Image‐based thresholds for weeds in maize fields

Recent development of site‐specific weed management strategies suggests patch application of herbicides to avoid their excessive use in crops. The estimation of infestation of weeds and control thresholds are important components for taking spray decisions. If weed pressure is below a certain level in some parts of the field and if late germinating weeds do not affect yield, it may not be necessary the spray such places from an economic point of view. Consequently, it makes sense to develop weed control thresholds for patch spraying, based on weed cover early in the growing season. In Danish maize field experiments conducted from 2010 to 2012, we estimated competitive ability parameters and control thresholds of naturally established weed populations in the context of decision‐making for patch spraying. The most frequent weed was Chenopodium album, accompanied by Capsella bursa‐pastoris, Cirsium arvense, Lamium amplexicaule, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Poa annua, Polygonum aviculare, Polygonum persicaria, Stellaria media and Veronica persica. Relative leaf cover of weeds was estimated using an image analysis method. The relation between relative weed leaf cover and yield loss was analysed by nonlinear regression models. The competitive ability parameters and economic thresholds were estimated from the regression models. The competitive ability of weed mixtures was influenced by the increasing proportion of large size weeds in the mixtures. There was no significant effect of weeds which survived or established after the first herbicide application, indicating that early image analysis was robust for use under these conditions.     

An integrated approach to control glyphosate‐resistant Ambrosia trifida with tillage and herbicides in glyphosate‐resistant maize

Glyphosate‐resistant Ambrosia trifida is a competitive and difficult‐to‐control annual broad‐leaved weed in several agronomic crops in the Midwestern United States and Ontario, Canada. The objectives of this study were to compare treatments for control of glyphosate‐resistant A. trifida with tillage followed by pre‐emergence (PRE) and/or post‐emergence (POST) herbicides in glyphosate‐resistant maize and to determine the impact of A. trifida escapes on maize yield. Field experiments were conducted in 2013 and 2014 in grower fields infested with glyphosate‐resistant A. trifida. Tillage prior to maize sowing resulted in 80–85% control compared with no tillage. Tillage followed by PRE application of saflufenacil plus dimethenamid‐P with or without atrazine resulted in 99% control compared with ≤86 and 96% control with PRE herbicides alone at 7 and 21 days after application respectively. Tillage or POST‐only herbicides resulted in 4–14 A. trifida plants m^?2, whereas a PRE and POST programme had <3 plants m^?2. Maize yield was greatest (13.1–14.2 tonnes ha^?1) with tillage followed by PRE and POST herbicide programme. The relationship between maize yield and late‐season density of A. trifida escapes showed a 50% maize yield reduction irrespective of control measures when A. trifida density was 8.4 plants m^?2. It was concluded that the combination of tillage with PRE and/or POST herbicides reduced A. trifida density and biomass accumulation early in the season and provided an integrated approach for effective management.     

蓟马危害苜蓿的产量损失及防治指标研究

采用人工接虫的方法,研究了蓟马的虫口密度与苜蓿产量损失之间的关系和防治指标。结果表明,苜蓿干草产量损失率(Y)与20枝条虫量(X)的关系为Y=0.1021X-2.2461,相关系数r为0.9874,两者相关性极显著。按照防治的直接收益与成本,确定了宁夏旱地苜蓿和水地苜蓿蓟马的防治指标,即旱地苜蓿蓟马第1茬的防治指标为560头/100枝条,水地苜蓿蓟马第2茬的防治指标为390头/100枝条,第3茬的防治指标为580头/100枝条。     

旱莲草对水稻产量性状的影响及其防治经济阈值

为明确大田条件下旱莲草对水稻生长和产量的影响和为其防治提供有效经济参数,采用添加系列试验和模型拟合的方法研究不同旱莲草密度下水稻田间透光率、水稻株高和产量性状的变化。当旱莲草密度≥2株/m2时,田间透光率显著降低,且随着旱莲草密度增加,水稻有效穗数、穗长、穗粒数等显著降低,空粒率显著增加,导致产量显著下降。二次曲线模型y=-0.0189x2+2.3546x+2.0819能很好地拟合旱莲草密度与水稻产量损失间的关系。人工拔除方法和10%苄嘧磺隆WP防除旱莲草,其经济危害允许水平分别为22.22%和4.67%,经济阈值分别为9.3株/m2和1.1株/m2。     

Long‐term effect of different tillage systems on the emergence and demography of Bromus diandrus in rainfed cereal fields

