Weed Competition in Soybeans (Glycine max L.)

The present investigation was conducted to determine the critical period of weed competition in soybeans at Giza, Egypt. Weed flora in the experimental site at Giza contained a wide range of species during both seasons of study (1990 and 1991). Total weed dry weight increased progressively with time up to 12 WAE (182.0 g/m²). Weed-free and weedy periods exhibited significant effects on soybeans height, number of pods per plant, stand at harvest, biological and seed yields. Optimum seed yields were produced by weed-free durations for 6 WAF up to all season (3.229–3.545 t/ha). Whereas, weedy periods for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 WAF reduced seed yield by 14.9, 28.0, 35.3, 45.1, 48.1 and 51.1 %, respectively. Weed competition for the entire season caused 56.1 % reduction in soybean seed yield. The obtained results indicate that weed competition during the early stages of growth, adversely affected soybeans. At least 6 WAE of weed-free period was required to insure optimum soybean growth and yield. However, oil and protein contents were not affected by weed competition.     

Salinity Effects on the Growth and Ion Contents of Some Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and Lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) Varieties

The effect of salinity on seed germination, plant yield parameters, and plant Na, Cl and K concentrations of chickpea and lentil varieties was studied. Results showed that in both crops percentage emergence was significantly reduced by increasing NaCl levels (0–8dSm^?1). From the plant growth studies it was found that differences existed among chickpea and lentil varieties in their response to NaCl application. In chickpea, the variety Mariye showed the comparatively lowest germination percentage and the lowest seedling shoot dry weight in response to salinity and was also among the two varieties which had the lowest relative plant height, shoot and root dry weight and grain yield at maturity. Similarly, variety DZ-10-16-2, which was the second best in germination percentage and the highest in terms of seedling shoot dry weight, also had the highest relative plant height, shoot and root dry weights, and grain yield at maturity. In lentil, however, such relationships were less pronounced. Chloride concentration (mg g^?1) in the plant parts at salt levels other than the control was about 2–5 times that of Na. K concentration in the plants was significantly reduced by increasing NaCl levels. Chickpea was generally more sensitive to NaCl salinity than lentil. While no seeds were produced at salinity levels beyond 2dSm^?1 in chickpea (no seeds were produced at this salt level in the most sensitive variety, Mariye), most lentil varieties could produce some seeds up to the highest level of NaCl application. Overall, varieties R-186 (lentil) and Mariye (chickpea) were the most sensitive of all varieties. On the other hand, lentil variety NEL-2704 and chickpea variety DZ-10-16-2 gave comparatively higher mean relative shoot and root dry weights, and grain yield, thus showing some degree of superiority over the others. The observed variations among the varieties may be useful indications for screening varieties of both crops for salt tolerance.     

Studies on Sowing Depth for Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), Faba Bean(Vicia faba L.) and Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) in a Mediterranean-type Environment of South-western Australia

Pulses such as chickpea, faba bean and lentil have hypogeal emergence and their cotyledons remain where the seed is sown, while only the shoot emerges from the soil surface. The effect of three sowing depths (2.5, 5 and 10 cm) on the growth and yield of these pulses was studied at three locations across three seasons in the cropping regions of south-western Australia, with a Mediterranean-type environment. There was no effect of sowing depth on crop phenology, nodulation or dry matter production for any species. Mean seed yields across sites ranged from 810 to 2073 kg ha⁻¹ for chickpea, 817–3381 kg ha⁻¹ for faba bean, and 1173–2024 kg ha⁻¹ for lentil. In general, deep sowing did not reduce seed yields, and in some instances, seed yield was greater at the deeper sowings for chickpea and faba bean. We conclude that the optimum sowing depth for chickpea and faba bean is 5–8 cm, and for lentil 4–6 cm. Sowing at depth may also improve crop establishment where moisture from summer and autumn rainfall is stored in the subsoil below 5 cm, by reducing damage from herbicides applied immediately before or after sowing, and by improving the survival of Rhizobium inoculated on the seed due to more favourable soil conditions at depth.     

