Critical period of weed interference in chickpea

The critical period of weed interference in one variety of chickpea was determined in field experiments carried out at two sites, Tabriz 2002 and Kermanshah 2003, Iran. Chickpea culture was either kept free of weeds for 0, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 days after crop emergence (DAE) or weeds were allowed to grow for 0, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 DAE. In these experiments, chickpea yield increased with increasing duration of weed-free period and was reduced by increasing duration of weed-infested period. Unweeded conditions for the entire growing season caused 66.4% and 48.3% seed yield reduction when compared with the treatment that was weed-free throughout the growing season, at Tabriz 2002 and Kermanshah 2003, respectively. The results indicated that chickpea must be kept weed-free between the five-leaf and full flowering stages (24–48 DAE) and from the four-leaf to beginning of flowering stages (17–49 DAE) at the two sites, respectively, in order to prevent >10% seed yield loss. At both sites, reduction in seed yield, because of the increased weed interference period, was accompanied by simultaneous reduction in plant dry weight, number of branches, pods per plant and 100-seed weight. This was supported by significant and positive correlations between these traits and chickpea seed yield. There was no significant correlation between the number of seeds per pod and seed yield. A linear regression model was used to describe the relationship between weed dry weight and seed yield loss.     

Weed control in squash and tomato fields by soil solarization in the Jordan Valley

Black (BPE) and clear polyethylene mulches (CPE), 0.08 and 0.06 mm thick, respectively, were compared for their effectiveness for soil solarization over three seasons during 1986–1989 in weedy fields. Solarization for 6 weeks reduced weed growth and enhanced crop yields. However, further mulching with BPE after solarization with either BPE or CPE gave the best results. Not all weeds were sensitive to solarization. Some weed species were completely controlled; others were reduced to varying degrees; yet other weed species seemed to be enhanced by solarization. Solarization without further mulching was no better than farmer-practice in reducing weed growth or in increasing crop yield. Weeds required further removal after the middle of the growing season. Any soil disturbance after solarization reduced the weed control effect of solarization. Crops grew best in plots after solarization with BPE if they were planted in the same mulch after it was perforated.     

Winter annual grassy weeds increase over‐winter mortality in autumn‐sown wheat

Over‐winter mortality, that is, winterkill, reduces cereal crop competitive ability and yield. While management and environmental variables are known to affect winterkill, the extent to which weeds contribute to increased winterkill is largely unknown. Winter annual weeds may increase winterkill through resource competition and by increasing incidence of and damage from plant pathogens that cause winterkill. We evaluated the impact of summer annual (Avena fatua) and winter annual (Bromus tectorum) weeds on the over‐winter survival rate of winter wheat over three winters, during which plots were covered with snow. Pink snow mould (Microdochium nivale), a winterkill pathogen known to infect B. tectorum and winter wheat, was common in wheat stands. In weed‐free treatments, mortality rates were initially near zero, but increased by nearly 45% in each subsequent winter, presumably due to an increase in snow mould disease in continuously cropped winter wheat. Whereas A. fatua infestation had no impact on crop survival rates, winter wheat survival in B. tectorum‐infested plots was 50% less than the weed‐free control in the second and third years of this study. Among B. tectorum‐infested plots, winter wheat over‐winter survival declined with increasing weed seed produced in the previous summer. Overall, this study demonstrated that winter annual weed infestations can reduce crop stand densities below replanting thresholds by reducing fall‐sown cereal winter survival. The effects of winter annual weeds on winter wheat may be meditated by increased proliferation of snow mould disease.     