The adoption of no‐tillage systems in semi‐arid cereal fields in northern Europe has resulted in difficulties in controlling Bromus diandrus. However, in some fields, lower densities are observed in continuous long‐term no‐tillage management than in other reduced tillage systems. A cumulative effect on the seedbank could promote changes in the period of seedling emergence and in population demography. This study evaluated the effect of long‐term mouldboard plough (MbP), chisel plough (ChP), subsoiler (SS) and no‐tillage (NT) on the population dynamics of B. diandrus. The work was carried out in a barley (Hordeum vulgare)–wheat (Triticum aestivum)–barley rotation during three seasons where these soil management systems had been applied for the last 22 years. Cumulative emergence (CE) and densities of B. diandrus followed a gradient of ChP > SS > NT > MbP. This cumulative effect over time resulted in significant differences in population demography. A previous hydrothermal emergence model developed for this species estimated the percentage of emergence prior to the date of sowing to be: 71%, 92% and 53% for the seasons 2008–2009, 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 respectively. Furthermore, the reduction in CE observed was on average 53% in SS, 92% in NT and 98% in MbP in comparison with that recorded in ChP. The long‐term effect of different tillage systems tended to cause changes to soil characteristics (photo‐inhibition of germination, soil temperature, water availability) affecting B. diandrus demography, reaching equilibrium in weed densities over years, which were significantly lower in MbP and NT than in ChP or SS.     

Seed dormancy and soil seedbank of the invasive weed Chenopodium hybridum in north‐western China

Seed dormancy and persistence in the soil seedbank play a key role in timing of germination and seedling emergence of weeds; thus, knowledge of these traits is required for effective weed management. We investigated seed dormancy and seed persistence on/in soil of Chenopodium hybridum, an annual invasive weed in north‐western China. Fresh seeds are physiologically dormant. Sulphuric acid scarification, mechanical scarification and cold stratification significantly increased germination percentages, whereas dry storage and treatments with plant growth regulators or nitrate had no effect. Dormancy was alleviated by piercing the seed coat but not the pericarp. Pre‐treatment of seeds collected in 2012 and 2013 with sulphuric acid for 30 min increased germination from 0% to 66% and 62% respectively. Effect of cold stratification on seed germination varied with soil moisture content (MC) and duration of treatment; seeds stratified in soil with 12% MC for 2 months germinated to 39%. Burial duration, burial depth and their interaction had significant effects on seed dormancy and seed viability. Dormancy in fresh seeds was released from October to February, and seeds re‐entered dormancy in April. Seed viability decreased with time for seeds on the soil surface and for those buried at a depth of 5 cm, and 39% and 10%, respectively, were viable after 22 months. Thus, C. hybridum can form at least a short‐lived persistent soil seedbank.     

Effects of long‐term fertilization on the weed growth and community composition in a double‐rice ecosystem during the fallow period

The vegetation cover during the non‐cropping season could have important implications for the maintenance and recovery of soil fertility, as well as for biodiversity conservation in croplands. In this study, five fertilization regimes (control: non‐fertilization; N: inorganic N fertilization; P: inorganic P fertilization; NPK: balanced fertilization with inorganic N, P and K; NPKM: balanced NPK plus farmyard manure) were conducted from 1981 in a double‐rice (Oryza sativa L.)‐cropping system in subtropical China. The effects of long‐term fertilization were investigated on the weed growth, diversity and community structure during the fallow period. The results showed that, relative to the control, both inorganic fertilization alone (N, P and NPK) and NPKM in the rice‐growing season significantly increased the weed density and biomass during the fallow period in the paddy field. There was no significant difference in the weed species richness (the number of species) among the treatments. Compared with the control, fertilization tended to reduce the weed diversity (Shannon's H′) and evenness (Shannon's E), especially in the N treatment. Long‐term fertilization resulted in a significant shift in weed community's composition during the fallow period. The weed community's structure was affected by soil nutrients in the order P > N > K.     

