Weed Biology,Cropping Systems,and Weed Management

SUMMARY

Weeds pose a recurrent threat to agricultural productivity in both industrialized and developing countries. Weeds respond dynamically to all cropping practices, and therefore, the design and function of cropping systems plays a central role in the composition of weed communities. The unique and challenging nature of weed communities requires more integrated approaches to weed management than are currently being employed by most growers. Integrating weed management with cropping system design and application may be an effective approach to diversifying weed management systems. Each crop-weed system is a unique mix of genetics and biology and will respond dynamically to changes in management practices. Practices such as crop rotation, tillage, cover crops, and fertility management modify weed populations. The challenge is to integrate these and other practices with the best available control tactics to generate integrated management systems. Cropping system design provides an excellent framework for developing and applying integrated approaches to weed management because it allows for new and creative ways of meeting the challenge of managing weeds. Weed science must integrate the theories and application of weed management into cropping system design based on the unique characteristics of weed communities and the available weed management options.     

Weed Seed Bank Dynamics

Summary

Weeds continue to have major impacts on crop production in spite of efforts to eliminate them. Most weed species rely on seed for regeneration and persistence. The species composition and density of weed seed in the soil vary greatly and are closely linked to the cropping history of the land. Altering tillage practices changes patterns of soil disturbance and weed seed depth in the soil, which plays a role in weed species shifts. Crop rotation and weed control practices also impact the weed seed bank in the soil. Information on the weed seed bank should be a useful tool for integrated weed management. Decision aid models are being developed that use information on the composition of the weed seed bank to estimate weed populations, crop yield loss, and to recommend weed control tactics. Understanding weed seed bank dynamics can also be used to guide management practices. Improving and applying our understanding of weed seed and seed bank dynamics is essential to developing improved weed management systems.     

Soybean yield and yield components as influenced by the single and repeated flaming

Field experiments were conducted to study the impact of single and multiple flaming on crop injury, yield components, and yield of soybean. The goal of this experiment was to determine the number of the maximum flaming treatments which soybean could tolerate without any yield loss. The treatments consisted of a non-flamed control, and broadcast flaming conducted one time (at VC-unfolded cotyledon, V2-second trifoliate, and V5-fifth trifoliate), two times (each at VC and V2, VC and V5, and V2 and V5 stages), and three times (at VC, V2, and V5 stages) resulting in a total of eight treatments. All plots were kept weed-free for the entire growing season by hand hoeing. A propane dose of 50 kg ha⁻¹ was applied with torches parallel to the crop row and at an operating speed of 4.8 km h⁻¹ for all treatments. The response of soybean was measured as visual injury ratings (at 7 and 28 days after treatment – DAT) as well as effects on yield components and yield. Broadcast flaming conducted once (at VC or V5 stage), as well as twice (at VC and V5 stages) exhibited the lowest injury of about 8% at 28 DAT. Any treatment that contained flaming at V2 stage resulted in more than 70% injury at 28 DAT. The highest crop yields were obtained from the non-flamed control (3.45 t ha⁻¹) and the plots flamed once at VC (3.35 t ha⁻¹), V5 (3.32 t ha⁻¹), and two times at VC and V5 (3.24 t ha⁻¹), which were all statistically similar. Soybean flamed at V2 stage had lower yields (1.03 t ha⁻¹ at V2, 0.46 t ha⁻¹ at VC and V2, and 0.38 t ha⁻¹ at V2 and V5). The lowest yields were in soybean flamed three times (VC, V2, and V5 stages), which yielded only 0.36 t ha⁻¹. These results indicate that soybean could tolerate a maximum of two flaming treatments at VC and V5 growth stages per season without any yield reduction.     

