Predicting maize yield in a multiple species competition with Xanthium strumarium and Amaranthus retroflexus: Comparing of approaches to modeling herbicide performance

A modeling approach based on weed relative leaf area (RLA) was used to describe the maize yield affected by weed competition and herbicide dose. The change of early RLA with herbicide dose was described using standard dose–response model. The dose response of individual weed species was included in a multivariate rectangular hyperbolic relationship between maize yield and weed relative leaf-area. Final model satisfactorily described the change of the weed relative leaf areas with herbicide dose in a multiple species competition with maize to reach a reasonable estimate of crop yield. Parameter estimates indicated that the maize yield could be about 11.23 t/ha in the absence of weeds. Applying herbicide at 0.29 rate of the recommended dose could decrease the Amaranthus retroflexus leaf area by 50%. For Xanthium strumarium, increasing the dose up to 0.58 rate of the recommended dose caused 50% reduction in early relative leaf area. The relative leaf area of the X. strumarium was 4.2-fold larger than that of the A. retroflexus at the time of herbicide application. Model validation indicated significantly better predictive ability of the leaf area model than that of the density model. Leaf area model permits to monitor the canopy (with considering the relative ground cover of neighboring plants) and decide that if a competitive crop allows reducing the dose. Recommending the precise required amount of herbicide is achieved using models that account for the interactions among crop and weed species, which survive and persist in the competition after herbicide application.     

Effect of herbicide application on weed flora under conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe

Increased challenges of weed control in the smallholder farming sector of southern Africa have often resulted in small yields. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different weed control strategies on weed flora and composition under conservation agriculture (CA) systems in Zimbabwe. This study was conducted at three on-station trial sites namely Domboshawa Training Centre (DTC), University of Zimbabwe farm (UZ farm) and Henderson Research Station (HRS) in a maize–soybean rotation for four seasons from 2009–2010 to 2012–2013 seasons. Hand weeding was done whenever weeds were 10 cm tall or 10 cm in circumference for weeds with a stoloniferous growth habit. Weed identification was done up to the weed species level, and the Shannon–Weiner diversity and evenness index was used to determine the response of weed flora to herbicides. Results showed that there were more weeds in the early years which decreased gradually until the final season. Weed species diversity was not affected by herbicide application and the results indicated that weed species diversity was small in CA systems. Annual weed species constituted a greater proportion of species, and species richness decreased with the duration of the study. Richardia scabra L. and Galinsoga parviflora Cav. were the most common dominant weed species at all sites and in all seasons. Moreover, herbicide application had no effect on the evenness of weeds in the plots but site characteristics had a significant effect on the distribution of weed species (weed species evenness). The results presented in this study suggest that herbicide application facilitates a depletion of weed seed bank/number of weeds over time. Thus, herbicide application in CA has potential to reduce weed density, species richness and species diversity in the long term which may lead to more labour savings and larger yields.     

Reduction in common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) occurrence in Iowa cropland from 1999 to 2009

The role of common milkweed in the lifecycle of the monarch butterfly has increased interest in the presence of this weed in the north central United States. An initial survey conducted in 1999 found that low densities of common milkweed occurred in approximately 50% of Iowa corn and soybean fields. In 2009, common milkweed was present in only 8% of surveyed fields, and the area within infested fields occupied by common milkweed was reduced by approximately 90% compared to 1999. The widespread adoption of glyphosate resistant corn and soybean cultivars and the reliance on post-emergence applications of glyphosate for weed control in crop fields likely has contributed to the decline in common milkweed in agricultural fields.     

Extent and Implications of Weed Spatial Variability in Arable Crop Fields

Summary

The integration of technologies and principles to assess, manage, and evaluate spatial and temporal variability has enabled the site-specific application of variable rates of agrochemicals. It is referred to as precision management. This article concerns with the potential of precision management for weed control. Weeds are heter-ogeneously distributed and show different levels of spatial aggregation. A better understanding of weed patchiness is necessary for precision weed management. Studies reviewed in this article showed that significant reduction in the amount of herbicide can be achieved when the spatial variability of weeds is taken into account. It is often difficult, however, to obtain information on the spatial distribution of weeds with accuracy because it depends on monitoring techniques, scales of observation, and statistical methods applied. We conclude that the precision application of herbicides is one approach to managing weeds and it will be possible to achieve a drastic reduction in herbicide applications by using a combination of several different types of weed control strategies. Not only farmers with large fields but also those with small fields should have better access to information on spatial variability to make decisions for weed control.     