Relationships between soil properties and the occurrence of the most agronomically important weed species in the field margins of eastern Arkansas – implications for weed management in field margins

The work presented in this study adds to previous research on the occurrence, distribution and growth habitat of common weeds along roadsides in the Mississippi River Delta region of eastern Arkansas, USA. It addresses the relationships between soil properties (i.e. defined as a group of individual soil characteristics or attributes such as P, K, Ca, Mn and other nutrients) and the most agronomically important weeds of which the occurrence at field margins accounted for ≥ 10% of the total sampling sites. These were three broad‐leaved weeds (Amaranthus palmeri, Ipomoea spp. and Sida spinosa) and four grass weeds (Echinochloa crus‐galli, Urochloa platyphylla, Sorghum halepense and Digitaria sanguinalis). Soil properties were used as explanatory variables for weed occurrence (presence–absence) using partition analysis; the occurrences of the weeds under examination were partitioned by the application of a decision‐tree method. The most important soil properties explaining the occurrence of these weeds in field margins were extractable soil nutrients, specifically sodium, boron and copper content, as well as soil physical attributes, in order of importance, bulk density, silt content, field moisture capacity, hydraulic conductivity, wilting point, available water and clay content. Soil chemical properties proved least reliable in explaining weed occurrence at roadside field margins. Knowledge of the relationships between soil properties and weed occurrence can add to our understanding of weed biology and hence enhance the efficiency of weed management strategies. For example, the occurrence of A. palmeri, in soils with high bulk density (>1.4 g cm^?3) and low organic matter content (<2.7%) and thus lower residual herbicide activity, will require integrated weed management of this species in field margins. This is of interest given the occurrence of herbicide resistance in roadside arable weeds, mainly A. palmeri, E. crus‐galli and S. halepense, in the Mississippi River Delta region of eastern Arkansas and other parts of the world.     

Effects of strip intercropping of potatoes with non‐hosts on late blight severity and tuber yield in organic production

The effects of strip cropping of potatoes with cereals or a grass‐clover mix in and perpendicular to the main wind direction on foliar late blight severity and tuber yield were studied in large‐scale field experiments in Germany. Disease progress was assessed in 12–18 sections per plot and yields determined from the same sections. In 2000, plot size was 3 × 10 m and there were no disease reductions apparently due to interplot interference. In 2001 and 2002, with plot sizes of 6 × 18 and 6 × 36 m in strip‐cropped potatoes, disease was significantly reduced by 9–20% and 4–12%, respectively, compared to pure stands of potato, with the greatest reductions in plots planted perpendicular to the wind and neighboured by grass‐clover. The most important factors contributing to disease reduction were loss of inoculum outside of the plots and barrier effects of neighbouring non‐potato hosts. Only 0–20% of the overall yield variation could be explained by the area under the disease progress curve, depending on cultivar and year. In one year disease effects on the yield of a moderately resistant cultivar were higher than on the yield of a susceptible cultivar. This was probably caused by differences in bulking behaviour. Nutrient limitation appeared to be more important than disease in reducing yields. Yields in the edge potato rows directly neighboured by cereals were significantly reduced in all 3 years, but competition by cereals did not change the disease–yield‐loss relationship. Strip intercropping might be a useful component in an overall management strategy to reduce incoming late blight inoculum.     

施氮量对旱地全膜双垄沟播玉米田土壤硝态氮、产量和氮肥利用率的影响

针对黄土高原半干旱区春玉米全膜双垄沟播栽培中施肥不科学和氮肥利用率低的问题,研究不同施氮量对春玉米产量、土壤硝态氮及氮肥利用率的影响。采用2011—2012年两年田间定位试验,设置0、135、180、225、270 kg·hm~(-2)和360 kg·hm~(-2)六个施氮量,探讨不同施氮水平对作物和环境的影响。结果表明,随施氮量的增加,玉米产量先增加后降低。2011年施氮量180 kg·hm~(-2)时玉米子粒产量达到最大,为4 922.22 kg·hm~(-2),显著高于N135,与N225、N270差异不显著;2012年施氮量225 kg·hm~(-2)时,玉米子粒产量达到最大,为10 267.06 kg·hm~(-2),与对照及其它施氮处理差异不显著。硝态氮累积量在200 cm土层中随氮素投入量的增加而显著增加,随种植年限的增加各处理间差异增大。2011年N180、N225、N270、N360处理间硝态氮累积量差异均不显著,但显著高于N135处理;2012年各施氮处理间硝态氮累积量差异相互显著,N360累积量高达615.50 kg·hm~(-2)。玉米氮肥吸收利用率随着施氮量的增加呈先增加后降低趋势,施氮量为180 kg·hm~(-2)时,氮肥吸收利用率达到25.13%。适宜的施氮量能提高玉米产量及氮肥利用率,并且200 cm土层内硝态氮累积量较低,对环境的潜在危害较小。