Crop Response to Improved Drainage of Vertisols in the Ethiopian Highlands

The effect of flat seedbed, traditional ridge and furrow and improved drainage of broad bed and furrow (BBF) on grain and straw yield of durum wheat, chickpea and lentil at several Vertisol sites between 1988—1991 was such that on three crops the BBF system gave the highest grain and straw yields at all locations and seasons. This was followed by traditional ridge and furrow system and the least yield was obtained from flat seed beds. The extent of drainage influence on yield was dependent on rainfall quantity, location (clay content) and crop species. The advantages of the BBF technology in improving drainage and increasing crop yield are discussed in their contexts of better cropping systems.     

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.     

Influence of Seed Quality on Field Establishment and Forage Yield of White Clover (Trifolium repens L.)

Two seed lots of white clover ( Trifolium repens L.) cultivar 'Makibashiro' classified as high and poor quality seed lots, based on the speed of germination (T50), were used to examine the influence of seed quality on field establishment and forage yield. Field emergence rate was estimated approximately three weeks after sowing and found that plots sown with high quality seeds (Lot 1) had 452 seedlings m^-2 compared with 392 seedlings in the plots sown with low quality seed lot (Lot 2), but the difference was not significant. However, plant density in autumn (November, 1993), 3 months after sowing, was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the plots of the Lot 1 seed than that from the Lot 2 seed. The percentage of clover plants surviving over the winter from Lot 1 plots was 55% compared with 39% from the Lot 2 plots, but the difference was not significant. Total forage yield in Lot 1 plots harvested in July and monthly intervals to October, was significantly increased by 44% (P < 0.05) over that of Lot 2 plots, but this greater forage yield in high seed quality seed lot plots was produced early in the season. The results strongly imply that the primary advantage to be gained from high quality seed is an improved field establishment, which led to increased yield of clover. In Lot 1 plots, the percentage of weed dry matter in all the four harvests remained below 1% of die seasonal dry matter production, whereas in Lot 2 plots die percentage of weed dry matter ranged from 3.3–16.9%.     

Effect of Two Row Spacings and Hemp Sesbania Competition on Sunflower

The competitiveness of hemp sesbania ( Sesbania exaltata [Raf.] RYBD. EX A. W. Hill) with sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) grown in two row spacings was evaluated at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Agricultural Experiment Station in 1982 and 1983. Sunflower and hemp sesbania at densities of 3 to 5 and 13 to 16 plants per meter row, respectively, were interseeded in 61 and 91 cm row spacings in field test plots. Hemp sesbania plants were removed at different sunflower growth stages. In 1982, weed removal treatments were: (1) weedy check, (2) weed-free check, (3) weed removal at 15-leaf stage, (4) removal at 20%, (5) 50% and (6) 100% sunflower anthesis. Treatments in 1983 consisted of: (1) weedy check, (2) weed-free check, (3) weed removal at 10-leaf stage, (4) bud stage, (5) pre-anthesis, (6) 10% anthesis, and (7) 100% anthesis. Sunflower yields were significantly decreased by hemp sesbania competition each year, except for the weed competition treatments in 91 cm row spacing in 1982. Generally, the longer the weeds were allowed to compete with sunflower, the greater the sunflower yield reduction. Yield reductions of 5% to 6% and 25% or more were observed when hemp sesbania was allowed to compete with sunflower until the 10-leaf and anthesis stages of sunflower growth, respectively. When hemp sesbania was allowed to compete with sunflower for the entire growing season, yield was reduced by as much as 35%. Reducing row width from 91 cm to 61 cm did not improve sunflower's ability to compete with hemp sesbania. Thus, hemp sesbania is quite competitive with sunflower and should be controlled during early vegetative growth in order to minimize yield loss.     

Effect of density,cultivar and irrigation on spring sown monocrops and intercrops of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and faba beans (Vicia faba L.)