Discrimination of sterile oat (Avena sterilis) in winter barley (Hordeum vulgare) using QuickBird satellite images

Site-specific weed management implies detecting the location of weeds in order to generate maps of their spatial distribution. This information facilitates a more accurate application of herbicides, spraying them in the exact areas of weed growth and in the required doses. In order to explore the potential of commercial satellites to discriminate and map weeds, we used the information contained in high spatial resolution images acquired by the QuickBird satellite to assess the density of sterile oat (Avena sterilis) present in a winter barley field at two different dates (March and June). Our results confirmed the potential of using satellite images in the spectral discrimination of weed patches in infested fields. The results of binary logistic regressions showed that the best matches in the classification of three categories (low, medium, or high sterile oat densities) corresponded to the March image. QuickBird’s March image provided reliable estimates of sterile oat patches in barley crops when weed density was relatively high (between 86% and 94% of agreement between predicted and observed densities). However, when weed densities were lower than 10 plants/m² there were serious difficulties to distinguish them from weed-free zones (between 72 and 75% of global agreement in the classification) with large underestimation of medium density weed patches (10 plants/m²). This is a potential limitation considering than the thresholds used for herbicide application decisions are generally close to this density. However, the information obtained may still be useful for producing field maps to describe the spatial distribution of this weed. Moreover, these studies have provided valuable information on the best spectral regions and/or vegetation indices for approaching discrimination between sterile oat and cereal crops and the most suitable period for it.     

Grass weed control in sunflower in the spring and kharif (summer) seasons under barani (rainfed) conditions in Pakistan

In field trials conducted at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) near Islamabad and in farm fields, control of grass weeds including Cynodon dactylon (bermudagrass), Sorghum halepense (johnsongrass), Echinochloa colonum (junglerice) and Dactyloctenium aegyptium (crowfootgrass) increased yields of sunflower by 25–100%. The trials were conducted in the spring (February–May) and kharif (July–October) seasons in 1985 and 1986. Hand weeding generally resulted in the greatest yield response but this method was highly labour intensive and considered to be impractical by local farmers. The average time required to maintain 1 ha weed free in the spring and kharif seasons was 41 and 90 eight-hour man-days, respectively. In three of four trials conducted in the spring season, fluazifop-butyl at 0·25 and 0·5 kg/ha did not provide satisfactory control of grass weeds and did not result in significant increases in sunflower seed yields. The performance of fluazifop-butyl in these trials was adversely affected by hot dry conditions causing severe moisture stress after treatment. In contrast, in the fourth spring trial at NARC in 1986 and in all kharif season trials, fluazifop-butyl at 0·25 kg/ha effectively controlled both annual and perennial grasses and resulted in seed yields comparable to those obtained by hand weeding. Value/cost ratios indicate that, in the spring season under drought stress conditions, application of the herbicide would not be profitable; however, in the kharif season, herbicide treatment to control actively growing grass weeds would provide a cost-effective alternative to hand weeding.     

Weed control efficacy and winter wheat safety of a novel herbicide HW02

HW02, a pyruvate dehydrogenase inhibitor, is a newly developed herbicide for broadleaf weed control in wheat, maize and turf in China. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to evaluate its efficacy against weeds and safety to winter wheat. In the greenhouse experiment, this herbicide had higher activities than 2,4-D against Descurainia sophia (L.) Schur., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic., and Malachium aquaticum (L.) Fries.. When it was applied at late tillering stage of winter wheat in spring, the herbicide provided weed biomass reduction of 98%–100% at the rates 225–525 g a.i. ha⁻¹ and was safe to the crop at the rate of up to 900 g a.i. ha⁻¹. These results showed HW02 could be an alternative herbicide for resistant weed management because its mode of action is different from herbicides presently used.     