Weed competition in spring-planted raspberries

Spring-planted raspberries (Rubus idaeus L. cv. Malling Jewel) were exposed to competition from annual weeds for various lengths of time during the first growing season. Weeds germinating following crop planting in late March had no effect on numbers of new canes produced provided weed removal occurred by early June. The importance of preventing competition from these weeds during the critical period of cane emergence (June/July) was demonstrated. Dense weed cover reduced cane growth and, if weeds were left beyond late June, caused considerable mortality of planting material. Weed growth also frequently reduced cane height. In the second year, all plots were maintained free of weeds. Fruit yields showed effects of weeds similar to or greater than those indicated by total cane growth in the previous year. Height of new canes was unaffected by previous weeding treatments, but the numbers of new canes produced continued to show severe effects of initial competition from weeds. Allowing further weed growth to develop after initial weeding had no additional effect on crop survival or cane numbers in the first year. In one experiment, however, a reduction in cane height due to weeds germinating in June was followed in the second year by a reduction in the numbers of new canes produced.     

Designing a sampling scheme to reveal correlations between weeds and soil properties at multiple spatial scales

Weeds tend to aggregate in patches within fields, and there is evidence that this is partly owing to variation in soil properties. Because the processes driving soil heterogeneity operate at various scales, the strength of the relations between soil properties and weed density would also be expected to be scale‐dependent. Quantifying these effects of scale on weed patch dynamics is essential to guide the design of discrete sampling protocols for mapping weed distribution. We developed a general method that uses novel within‐field nested sampling and residual maximum‐likelihood (reml ) estimation to explore scale‐dependent relations between weeds and soil properties. We validated the method using a case study of Alopecurus myosuroides in winter wheat. Using reml , we partitioned the variance and covariance into scale‐specific components and estimated the correlations between the weed counts and soil properties at each scale. We used variograms to quantify the spatial structure in the data and to map variables by kriging. Our methodology successfully captured the effect of scale on a number of edaphic drivers of weed patchiness. The overall Pearson correlations between A. myosuroides and soil organic matter and clay content were weak and masked the stronger correlations at >50 m. Knowing how the variance was partitioned across the spatial scales, we optimised the sampling design to focus sampling effort at those scales that contributed most to the total variance. The methods have the potential to guide patch spraying of weeds by identifying areas of the field that are vulnerable to weed establishment.     

Consequences of narrow crop row spacing and delayed Echinochloa colona and Trianthema portulacastrum emergence for weed growth and crop yield loss in maize

Echinochloa colona and Trianthema portulacastrum are weeds of maize that cause significant yield losses in the Indo‐Gangetic Plains. Field experiments were conducted in 2009 and 2010 to determine the influence of row spacing (15, 25 and 35 cm) and emergence time of E. colona and T. portulacastrum (0, 15, 25, 35, 45 and 55 days after maize emergence; DAME) on weed growth and productivity of maize. A season‐long weed‐free treatment and a weedy control were also used to estimate maize yield and weed seed production. Crop row spacing as well as weed emergence time had a significant influence on plant height, shoot biomass and seed production of both weed species and grain yield of maize in both years. Delay in emergence of weeds resulted in less plant height, shoot biomass and seed production. However, increase in productivity of maize was observed by delay in weed emergence. Likewise, growth of both weed species was less in narrow row spacing (15 cm) of maize, as compared with wider rows (25 and 35 cm). Maximum seed production of both weeds was observed in weedy control plots, where there was no competition with maize crop and weeds were in rows 35 cm apart. Nevertheless, maximum plant height, shoot biomass and seed production of both weed species were observed in 35 cm rows, when weeds emerged simultaneously with maize. Both weed species produced only 3–5 seeds per plant, when they were emerged at 55 DAME in crop rows spaced at 15 cm. Infestation of both weeds at every stage of crop led to significant crop yield loss in maize. Our results suggested that narrow row spacing and delay in weed emergence led to reduced weed growth and seed production and enhanced maize grain yield and therefore could be significant constituents of integrated weed management strategies in maize.     