Soil Weed Seed Banks and Weed Management

Abstract

Studies of soil weed seed banks are of relatively recent origin considering their importance as sources of diversity and continued occupation of many types of habitats, including agroecosystems. The management of weed seed banks is based on knowledge and modification of the behavior of seeds within the soil seed bank matrix. The behavior of seeds defines the phenotypic composition of the floral community of a field. Selection and adaptation over time have led to the highly successful weed populations that exploit resources unused by crops. The weed species infesting agricultural seed banks are those populations that have found successful trait compromises within and between the five roles of seeds: dispersal and colonization, persistence, embryonic food supply, display of genetic diversity, and as a means of species multiplication. Diverse weed seed populations provide seed banks the opportunity to exploit any change in conditions to ensure their enduring survival and spread. The soil seed bank matrix is the spatial arrangement of environmental and physical factors over time. The behavior of soil seed banks at any level of biological, spatial, or temporal organization is a consequence of the accumulated, emergent behavior at lower levels of organization. Weed seed behavior arises from their sensitivity to environmental conditions within the physical structure of the soil seed bank. This sensitivity is reflected in changes of short duration (e.g., germination), during the annual life cycle, over multiple years (e.g., population shifts), and over evolutionary time. Understanding the processes that drive and control seed behavior will allow us to manipulate and manage weed seed banks in an economic and sustainable manner. This knowledge will allow us to implement improved, more informed, weed management systems and strategies. Important weed bank management strategies include prevention of seed introduction on farm, acquisition of weed biology information (including predictive tools), decision making about weed seed infestation levels and their implementation (eradication, reduction, tolerance), weed seed population shifts (within the seed bank, between species, increased diversity), and manipulations encouraging beneficial weed species. Environmental modification and changes in cropping systems can also be of considerable strategic importance in weed management.     

Genetic Approach to the Development of Cover Crops for Weed Management

Abstract

Economic and environmental issues are driving efforts to improve cover crops for weed management. Cover crop residues on the soil surface interfere with weeds by releasing allelochemicals and by physical suppression. Optimizing allelopathic potential, biomass production, and other desirable cover crop characteristics using classical and molecular genetic approaches holds great promise for improving the efficacy and selectivity of cover crops. Likewise, investigating allelopathy at the genetic and molecular level should aid in understanding the biochemical basis for allelopathy in plants.     

Weed control and crop tolerance to propane flaming as influenced by the time of day

Time of day has been observed to affect flaming efficacy. The basis for the differential plant response is not well understood; however, daily variation in leaf relative water content (RWC) is thought to contribute to the response. Leaf RWC is the ratio of the amount of water in the leaf tissue compared to when fully turgid. To determine the influence of leaf RWC in plant response to propane flaming, greenhouse experiments were conducted during April and repeated in September of 2009. Two crops [4-leaf maize (Zea mays) and second trifoliate soybean (Glycine max)] and two weed species [5-leaf velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) and 6-leaf green foxtail (Setaria viridis)] were flamed with four propane doses of 0, 29, 43 and 87 kg ha⁻¹ at 0, 4, 8 and 12 h after sunrise-HAS. Leaf RWC was measured before treatment application. Flaming treatment was conducted utilizing a hand flamer with one VT 2-23 C vapor phase burner positioned 20 cm above soil surface and angled horizontally at 30°. The propane pressure was 120 kPa and the application speeds were 1.6, 3.2 and 4.8 km h⁻¹. The plant responses evaluated were plant injury and fresh weight at 7 days after treatment (DAT). All plant species were more susceptible to flaming during the afternoon when they had lower leaf RWC at 8 HAS; however, the response of these plants did not differ with the plants flamed at 12 HAS. Green foxtail flamed at 87 kg ha⁻¹ at 0, 8 and 12 HAS had injury of 62, 76 and 82%, respectively. The same response was observed in velvetleaf which had 80% injury when flamed with 87 kg ha⁻¹ at 0 HAS and 93% injury when flamed at 12 HAS with the same propane dose at 7 DAT. Similar trends occurred for maize and soybean suggesting that leaf RWC could be one of the factors affecting plant response to flaming. Practical implication is that flaming operation should be conducted in the afternoon in order to improve efficacy of weed control and reduce propane consumption rate.     

Weed Management in Rainfed Upland Rice Fields under Varied Agro-Ecologies in Nigeria

The demand for rice to meet the dietary need in low-income countries is expected to witness an exponential rise as the population increases. Meeting the rice demand domestically has remained challenging due to significant yield loss caused by several biotic and abiotic factors. Among these factors, one of the most important is the high weed pressure that ravages the upland rice ecology. In Nigeria, several independent weed control techniques, such as physical, chemical and cultural methods, have been recommended and adopted for weed control across varying rice upland ecologies. However, outcomes of these approaches when used independently have not consistently led to an increase in yield. There remains an outstanding deficit between the actual yield and the potential rice yield. This review aimed to identify potential research gaps, and quest effective and sustainable weed management strategies in smallholder upland rice farming systems in Nigeria. A critical analysis of studies suggests the potential of sustainable weed management practices if adopted and adapted smartly in different upland ecologies in Nigeria. Competitiveness of upland rice against weeds can be enhanced through strategic integration of weed competitive cultivars, optimum nitrogen application timings (within weed-free periods), uniform plant spacing, and high seeding rates, with conventional herbicide/manual weed control practices. However, such management practices can only be engaged where inputs are supplied on time and the technical know-how is extended to farmers. The review equally highlights potential research gaps for further studies.     