Uses and benefits of glyphosate in German arable farming

Glyphosate is world-wide seen as the most widely used herbicide ingredient. In Germany, from 1999 to 2010, the use of glyphosate based herbicides (GBH) increased by 100%. Many agronomical benefits are attributed to glyphosate, but there is also public criticism. To analyse current application patterns and to assess the agronomical importance of GBH in Germany, a survey was carried out among 896 arable farmers. The survey took place in early 2011, taking 2009 as a reference year. In Germany, cultivation of transgenic crops is generally not permitted and, therefore, herbicide resistance trait does not play any role in application patterns.Based on farmer's statements, a calculated application area of 4.3 million hectare arable land was estimated, representing 39% of total arable area. Three application modes receive major proportions of glyphosate use, these are: pre-sowing (20.7% of application area), pre-harvest (11.2%) and stubble application (68.1%). Among the field crops, oilseed rape (including oilseed rape stubbles) is treated with 27.5% of the nation-wide glyphosate amount followed by winter barley (20.1%) and winter wheat (15.8%). Without using glyphosate, farmers expect an increase in the share of ploughed arable land from 38.1% to 71.4%. Also, without glyphosate the use of cultivator on stubble land is expected to increase about 1.6 passes on average. If applied pre-sowing, glyphosate could save herbicide applications in the following crop. Saving one application of a post-emergence herbicide was estimated by farmers for corn and sugar beet (46% of pre-sowing applications), silage maize (40%), oilseed rape (27%), and winter wheat (22%). Most applications are applied on off-crop fields, so farmers did not quote any observation of yield savings due to glyphosate. The nation-wide economic benefit of glyphosate due to savings of other agricultural measures such as soil cultivation and post emergence herbicides is calculated between 79 and 202 million Euro per year, depending on glyphosate price.We conclude, that glyphosate offers large benefits to farmers, though some routine applications results in only moderate economic benefit compared to the non chemical practices being replaced. Developing decision rules for farmers might allow for an optimum allocation of glyphosate use.     

东北玉米田除草剂减施增效技术途径探讨

以东北春玉米种植区为基地,分析杂草种群结构、发生规律和对玉米的产量损失。在此基础上,论述东北玉米田除草剂减施途径,包括高风险除草剂替代技术、除草剂高效使用技术和多策略除草剂减施技术,提出采用替代长残留除草剂莠去津和易漂移的除草剂2,4-滴,实施精准选药、适时用药、对靶喷药的3S施药技术,结合农作措施、生态措施、除草决策支持系统及加快耐除草剂玉米推广的多策略除草剂减施技术,实现除草剂减量,为东北玉米田除草剂减量增效实施提供技术指导。     

Agronomic and economic assessment of intensive pest management of dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Two common production constraints of dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Ontario are annual weeds and anthracnose (caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum). Dry bean is not considered a competitive crop and weed interference can result in substantial yield losses, while anthracnose is considered one of the most devastating diseases in dry bean production. A study conducted in Ontario Canada, examined the effect of two herbicide programs on weed management, thiamethoxam insecticide treatment on plant enhancement and three fungicide programs on anthracnose development in a navy bean cv. ‘OAC Rex’. The premium herbicide program (s-metolachlor + imazethapyr) reduced percent weed ground cover relative to the economic herbicide program (trifluralin) in five of six locations. Thiamethoxam increased emergence and vigour at only one location, which contradicts reported benefits of thiamethoxam on plant health. The herbicide or thiamethoxam treatments did not affect anthracnose disease severity, visible seed quality, net yield or economic return. The fungicide seed treatment was often superior to the untreated control, for a number of the parameters measured. The application date of the foliar fungicide, relative to the onset of disease, varied between site-years. This dramatically influenced the fungicide’s effectiveness. Foliar fungicides increased seed quality and net economic return compared to the control when applied prior to disease development. The combination of fungicide seed treatment followed by a foliar fungicide provided the largest reduction in anthracnose severity.     

不同氮肥施用量对东北玉米田杂草发生的影响

利用吉林省梨树县黑土区氮肥长期定位试验田(施氮水平为0、60、120、180、240、300 kg/hm~2),2019～2020两年调查玉米田杂草种类、密度和生物量及其与玉米生物量和产量的关系。结果表明,试验条件下玉米田杂草主要是禾本科杂草,尤其是水稗草Echinochloa oryzoides。与不施肥相比,60 kg/hm~2施氮量增加杂草密度和生物量;随氮肥施用量的增加,杂草的密度和生物量均显著降低。在180 kg/hm~2供氮量时,杂草的密度和生物量达到最低,分别比60 kg/hm~2施氮量的最大值下降81%～94%和90%,玉米产量达到最大。与180 kg/hm~2施氮量相比,进一步增加施氮量,玉米产量不增加,杂草的密度和生物量也不再减少。因此,从施肥经济效益和杂草防控两个方面结合考虑,该地区最优施肥量为180 kg/hm~2。     