Spring-sown intercrops of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and faba beans (Vicia faba L.) were grown in three experiments at the University of Reading, UK. One wheat cultivar, Axona, and one (experiment 1) or two bean cultivars (experiments 2 and 3) Scirocco and Maris Bead, were grown as sole crops and intercrops at 50%, 75% and 100% recommended density. Experiments were rainfed but irrigation was an additional treatment in experiment 3. Biomass and seed yields of both wheat and faba beans were greater when monocropped than when intercropped. There was no evidence that radiation use efficiency (RUE) of intercrops was significantly different from sole crops. In all intercrops there was no significant effect of density on biomass, RUE or seed yield, though there were compensating changes in yield components. Seed yields of Maris Bead were significantly greater than Scirocco in experiment 3 but not experiment 2. There was no significant effect of irrigation on RUE or on wheat biomass and seed yield, but there was a trend for irrigation to increase faba bean biomass (P = 0.07) and seed yield (P = 0.06). With later sowing in experiments 2 and 3, time to harvest was shorter and wheat and bean biomass, seed yield and RUE were reduced. All land equivalent ratio (LER) values for both biomass (maximum 1.23) and seed yield (maximum 1.44) were greater than 1, with one exception in experiment 3, indicating that intercrops of wheat and faba beans make more effective use of land than equivalent sole crops. Partial LERs for faba beans were always lower than those of wheat. The tendency was for highest LERs to occur at 75% recommended density.     

油-棉连作棉田油菜秸秆覆盖对棉田杂草发生及土壤杂草种子库的动态影响

在安徽省沿江棉区开展了油菜秸秆覆盖对棉田杂草发生、棉花生长及土壤杂草种子库影响的研究。结果表明：随着油菜秸秆覆盖量的增加,对棉田杂草的抑制效果增强。与未覆盖秸秆且不除草处理相比较,7000 kg/hm²秸秆覆盖量处理棉花单株铃数和子棉产量显著提高。7000 kg/hm²秸秆覆盖量处理在覆盖后30、60、120天逐步减少0~20 cm土层杂草种子库密度,与全程除草剂处理较一致;随着覆盖量减少,对0~20 cm土层杂草种子库密度的降低幅度减小。全程除草剂处理降低0~5 cm土层杂草种子库多样性,而油菜秸秆覆盖则可能增加0~5 cm土层的杂草种子库多样性。3500 kg/hm²覆盖量+秸秆覆盖30天后喷施除草剂处理的抑草效果和增产效果与全程除草剂处理较一致。因此,在安徽省沿江棉区油-棉连作棉田推荐使用3500 kg/hm²油菜秸秆覆盖量+秸秆覆盖30天后喷施除草剂。     

Suppressing Weeds in Direct-seeded Lowland Rice: Effects of Methods and Rates of Seeding

High weed infestation is a major constraint to widespread adoption of direct seeding of rice (Oryza sativa L.) The experiments were conducted in 1998 wet and 1999 dry seasons in the Philippines to examine the effects of seeding methods and rates on suppressing weeds in direct-seeded lowland rice. Treatments consisted of four seeding methods: conventional and modified broadcast seeding, drill seeding with east–west and north–south row orientations; three seeding rates: 40, 80 and 160 kg seed ha⁻¹ as well as two weed control levels: weed control with herbicide and no weed control. Among the seeding methods drill seeding with east–west row orientation had the lowest rice grain yield loss caused by weeds (38 % in the wet and 20 % in the dry season), whereas the highest losses because of weeds were observed with conventional broadcast seeding (59 % in the wet and 27 % in the dry season). Seeding rate was inversely correlated to weed interference. Severe rice yield reduction (71 %) caused by weeds was found at a seeding rate of 40 kg seed ha⁻¹ in the wet season. Using seeding rates of 80 and 160 kg seed ha⁻¹, respectively, lowered yield loss to 47 and 26 % in the wet season, 32 and 18 % in the dry season. Therefore suitable method and/or rate of seeding can significantly suppress weeds in direct-seeded lowland rice.     

Influence of Repeated Application of Herbicides on Weed Succession and Yield of Rice Based Cropping System in India

Field experiments were conducted to determine the effect of continuous application of herbicide on weed growth and yield of rice-rice-pulse cropping sequence over nine cropping seasons. The dominant weed species were Marselia quadrifolia, Echinochloa crus-galli, Cyperus difformis and Monochoria vaginalis. In hand weeded plots M. quadrifolia and the annual grass E. crus-galli were dominant in the early crops; E. crus-galli dominated in the later crops, with a shift to M. vaginalis in dicots. Annual application of herbicides caused a population shift from dicots to monocots, particularly grasses. Among grasses, Leptochloa chinensis , a difficult weed to control replaced dicots and reduced E. crus-galli. Combined chemical treatment and manual weeding as well as manual weeding controlled the weed growth and maintained the yield of rice throughout the period of study.     