龙门县农田草害种群组成危害程度及防除策略

通过调查发现,龙门县水稻杂草有15科40种,柑桔杂草有16科53种,花生杂草有8科30种,蔬菜杂草有12科35种。危害水稻的优势种是四叶萍,亚优势种是鸭舌草和黑藻;危害柑桔的优势种是马兰和马唐,亚优势种是狗尾草和狗牙根;危害蔬菜、花生的优势种因海拔、生态环境不同差异较大。根据调查结果,对农田草害造成的粮油损失进行估算,并提出了针对性的防除策略。     

Multi-Year Evaluation of Model-Based Weed Control Under Variable Crop and Tillage Conditions

Abstract

Selecting effective weed management options requires biological, ecological, and economic information. This study compared model-based to standard-herbicide weed control in a corn (Zea mays L.)/soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation that had a long-term history of different tillage and weed management practices. The model integrates weed population dynamics, herbicide efficacies, and economic information to evaluate preplant incorporated (PPI) or preemergence (PRE) weed control options based on weed seed bank size and postem-ergence (POST) strategies based on weed seedling densities. There were fewer weeds in standard-herbicide compared with model-based treatments. No-tillage had the greatest numbers of weeds 3 out of 4 years. Soybean yield was reduced the first year of the study in several treatments receiving model-based weed control and the third year in all model-based treatments. Corn yields were greatest in reduced tillage. Resuits of using model recommendations to control weeds were mixed, with PRE recommendations being insensitive to a common cocklebur (Xan-thium strumarium L.) infestation. Our conclusions agree with those of others that the nature of the weed pressure may be a prevailing influence on the outcome of using weed control recommendations of bioeconomic models.     

旱稻田苗后杂草化学防除技术研究

1996～1998年采用不同量的20%敌稗乳油和56%二甲四氯钠盐粉剂混合喷施防除旱稻田中已出苗的杂草。通过分析不同处理杂草防除率、产量及影响产量指标,得出对旱稻田苗后杂草经济、安全、有效的用药范围,即20%敌稗乳油7.5～11.5 kg/hm2,与56%二甲四氯钠盐粉剂0.25～0.75 kg/hm2混合,对水750～900 kg/hm2,在稻苗2～6叶期进行茎叶喷施。它可以达到或超过人工除草效果,对稻株安全,并对稻株有增粗、抗倒伏作用。在安全用药量的范围内,不同用药量对旱稻株高、分蘖数、穗长、穗粒数影响不显著。     

异噁唑草酮防除玉米田杂草及玉米安全性效果测定

采用室内生物测定和田间效果试验相结合的方法,研究异噁唑草酮在室内及田间对玉米田杂草活性及玉米安全性。室内试验结果表明,异噁唑草酮土壤处理对马唐、稗草、马齿苋和苘麻均有很好的效果且对玉米安全,其中对阔叶杂草马齿苋和苘麻的效果好于禾本科杂草马唐、稗草,对苘麻和马齿苋的GR_(90)值在2.69~6.39 ga.i./hm~2,对马唐和稗草的GR_(90)值在29.32~29.69 ga.i./hm~2。田间试验结果也表明,异噁唑草酮对玉米田杂草马唐、稗草、牛筋草、反枝苋、狗尾草均有很好的效果且对玉米安全。     

Popcorn (Zea mays L. var. everta) yield and yield components as influenced by the timing of broadcast flaming

Farmers are interested in producing popcorn under organic production systems and propane flaming could be a significant component of an integrated weed management program. The objective of this study was to collect baseline information on popcorn tolerance to broadcast flaming as influenced by propane dose and crop growth stage at the time of flaming. Field experiments were conducted at the Haskell Agricultural Laboratory of the University of Nebraska, Concord, NE in 2008 and 2009 using five propane doses (0, 13, 24, 44 and 85 kg ha⁻¹) applied at the 2-leaf, 5-leaf and 7-leaf growth stages. Propane was applied using a custom-built research flamer driven at a constant speed of 6.4 km h⁻¹. Crop response to propane dose was described by log-logistic models on the basis of visual estimates of crop injury, yield components (plants m⁻², ears plant⁻¹, kernels cob⁻¹ and 100-kernel weight) and grain yield. Popcorn response to flaming was influenced by the crop growth stage and propane dose. Based on various parameters evaluated, popcorn flamed at the 5-leaf showed the highest tolerance while the 2-leaf was the most susceptible stage. The maximum yield reductions were 45%, 9% and 16% for the 2-leaf, 5-leaf and 7-leaf stages, respectively. In addition, propane doses that resulted in a 5% yield loss were 23 kg ha⁻¹ for the 2-leaf and 7-leaf and 30 kg ha⁻¹ for the 5-leaf stage. Flaming has a potential to be used effectively in organic popcorn production if properly used.     