Glyphosate management strategies,weed diversity and soybean yield in Argentina

From their introduction in 1996, glyphosate resistant (GR) soybean cultivars have been rapidly adopted by farmers in Argentina and in other countries in the world. The high rate of adoption of this technology seems to be based on the simplicity of use provided by a single herbicide (glyphosate), its high efficacy to control many weeds and, the low costs of the technology relative to that used in conventional crops. During 2001–2002, 2002–2003 and 2003–2004 soybean growing seasons, field surveys and field experiments were performed with the aim of studying the effect of different glyphosate management strategies on the diversity of soybean weed communities, weed control, individual survival, fecundity and crop yield. In addition, the emergence pattern of three important weeds, Digitaria sanguinalis, Cyperus rotundus and Anoda cristata, was also studied. Both field surveys and field experiments were carried out on no-till soybean crops sown immediately after wheat or barley harvest (double cropped system). Experiments were set up in commercial soybean crops and consisted of different times of a single glyphosate application, two glyphosate applications and also the application of glyphosate plus a residual herbicide imazethapyr. A. cristata, D. sanguinalis, Stellaria media, Chenopodium album and Cyperus sp. were the most prevalent weeds recorded at pre-harvest of the soybean crops, showing regional constancy higher than 80% in both years. In three out of four field experiments, crop yield was not increased when glyphosate was applied twice compared with a single application of the herbicide. In addition there was a lower negative effect on weed species richness when glyphosate was applied once during the crop cycle than with two applications of glyphosate or glyphosate plus imazethapyr. D. sanguinalis escaped the glyphosate early treatment because of the long weed emergence period, while A. cristata and C. rotundus survived treatments due to their high individual tolerance. The results suggest that it is possible to manage glyphosate application to get high crop yield with a low impact on weed diversity, depending on the weed species and their abundance.     

Efficacy of a new glyphosate formulation for weed control in maize in southwest Nigeria

A field trial in 2003 and 2004 assessed the efficacy of a new formulation of glyphosate, Touchdown Forte HiTech (glyphosate-TF) and two older versions, Roundup (glyphosate-RP) and Touchdown (glyphosate-TD) for weed control in Nigeria. Treatments were glyphosate-TF at 0.25–1.25 kg a.i./ha, glyphosate-RP at 1.8 kg a.i./ha, and glyphosate-TD at 1.0 kg a.i./ha. Weeded and unweeded treatments were controls. Visual evaluations of weed control at 4 and 8 weeks after treatment (WAT) in both years indicated that glyphosate-TF at all doses gave moderate to complete control of all major weeds (50–100%). At 4 WAT, control of Ageratum conyzoides L., Commelina benghalensis L., Ipomoea involucrata P. Beauv., Brachiaria comota [Hochst ex A. Rich] stapf, and Acalypha ciliata Forssk was at a level similar to that in the weeded control. In 2003, all herbicide formulations and the weeded control reduced Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. shoot dry biomass to the same level at 8 WAT (91–100%) and at maize harvest (83–88%). In 2004, 0.50–1.25 kg a.i./ha of glyphosate-TF and 1.8 kg a.i./ha of glyphosate-RP gave 95% reduction at 8 WAT and 97% at harvest, similar to the weeded control. Maize grain yield in the weeded control and herbicide treatments was 2.8 times higher than that in the unweeded control in both years. These results indicate that glyphosate-TF is effective for weed control in maize at herbicide doses lower than the older formulations.     

Impact of quarantine procedures on weed biodiversity and abundance: Implications for the management of the golden potato cyst nematode,Globodera rostochiensis

In 2006, the golden nematode, Globodera rostochiensis, a regulated pest causing heavy losses in potato fields was discovered in Quebec, Canada. The rapid application of quarantine measures by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency significantly changed the use and management of infested fields. The objectives of this study were to assess the evolution of weed populations following these measures and assess their impact on the management of G. rostochiensis. A comparison of weed inventories conducted in 2008 and 2011 on the edges of the affected fields has shown that the composition of the flora had changed considerably. Alarmingly, the presence of Solanaceae that could potentially serve as host plants for the potato cyst nematode increased significantly. The biodiversity index was also significantly affected by this change and decreased by more than 50% between the two years. Interestingly, the lowest biodiversity was observed in one of the few fields where potatoes were grown in 2011 and where an explosion of Solanum sarrachoides was observed. Meanwhile, eight species of nightshade were evaluated for their ability to support the growth of G. rostochiensis. Solanum villosum allowed the greatest rates of reproduction while only a few cysts were produced on Solanum nigrum and Solanum dulcamara. This study has shown that the modifications in weed control regimes associated with the implementation of quarantine procedures could hamper its success by favouring the multiplication of potential pest refuges.     