Comparison of Sugar Beet Cropping Systems with Dead and Living Mulch using a Glyphosate-resistant Hybrid

The aim of this study was to evaluate new options for sugar beet mulch systems, using a glyphosate‐resistant hybrid. In four field trials – conducted in 2002 and 2003 at two sites in a major sugar beet‐growing region in the central Germany – three different mulch systems (straw, non‐winterhardy and winterhardy cover crop) and an alternative seedbed preparation method (rotary band tillage) have been tested in comparison with a control treatment (plough, no mulch, broadcast seedbed preparation) representing the common German practice. In all systems, a set of eight different weed control programmes, including two reference treatments, one with selective conventional herbicides and five exclusively using glyphosate, has been evaluated for efficacy. It could be shown that the integration of winterhardy cover crops into sugar beet mulch systems reduced the risk of nitrogen loss by leaching. The changes in the nitrogen dynamics neither influence the yield nor the technical quality of the sugar beet. The field emergence of sugar beet decreased while using a winterhardy cover crop, but was not altered by the seedbed preparation method. Compared with the conventional broadcast seedbed preparation, the rotary band tillage did reduce the weed density. The lowest weed density was observed in the straw mulch system. It was not possible to control the remaining plants of the winterhardy cover crops completely with selective herbicides. If glyphosate was used until the four‐leaf stage of the sugar beet, a regulation of the winterhardy cover crop was achievable. With glyphosate it was also feasible to control older weeds together with the newly emerging ones with post‐emergence applications only. For most of the mulch systems tested, the sugar beet was very sensitive to weed competition between the four‐ and 10‐leaf stage. If the weeds within the sugar beet rows were controlled during this sensitive period with an early glyphosate band application, the remaining weeds between the rows could be left uncontrolled until the 10‐leaf stage of the sugar beet without any yield loss. Only in the combination of winterhardy cover crop × rotary band seedbed preparation, the weeds and cover crop had to be controlled directly after emergence of the sugar beet.     

Deferred Seeding of Blackgram (Phaseolus mungo L.) in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Field on Yield Advantages and Smothering of Weeds

Field experiments were conducted at Agricultural Experimental Farm, Giridih, Jharkhand, during the kharif (wet) seasons of consecutive four years (1998–2001) to study the effect of staggered seeding of blackgram (Phaseolus mungo L.) in rice field as a cereal–legume intercropping system and to minimize the degree of competition between the crop species to avoid yield damage, and at the same time to create a high level of competition by the intercrops to suppress the weeds. Intercropping systems were assessed on the basis of land equivalent ratio, relative crowding coefficient, aggressivity, actual yield loss, monetary advantage, etc. Intercropping reduced the yield of component crops when compared with respective pure stands. However, deferred seeding of blackgram in rice (30 cm) after one weeding was most remunerative system and registered maximum rice-equivalent yield (2711 kg ha⁻¹). Rice–blackgram (20 cm) intercropping system was very effective for weed smothering among unweeded intercropping treatments. In conclusion, deferred seeding of blackgram in rice field (30 cm) with one weeding may be recommended for better yield, weed suppression and better economics in the eastern plateau region of India.     

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.     

Consistent Variation Across Soil Types in Salinity Resistance of a Diverse Range of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Genotypes

Chickpea is considered sensitive to salinity, but the salinity resistance of chickpea germplasm has rarely been explored. This study aimed to (i) determine whether there is consistent genetic variation for salinity resistance in the chickpea minicore and reference collections; (ii) determine whether the range of salinity resistance is similar across two of the key soil types on which chickpea is grown; (iii) assess the strength of the relationship between the yield under saline conditions and that under non‐saline conditions; and (iv) test whether salinity resistance is related to differences in seed set under saline conditions across soils and seasons. The seed yield of 265 chickpea genotypes in 2005–2006 and 294 cultivated genotypes of the reference set in 2007–2008 were measured. This included 211 accessions of the minicore collection of chickpea germplasm from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The experiments were conducted in a partly controlled environment using a Vertisol soil in 2005–2006 and an Alfisol soil in 2007–2008, with or without 80 mm sodium chloride (NaCl) added prior to planting. In a separate experiment in 2006–2007, 108 genotypes (common across 2005–2006 and 2007–2008 evaluations) were grown under saline (80 mm NaCl) and non‐saline conditions in a Vertisol and an Alfisol soil. In 2005–2006 in the Vertisol and 2007–2008 in the Alfisol, salinity delayed flowering and maturity, and reduced both shoot biomass and seed yield at maturity. There was a large variation in seed yield among the genotypes in the saline pots, and a small genotype by environment interaction for grain yield in both soil types. The non‐saline control yields explained only 12–15 % of the variation of the saline yields indicating that evaluation for salinity resistance needs to be conducted under saline conditions. The reduction in yield in the saline soil compared with the non‐saline soil was more severe in the Alfisol than in the Vertisol, but rank order was similar in both soil types with a few exceptions. Yield reductions due to salinity were closely associated with fewer pods and seeds per pot (61–91 %) and to lesser extent from less plant biomass (12–27 %), but not seed size. Groups of consistently salinity resistant genotypes and the ones specifically resistant in Vertisols were identified for use as donor sources for crossing with existing chickpea cultivars.     