Low disturbance seeding suppresses weeds in no‐tillage soyabean

Germination is a key process in the dynamics of weed populations. In no‐tillage systems, crop seeding is often found to induce seed germination in the seeding strip. In this research, experiments to investigate options for reducing weed seedling establishment were conducted in no‐till soyabean fields located in two sites in south Brazil. A first experiment revealed that a reduction in emergence of some important weed species can be achieved by lowering seeding speed. Further experiments showed the ability of a modified seeder to contribute to an additional reduction in weed establishment. On the modified seeder, coulter discs were equipped with lateral blades, to diminish soil disturbance and to maintain a uniform soil cover by properly cutting the mulch layer. In a field with a high level of residues, the modified seeder, in contrast to the standard seeder, prevented the increase of soil exposure when seeding at high speed. The predominant weeds were annual species. Averaged over all seeding rates, the new equipment led to a 56% reduction in within‐row weed density, compared with the standard seeder. Regardless of seeder type, overall weed density increased with seeding speed, but with the modified seeder, this increase was only half that of the standard seeder. The modified seeder reduced weed biomass by 30% and increased soyabean grain yield by 42%. The research demonstrated that relatively simple changes, like a minor modification to a seeder and a lower seeding speed, can contribute to more diverse and sustainable alternatives to predominantly chemical‐oriented weed management strategies.     

Mechanical damage to annual weeds and carrots by in-row brush weeding

Field experiments were carried out in order to assess the selectivity of in-row brush weeding in carrots with a natural flora of annual weeds, represented by Urtica urens L., Stellaria media (L.) Vill., Chenopodium album L., Senecio vulgaris L., Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Med., Chamomilla suaveolens (L.) Pursh Buch. and Matricaria inodora L. The mechanisms by which the weeds and carrots were controlled (uprooting vs. soil covering) were studied using a portable vacuum-cleaner. Weeds at the two- to four-true-leaf stage proved to be more sensitive to brushing than carrots with two to four true leaves but, for later development stages of the weeds, there were no differences. Weeds at the six- to eight-leaf stage were only killed to an extent of 20–50%. Uprooting generally accounted for 45–90% of the weed mortality at the two- to four-leaf stage, whereas most of the mortality in carrots was the result of soil covering. The vacuum-cleaning method proved to be a simple and rapid way of determining whether plants had been killed by uprooting or soil covering. It was concluded that the major mechanism of weed control obtained by brush weeding is uprooting.     

Competition of sorghum cultivars and densities with Japanese millet (Echinochloa esculenta)

Field studies were conducted at two locations in southern Queensland, Australia during the 2003–2004 and 2004–2005 growing seasons to determine the differential competitiveness of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) cultivars and crop densities against weeds and the sorghum yield loss due to weeds. Weed competition was investigated by growing sorghum in the presence or absence of a model grass weed, Japanese millet (Echinochloa esculenta). The correlation analyses showed that the early growth traits (height, shoot biomass, and daily growth rate of the shoot biomass) of sorghum adversely affected the height, biomass, and seed production of millet, as measured at maturity. “MR Goldrush” and “Bonus MR” were the most competitive cultivars, resulting in reduced weed biomass, weed density, and weed seed production. The density of sorghum also had a significant effect on the crop's ability to compete with millet. When compared to the density of 4.5 plants per m², sorghum that was planted at 7.5 plants per m² suppressed the density, biomass, and seed production of millet by 22%, 27% and 38%, respectively. Millet caused a significant yield loss in comparison with the weed‐free plots. The combined weed‐suppressive effects of the competitive cultivars, such as MR Goldrush, and high crop densities minimized the yield losses from the weeds. These results indicate that sorghum competition against grass weeds can be improved by choosing competitive cultivars and by using a high crop density of >7.5 plants per m². These non‐chemical options should be included in an integrated weed management program for better weed management, particularly where the control options are limited by the evolution of herbicide resistance.     