植保无人机在蔗田化学除草上的应用效果

蔗田杂草对甘蔗产量有重要影响,为了探讨植保无人机在蔗田化学除草上的应用效果,用植保无人机(3WWDZ-10A)喷施900 g/L乙草胺乳油进行苗前封闭除草,喷施15%硝磺草酮悬浮剂与38%莠去津悬浮剂混配液进行苗后除草,调查杂草防除效果。结果表明,应用植保无人机飞喷乙草胺对单子叶杂草株防效与鲜重防效分别为88.46%、96.68%,双子叶杂草株防效与鲜重防效分别为90.16%、97.99%,总杂草的株防效和鲜重防效分别为89.66%、97.85%;飞喷硝磺草酮与莠去津混配液对单子叶杂草的株防效与鲜重防效分别为89.29%、86.31%,对双子叶杂草的株防效与鲜重防效分别为99.23%、97.03%,对总杂草的株防效与鲜重防效分别为96.84%、96.25%,防除效率49.95 min/hm^2。说明植保无人机进行蔗田杂草防除具有防除效果好、对甘蔗安全和作业效率高的优势。     

沿海农区麦田杂草防除技术研究

根据沿海农区麦田杂草发生危害现状 ,麦田杂草可分为禾本科和阔叶类 2大类 ,进行了硬草 (禾本科恶性杂草之一 )、泽漆 (新上升难治阔叶类杂草 )的发生危害规律和有关生物学特性的基础研究 ,重点研究了控制麦田硬草、泽漆的关键措施 ,明确了应用化学除草剂 (骠马、乙草胺、异丙隆、使它隆、苯磺隆及其复配剂 )的核心所在 ,结合其它有关专题研究结果 ,在先进的原则策略指导下 ,组装了沿海农区麦田杂草长效治理技术措施。     

稻作区灌溉水流传播的杂草种子与稻田土壤杂草种子库的关系

选择典型稻作区,对灌溉水流传播的杂草种子的种类和数量进行取样调查,并与田埂、灌溉水渠周围生境、下茬麦田的杂草群落及稻田土壤杂草种子库进行比较分析,以研究自然条件下灌溉水流传播的杂草种子与土壤杂草种子库及其他生境杂草群落间的相互关系。 有14科21种杂草种子随灌溉水流输入稻田,这些杂草种子主要隶属禾本科、报春花科、藜科、蓼科等。土壤杂草种子库中共检出19科41种杂草种子,含有所有其他生境中杂草的种子。灌溉水流传播的杂草种子与田埂上、灌溉水渠周围生境、下茬麦田杂草群落及稻田土壤种子库的杂草群落间相似性较高,Sorensen指数均在0.5以上。     

10%氯嘧磺隆混配剂防除大豆田杂草示范总结

近几年,大豆田杂草对大豆的生长造成极大威胁,在大豆生长期间,杂草与大豆争水、争肥,严重影响大豆产量,江苏克胜集团克山天华化工有限公司生产的10%氯嘧磺隆混配剂是防除大豆田杂草的良好药剂,经试验证明对大豆田各种杂草的防效达90%以上。     

抗除草剂转基因水稻对稻田杂草种群的影响

草铵膦作为抗除草剂转基因水稻的专用除草剂,对千金子、节节菜、陌上菜、丁香蓼、鳢肠、双穗雀稗、四叶萍和水竹叶表现出优良防效,但不能有效防治牛筋草、牛毛毡、矮慈姑、野荸荠和空心莲子草。在田间使用草铵膦可以有效防治早期出苗的无芒稗,但不能防治中后期出苗的莎草科和阔叶类杂草。与常规稻秀水11相比,转基因水稻99 1的每穗实粒数显著高于秀水11,从而获得了更高产量。转基因水稻嘉禾201与亲本丙94 02比较,对稻田主要杂草密度和生物量的影响差异不显著。转基因水稻99 1和嘉禾201对无芒稗的影响因子R显著大于化感潜力品种地谷,但与非化感品种秀水11相当,表明99 1和嘉禾201无化感竞争优势。     

Timing and propane dose of broadcast flaming to control weed population influenced yield of sweet maize (Zea mays L. var. rugosa)