Effect of Irrigation on Winter-Sown Chickpea in a Mediterranean Environment*

In the dry Mediterranean environments of the West Asia and North Africa region, irrigation is frequently used to supplement rainfall to increase crop productivity and yield stability. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), an important pulse crop of the region, often suffers from drought and can benefit from such a practice. To investigate the response of chickpea to irrigation, experiments were conducted in the field at Tel Hadya, Syria, from 1985 to 1988 using 24 improved chickpea genotypes sown in winter. Irrigation scheduling was done using the daily water balance computed from rainfall and pan evaporation data. Yearly rainfall was 316, 358, and 504 mm and supplemental irrigation amount was 130, 120, and 80 mm in 1985–86, 1986–87, and 1987–88, respectively. Irrigation increased seed yield by 916 kg ha^?1 (44.0%) over the 3-year period. Irrigation requirement for chickpea coincided with flowering and seed development period. The top 10 highest-yielding genotypes under irrigated conditions were ILC 464, ILC 1272, ILC 237, ILC 613, ILC 95, ILC 4291, ILC 142, ILC 147, ILC 295, and ILC 3256. Their mean seed yields ranged from 3877 to 3208 kg ha^?1. Among these four genotypes, ILC 464, ILC 1272, ILC 3256, and ILC 4291 with mean seed yields of 3877, 3726, 3208, and 3266 kg ha^?1, respectively, were with predictable response to favourable conditions. Aboveground biomass contributed 49% of the total increase in seed yield from irrigation followed by plant height (26%) and early maturity (16%). These results indicate that it may be possible to breed chickpea for improved response to irrigation, and irrigation can enhance the yields of winter-sown chickpea grown in the lowland Mediterranean drylands.     

Modelling Biomass Accumulation and Partitioning in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Quantitative information regarding biomass accumulation and partitioning in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is limited or inconclusive. The objective of this study was to obtain baseline values for extinction coefficient (K_S), radiation use efficiency (RUE, g MJ^?1) and biomass partitioning coefficients of chickpea crops grown under well‐watered conditions. The stability of these parameters during the crop life cycle and under different environmental and growth conditions, caused by season and sowing date and density, were also evaluated. Two field experiments, each with three sowing dates and four plant densities, were conducted during 2002–2004. Crop leaf area index, light interception and crop biomass were measured between emergence and maturity. A K_S value of 0.5 was obtained. An average RUE of 1 g MJ^?1 was obtained. Plant density had no effect on RUE, but some effects of temperature were detected. There was no effect of solar radiation or vapour pressure deficit on RUE when RUE values were corrected for the effect of temperature. RUE was constant during the whole crop cycle. A biphasic pattern was found for biomass partitioning between leaves and stems before first‐seed stage. At lower levels of total dry matter, 54 % of biomass produced was allocated to leaves, but at higher levels of total dry matter, i.e. under favourable and prolonged conditions for vegetative growth, this portion decreased to 28 %. During the period from first‐pod to first‐seed, 60 % of biomass produced went to stems, 27 % to pods and 13 % to leaves. During the period from first‐seed to maturity, 83 % of biomass was partitioned to pods. It was concluded that using fixed partitioning coefficients after first‐seed are not as effective as they are before this stage. Environmental conditions (temperature and solar radiation) and plant density did not affect partitioning of biomass.     