Weed suppression ability of upland rice under low-input conditions in West Africa

Weeds are a major constraint to upland rice production in west Africa. The objectives of this investigation were to study differences in weed suppression ability among upland rice cultivars and to determine the morphological traits involved. Twelve contrasting cultivars, including West African indigenous Oryza glaberrima (Steudel) lines and traditional and improved O. sativa L., were cultivated under natural weed competition and low-input conditions in Côte d'Ivoire in two seasons. Significant differences between cultivars were observed in weed biomass at 100 days after seeding (DAS) in 1994 and 1995, indicating differences in their competitive ability. Weed biomass was negatively correlated with rice root growth at early growth stages and with rice shoot and root growth at later growth stages. Across cultivars, grain yields with a single hand-weeding were 60% in 1994 and 49% in 1995 of those in plots that were weeded regularly. High grain yields in weedy plots were associated with low weed biomass. IG 10, an O. glaberrima cultivar, was the most competitive against weeds.     

Predicting the risk of weed infestation in winter oilseed rape crops

Chemical weed control before crop and weed emergence is a systematic practice in winter oilseed rape crops in France. It would be profitable both for farmers and the environment to predict the level of weed infestation early on in the growing season and to control weeds only when necessary using post‐emergence weed control. The objective of this paper was to develop and evaluate simple models to predict weed biomass in oilseed rape crops. The model input variables were related to weed population characteristics and farmers’ practices. The models can be used to classify oilseed rape plots into two categories: plots with a level of weed infestation above a threshold or those with level of weed infestation below a threshold. A data set including 3 years of experiments, conducted across several regions in France, was used to estimate the parameters and to evaluate the models. High values of sensitivity and specificity were obtained when weed biomass was predicted as a function of sowing date, type of soil tillage, soil mineral nitrogen, crop density, weed density at emergence, and main characteristics of the most abundant weed species. Model performance strongly decreased when input variables related to the weed population were not taken into account. The best models correctly classified 90% of the plots with high weed infestation and 64% of the plots with low weed infestation.     

Competition between annual weeds and vining peas grown at a range of population densities: effects on the weeds

Linear regression of dry weight of weeds against crop density, together with the use of diversity indices and principal component analysis were used to derive information about changes in the behaviour of annual weeds over the growing season and in response to a wide range of crop densities in vining peas Pisum sativum L. Using linear regression it was possible to quantify reductions in weed dry weights per unit increase in crop plant density The ‘weed losse’ factor was acceptably consistent between experiments. Indices examining richness and evenness showed that numbers of weed species declined with increasing crop density and as the season progressed, but although species evenness became less at successive sampling dates the presence of a pea crop, whatever its density, did not radically alter the composition of the weed flora. Principal component analysis demonstrated that although there was competition within the weed flora, the crop did not replace the dominant weed species on high density plots, but reduced growth of all weed species alike.     

Evidence of synergy with ‘stacked’ intrarow cultivation tools

Intrarow cultivation efficacy is often low and highly variable. As the mechanisms affecting weed mortality likely vary by tool, several companies have developed cultivators with the ability to use several different intrarow tools at once. We evaluated the potential for such ‘stacking’ of cultivation tools to increase efficacy. We used different sequences of torsion weeders, finger weeders and row harrows in a test crop of maize with surrogate weeds, Sinapis alba and Panicum miliaceum. Most tool combinations resulted in an additive increase in efficacy compared with the individual tools, but the combination of torsion–finger–row harrow demonstrated a synergistic increase in efficacy. In separate experiments, forward speed, soil moisture and weed size were negatively correlated with efficacy, but the torsion–finger–row harrow combination continued to demonstrate a synergistic increase in efficacy compared with the individual tools in 7 of 11 cases. The drawback was high crop mortality (16.0 ± 1.16%); further mechanistic research is needed to reduce crop mortality while maintaining high mean efficacy, through tool design, adjustment and cultural factors.     

