activity (anthropochory), which can affect natural (biotic and abiotic) weed seed dispersal at several stages, partly via the worldwide commercial seed trade but, above all, by crop management operations, thereby potentially facilitating the entry and spread of alien weed species. This phenomenon, together with the invasive expansion of existing weeds that more successfully coevolve and adapt to the new environment, might exert an adverse effect on biodiversity. In-depth knowledge of weed seed dispersal, survival, and germination mechanisms is therefore essential for effective and eco-compatible management of the weed phytocoenoses present in the agroecosystem in order to promote a rational trade-off between agricultural productivity and environmental protection.     

我国农田杂草治理技术的发展

我国稻、麦、玉米、大豆及棉花等主要农作物农田杂草有580种,属于危害重而又难于防除的有17种,受杂草危害较重的农田有3 580万hm²,年平均受草害减产12.3％～16.5％(加权平均)。自1980年以来,全国化学除草面积以年增200万hm²的速度扩大,农田化学除草面积从20世纪70年代早期不到100万hm²扩大到近年来6 000万hm²。本文概述了我国农田主要作物杂草的发生危害、化学除草剂应用现状及其综合防治进展,并提出今后杂草防除的设想与建议。     

Weed flora distribution in Greek cotton fields and its possible influence by herbicides

A weed survey methodology was used for 2 years in three provinces in Greece to determine the abundance and spatial distribution of weeds in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fields. Based on a stratified random sampling procedure, the most frequently occurring weeds were counted in 150 cotton fields. The field surveys were conducted late in the growing season; hence, the weed populations consisted of species that had been present during the critical competitive period for the crop and may have contributed to yield losses.Solanum nigrum was the most abundant weed in the surveyed fields of the southern province, followed byCyperus rotundus, Convolvulus arvensis, Xanthium strumarium, Chrozophora tinctoria andCynodon dactylon, in descending order. The ranked weed flora in the fields of the northern province was differentiated, suggesting the geographical distribution of weed species. The weedsDatura stramonium andS. nigrum were recorded in high abundance and followed byAmaranthus spp.,Abutilon theophrasti, Portulaca oleracea, Chenopodium album andXanthium spinosum, in descending order. Although the use of preplant incorporated herbicides is the dominant practice in cotton cultivation, certain weeds continue to spread in increasing densities. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 26, 2005.     

Weed problems and their management in rice fields of Malaysia: An overview

The available literature on weed problems and weed control in rice fields in Malaysia is reviewed and suggestions for future research are included. The problem of weed competition with rice is of great economic importance in the country because it causes a 10–35% reduction in grain yield. About US$4.10 million is spent annually on herbicides for rice alone, and this amounts to approximately 7% of the total expenditure on herbicides. The shift in methods of rice culture from transplanting to direct seeding has magnified the weed problem. The problem of weedy rice is particularly acute in the direct-seeding rice areas. Although a number of sulfonylurea herbicides (e.g. cinosulfuron, metsulfuron, bensulfuron and pyrazosulfuron) have been found to be suitable alternatives to the old herbicide 2,4-D, an integrated weed management program must be developed in order to reduce the problem of herbicide resistance in weeds. Weed control methods that are more friendly to the environment and affordable to farmers must be sought. Weed-competitive and allelopathic rice varieties must be produced. The problem of weeds in rice calls for systematic studies on biotechnological methods of control of weedy rice. Detailed studies on the biology and ecology of notorious rice weeds, particularly Oryza sativa L. (weedy rice), Echinochloa spp., Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees, Fimbristylis miliacea (L.) Vahl. and Limnocharis flava (L.) Buch. need to be done in order to formulate successful weed control measures.