Differential heat sensitivity of two cool-season legumes,chickpea and lentil,at the reproductive stage,is associated with responses in pollen function,photosynthetic ability and oxidative damage

Increasing temperatures are adversely affecting various food crops, including legumes, and this issue requires attention. The growth of two cool-season food legumes, chickpea and lentil, is inhibited by high temperatures but their relative sensitivity to heat stress and the underlying reasons have not been investigated. Moreover, the high-temperature thresholds for these two legumes have not been well-characterised. In the present study, three chickpea (ICCVO7110, ICC5912 and ICCV92944) and two lentil (LL699 and LL931) genotypes, having nearly similar phenology with respect to flowering, were grown at 30/20°C (day/night; control) until the onset of flowering and subsequently exposed to varying high temperatures (35/25, 38/28, 40/30 and 42/32°C; day/night) in a controlled environment (growth chamber; 12 hr/12 hr; light intensity 750 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹; RH-70%) at 108 days after sowing for both the species. Phenology (podding, maturity) was accelerated in both the species; the days to podding declined more in lentil at 35/25 (2.8 days) and 38/28°C (11.3 days) than in chickpea (1.7 and 7.1 days, respectively). Heat stress decreased flowering–podding and podding–maturity intervals considerably in both the species. At higher temperatures, no podding was observed in lentil, while chickpea showed reduction of 14.9 and 16.1 days at 40/30 and 42/32°C, respectively. Maturity was accelerated on 15.3 and 12.5 days at 38/28°C, 33.6 and 34 days at 40/30°C and 45.6 and 47 days at 42/32°C, in chickpea and lentil, respectively. Consequently, biomass decreased considerably at 38/28°C in both the species to limit the yield-related traits. Lentil was significantly more sensitive to heat stress, with the damage—assessed as reduction in biomass, reproductive function-related traits (pollen viability, germination, pollen tube growth and stigma receptivity), leaf traits such as membrane injury, leaf water status, photochemical efficiency, chlorophyll concentration, carbon fixation and assimilation, and oxidative stress, appearing even at 35/25°C, compared with 38/28°C, in chickpea. The expression of enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and non-enzymatic antioxidants declined remarkably with heat stress, more so in lentil than in chickpea. Carbon fixation (assessed as Rubisco activity) and assimilation (assessed as sucrose concentration, sucrose synthase activity) were also reduced more in lentil than in chickpea, at all the stressful temperatures, resulting in more inhibition of plant biomass (shoot + roots), damage to reproductive function and severe reduction in pods and seeds. At 38/28°C, lentil showed 43% reduction in biomass, while it declined by 17.2% in chickpea at the same time, over the control temperature (30/20°C). At this temperature, lentil showed 53% and 46% reduction in pods and seed yield, compared to 13.4% and 22% decrease in chickpea at the same temperature. At 40/30°C, lentil did not produce any pods, while chickpea was able to produce few pods at this temperature. This study identified that lentil is considerably more sensitive to heat stress than chickpea, as a result of more damage to leaves (photosynthetic ability; oxidative injury) and reproductive components (pollen function, etc.) at 35/25°C and above, at controlled conditions.     

Management of Broomrape (Orobanche spp.) – A review

Broomrapes ( Orobanche spp.) are phanerogamic holoparasites that subsist upon the roots of many important crops thus causing considerable yield losses, especially in the drier and warmer areas of Europe, Africa and Asia.
The major principles of reducing the seed bank and controlling the weed in the germination and parasitic/ reproductive phases are critically reviewed. Practices to control broomrape include physical methods (weeding, soil tillage, flooding, irrigation, solarization, flaming), chemical methods (soil fumigation, herbicide application, use of germination stimulants) and biological methods (use of resistant or tolerant varieties, cropping systems with trap and catch crops, intercropping, biological control with insects or fungi). Cultural practices which help to avoid germination, infection or strong reproduction of the weed or improve the crop's tolerance should be optimized.
However, no single cheap method can control the weed, so integrated management practices are required. Integrated control strategies are site- and cropping-system specific but have in common that measures are taken to kill part of the seed bank, induce the conditioned seeds to germinate in the absence of the commercial crop, kill emerging Orobanche shoots before seed set during growth of the commercial crop and further reduce or avoid damage to the commercial crop.     

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。