No‐tillage increases nitrogen scavenging by fallow weeds in a double‐season rice cropping system in China

Naturally occurring fallow weeds are an alternative strategy for reducing nitrogen (N) loss from annual cropping systems by scavenging inorganic N from the soil. Soil tillage is a major factor affecting the growth of weed populations. This study was carried out to determine the effect of a no‐tillage (NT) system on the N scavenging capacity of fallow weeds in a double‐season rice cropping system. A fixed field experiment was carried out at the Experimental Farm of Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Province, China, from 2008 to 2011. The results indicated that NT had 80% greater aboveground biomass of fallow weeds than conventional tillage (CT). There was no significant difference in N concentration in fallow weeds between NT and CT. N uptake by fallow weeds was 82% higher under NT than under CT. The stem density of fallow weeds was 50% higher under NT than under CT. The difference in the single‐stem biomass of fallow weeds was not significant between NT and CT. These results suggest that the N scavenging capacity of fallow weeds in the double‐rice cropping system can be increased by increasing the stem density and aboveground biomass through the adoption of NT farming. Our study identifies a potential new ecosystem service provided by NT farming.     

Using panicle dry weight to estimate seed production in Echinochloa crus‐galli

A better understanding of weed seed production is a key element for any long‐term management allowing some weeds to shed seeds. The challenge with measuring seed production in weeds is the large effort required in terms of time and labour. For the weed species Echinochloa crus‐galli, it was tested whether the number of seeds per panicle dry weight or per panicle length can be used to estimate seed production. Experiments were conducted in three maize fields in north‐eastern Germany. The effect of factors that could influence this relationship, such as the time of seedling emergence, the density of E. crus‐galli, the control intensity of other weeds, seed predation and field, was included. A few days before maize harvest, all panicles were removed and weighed, panicle length was measured, and for a subsample of 178 panicles, the number of seeds was counted manually. Panicle dry weight predicted the number of seeds per panicle better (R² = 0.92) than did panicle length (R² = 0.69). The other factors except for ‘field’ and ‘seed predation’ had no effect on these relationships. The relationships between seed number and panicle dry weight found in this study closely resembled those reported in an earlier study. Based on our results, we conclude that both plant traits are appropriate for the estimatation of seed production, depending on required level of precision and availablilty of resources for the evaluation of sustainable weed management strategies.     

Cropping systems modify soil biota effects on wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth and competitive ability

Plants alter soil biota which subsequently modifies plant growth, plant–plant interactions and plant community dynamics. While much research has been conducted on the magnitude and importance of soil biota effects (SBEs) in natural systems, little is known in agro‐ecosystems. We investigated whether agricultural management systems could affect SBEs impacts on crop growth and crop–weed competition. Utilising soil collected from eight paired farms, we evaluated the extent to which SBEs differed between conventional and organic farming systems. Soils were conditioned by growing two common annual weeds: Amaranthus retroflexus (redroot pigweed) or Avena fatua (wild oat). Soil biota effects were measured in wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth and crop–weed competition, with SBEs calculated as the natural log of plant biomass in pots inoculated with living soil divided by the plant biomass in pots inoculated with sterilised soil. SBEs were generally more positive when soil inoculum was collected from organic farms compared with conventional farms, suggesting that cropping systems modify the relative abundance of mutualistic and pathogenic organisms responsible for the observed SBEs. Also, as feedbacks became more positive, crop–weed competition decreased and facilitation increased. In annual cropping systems, SBEs can alter plant growth and crop–weed competition. By identifying the management practices that promote positive SBEs, producers can minimise the impacts of crop–weed competition and decrease their reliance on off‐farm chemical and mechanical inputs to control weeds, enhancing agroecosystem sustainability.     