Farmers are interested to produce sweet maize under organic production systems and propane flaming could be a potential alternative tool for weed control in organic sweet maize production. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the response of sweet maize to broadcast flaming as influenced by propane dose and crop growth stage. Field experiments were conducted at the Haskell Agricultural Laboratory of the University of Nebraska, Concord, NE in 2008 and 2009 using five propane doses applied at three different growth stages of V2 (2-leaf), V5 (5-leaf) and V7 (7-leaf). The propane doses were 0, 13, 24, 44 and 85 kg ha⁻¹. The response of sweet maize to propane flaming was evaluated in terms of visual crop injury, effects on plant height, yield components (plants m⁻², tillers plant⁻¹, number of ears plant⁻¹, cob length and number of seeds cob⁻¹) and fresh marketable yield. The response of different growth stages of sweet maize to propane doses was described by log-logistic models. Based on most parameters tested, V7 was the most tolerant while V2 was the least tolerant stage for broadcast flaming. The maximum yield reductions with the highest propane dose of 85 kg ha⁻¹ were 22%, 12% and 6% for V2, V5 and V7 stages, respectively. Furthermore, a 5% yield reduction was evident with 23, 25 and 36 kg ha⁻¹ of propane for V2, V5 and V7 growth stages, respectively, suggesting that plants flamed at V7 stage can tolerate higher dose of propane for the same yield reduction compared to the other growth stages. We believe that flaming has a potential to be used effectively in organic sweet maize production if properly used.     

Growth stage impacts tolerance of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to broadcast flaming

Organic wheat producers are interested in testing propane flaming as part of an integrated weed management program for organic wheat production. Therefore, the objective of this study was to collect baseline information on winter wheat tolerance to broadcast flaming as influenced by its growth stage at the time of flaming and dose of propane. Field experiments were conducted at the Haskell Agricultural Laboratory of the University of Nebraska, Concord, Nebraska in 2007–2008 and 2008–2009 utilizing six doses of propane applied at four growth stages including: four leaves-4L, three tillers-3 T, shoot elongation-SE and boot stage-BS. The propane doses were 0, 12, 31, 50, 68 and 87 kg ha⁻¹ and were applied using a custom built flamer driven at a constant speed of around 6 km h⁻¹. Crop response to propane doses was described by log-logistic models based on visual estimates of crop injury, various yield components (spikes m⁻², kernels spike⁻¹ and 1000-kernel weight) and grain yield. Overall response to flaming was influenced by the growth stage of wheat and propane dose. In general, wheat at 3 T was the most tolerant and at BS was the most susceptible stage to broadcast flaming. Flaming negatively affected all yield components of wheat. Reduction of grain yield increased with increase in propane dose at each growth stage. The maximum yield losses of about 21%, 32%, 63% and 74% were obtained with the highest propane dose of 87 kg ha⁻¹ applied at 3 T, SE, 4L and BS growth stages, respectively. Due to unacceptable yield loss, the use of broadcast flaming in winter wheat at the tested growth stages is not recommended.     

Weed emergence as affected by maize (Zea mays L.)-cover crop rotations in contrasting arable soils of Zimbabwe under conservation agriculture

Weed control in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa is labour intensive or costly. Many researchers have therefore advocated for the use of cover crops in weed management as an affordable alternative for smallholders. Cover crops may be grown in rotations to suppress weeds and reduce the reliance on herbicides. The use of cover crops creates microenvironments that are either conducive or inhibitive to the emergence of certain weed species. A study, initiated in 2008 in contrasting soils at four different locations of Zimbabwe, investigated the effect of maize (Zea mays L.)-cover crop rotations on the emergence of weeds that showed dominance in those soils. Weed assessments were however, carried out from 2011 to 2014. The weed species Galinsoga parviflora Cav., Commelina benghalensis L., and Richardia scabra L. showed dominance in all four locations with weed densities as high as 500 plants m⁻² being recorded for R. scabra L. in a sandy soil. Maize-cover crop rotations resulted in higher densities of Bidens pilosa compared with maize monocropping (control treatment) due to its high nitrogen (N) requirement to produce more seeds. On the other hand, the integration of cover crops such as pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] that had poor shading qualities, due to large gaps or spaces and slower initial growth, had limited effects on competitive weeds such as Cyperus esculentus L. which tend to dominate exhausted soils. The density of C. esculentus was 38% greater in maize–pigeon pea rotations compared with the control treatment. Variability between seasons and sites affected emergence of all weeds in the present study, which masked long-term trends. The results suggest that there is need to identify the germination and emergence requirements of specific weeds and select cover crops best suitable for their control. The study provides useful information for farmers and advisors on the best cover crops for control of certain problematic weeds in different soil types of Zimbabwe.