Soil steaming to reduce intrarow weed seedling emergence

Steaming the soil prior to crop establishment can be a very effective method of preventing weed seedling emergence on raised beds of vegetable crops. However, current mobile steaming technology for outdoor vegetables is characterized by an extremely high energy consumption and a low work rate. This has led to the concept of band-steaming, where only a limited soil volume is steamed corresponding to the intrarow area of a row-grown vegetable crop. Weeds growing in the intrarow area are difficult to remove by traditional non-chemical means, usually involving substantial input of manual labour in organic cropping. This paper presents the initial results from laboratory studies with steaming a limited soil volume simulating a band. The investigations describe the relationship between maximum soil temperature achieved from soil steaming for different periods and effects seen on subsequent weed seedling emergence. The relationships obtained were generally sigmoid and could appropriately be described by a common dose–response function. Seedling emergence from natural weed species was reduced by 90% when the maximum soil temperature reached 61°C, and a further 10°C rise in temperature gave 99% reduction. Added and non-imbibed seeds of Lolium perenne and Brassica napus generally required higher temperatures to achieve the same control level as the natural weeds in the soil samples.     

Evolving understanding of the evolution of herbicide resistance

A greater number of, and more varied, modes of resistance have evolved in weeds than in other pests because the usage of herbicides is far more extensive than the usage of other pesticides, and because weed seed output is so great. The discovery and development of selective herbicides are more problematic than those of insecticides and fungicides, as these must only differentiate between plant and insect or pathogen. Herbicides are typically selective between plants, meaning that before deployment there are already some crops possessing natural herbicide resistance that weeds could evolve. The concepts of the evolution of resistance and the mechanisms of delaying resistance have evolved as nature has continually evolved new types of resistance. Major gene target‐site mutations were the first types to evolve, with initial consideration devoted mainly to them, but slowly ‘creeping’ resistance, gradually accruing increasing levels of resistance, has become a major force owing to an incremental accumulation of genetic changes in weed populations. Weeds have evolved mechanisms unknown even in antibiotic as well as other drug and pesticide resistances. It is even possible that cases of epigenetic ‘remembered’ resistances may have appeared. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

麻类作物田杂草种类与防除技术

杂草常伴随麻类作物滋生,与其争光争肥争水,严重影响其生长、降低产量和品质。因此,有效防除麻田杂草尤为必要。文章概述了我国麻类作物生产现状,主要麻类作物田杂草危害、杂草种类及防除技术。     

Interference between triazine-resistant Brassica napus and Panicum miliaceum

Atrazine carryover often limits growers to production of atrazine-tolerant crops the year following application, and allows the increase of triazine-tolerant weed species such as Panicum miliaceum L. (wild proso millet). Tiriazine-resistant Brassica napus L. cv. ‘Triton’ (oilseed rape) was tested to characterize the nature of interspecific interference with P. miliaceum. In a greenhouse study, atrazine at 2.2 kg ha^?1 depressed oilseed rape fruit (siliqua) number and fruit dry weight, and delayed flowering, but did not significantly affect height or weight of shoots, Oilseed rape fruit weight was reduced at 200 P. miliaceum plants m^?2. fruit number and shoot weight were inhibited at 400 weeds m^?2. and height was reduced and flowering delayed at 600 weeds m^?2. Number and weight of fruits were reduced by one-third after 8 weeks of interference as compared to oilseed rape grown with the weed for 4 weeks. Oilseed rape height was reduced by 29% and shoot weight by 55% by 600 weeds m^?2 and 2–2 kg ha^?1 atrazine, while fruit number and weight were reduced by 72%. Oilseed rape shoot weight was reduced by 74% by 600 weeds m^?2 for 12 weeks of interference, while fruit number and weight were reduced by 85% and 82%. respectively. In a field study, fluazifop reduced early season P. miliaceum cover by 72%, but did not increase oilseed rape cover. Mid-season P. miliaceum shoot weight was decreased by 97% by fluazifop and oilseed rape shoot weight was increased by 34%. P. miliaceum control increased oilseed rape biomass by 38% at 89 days, but biomass of oilseed rape sown at 11.2 kg ha^?1 with 2.2 kg atrazine ha^?1 was not decreased by P. miliaceum interference at 89 days.