Cyperus difformis evolves resistance to propanil

Cyperus difformis L. is one of the worst weeds of rice world-wide and has evolved resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides in rice fields of California. Propanil use was intensified to control the widespread resistant biotypes. Rice growers have recently experienced poor control, suggesting resistance to this photosystem II-inhibiting herbicide may have evolved in C. difformis populations. The objectives of this study were to detect the presence of propanil resistance, to establish resistance levels, and to investigate involvement of enhanced herbicide detoxification as mechanism of resistance through the use of metabolic inhibitors. Four C. difformis populations collected in rice fields from the Sacramento Valley of California were confirmed resistant to propanil. This is the first case of such resistance outside the Poaceae and the first time C. difformis exhibits resistance to an herbicide mechanism of action other than ALS inhibition. Carbaryl and malathion applied individually in mixture with propanil had minor effects on herbicide toxicity suggesting metabolic detoxification was not a resistance mechanism. A resistant biotype produced more than 80% biomass after a propanil (6.7 kg a.i. ha⁻¹) and carbaryl (1.9 kg a.i. ha⁻¹) or propanil and malathion (1.0 kg a.i. ha⁻¹) treatment compared to <20% by a susceptible biotype, suggesting substantial resistance still persisted in spite of insecticide addition. Propanil-resistant plants were cross-resistant to bensulfuron-methyl, imazosulfuron, halosulfuron-methyl and penoxsulam, but susceptible to carfentrazone. The loss of propanil to control this important weed of rice underscores the fragility of herbicide-based weed control in monoculture rice. Integrated weed management approaches to decrease herbicide selection pressure are needed to mitigate the evolution of multiple-herbicide resistance in C. difformis of California rice.     

Weed management challenges in rice (Oryza sativa L.) for food security in Bhutan: A review

Rice is the most important and staple cereal in Bhutan, currently grown over an area of 19,549 hectares with a total production of 77,038 tonnes. However, its yield is limited in certain regions due to weed competition with losses of up to 50% reported through infestation from both annual and perennial weeds. In this article, we describe the current weed management practices in rice in Bhutan and identify challenges and prospects to guide future weed control research given that weed science in Bhutan is in its infancy. Generally, the most common form of weed control is hand weeding. However, herbicide use is also increasing as farmers face labour shortages on farms and realize the benefits of herbicides, especially in reducing the time taken to weed crops. But the continued use of the single chemical butachlor is a concern given the possible development of herbicide resistance. Research priorities for weed management in rice in Bhutan include a systematic assessment of crop yield losses; prioritization of weed importance and species shifts; mechanical and cultural alternatives to hand weeding; herbicide resistance testing and management; collective community approaches to area-wide management; and weed management options to suit alternative rice production systems. The ecology and management of the perennial semi-aquatic Potamogeton distinctus needs serious attention owing to its prevalence in major rice areas and potential alone to cause significant yield losses of up to 37%. The successful experiences and challenges in neighbouring Asian countries should also help to guide future weed control research in Bhutan.     

Application timing and adjuvant type affected saflufenacil efficacy on selected broadleaf weeds

Saflufenacil is a new herbicide being developed for pre-plant burndown and pre-emergence broadleaf weed control in field crops, including maize, soybean, sorghum and wheat. Field experiments were conducted in 2007 and 2008 in northeast Nebraska, USA to describe dose-response curves of saflufenacil applied in mid (early post-emergence, EPOST) and late May (late post-emergence, LPOST) with several adjuvants for spring emerging broadleaf weed control. Dose-response curves based on log-logistic model were utilized to determine the ED₉₀ values (effective dose that provides 90% weed control efficacy) for Convolvulus arvensis, Lactuca serriola, Lamium amplexicaule, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Taraxacum officinale, Thlaspi arvense and Conyza canadensis. In general, weed control efficacy was influenced by application timing and type of adjuvant. EPOST application of saflufenacil resulted better efficacy of saflufenacil compared to LPOST. Addition of spray adjuvants improved efficacy of saflufenacil. For example, 90% control of T. arvense was obtained at EPOST application with 251, 161, 96 and 59 g a.i. ha⁻¹ for saflufenacil applied alone, or tank-mixed with NIS (nonionic surfactant), COC (crop oil concentrate), or MSO (methylated seed oil), respectively. In contrast, the ED₉₀ values with LPOST application were 333, 201, 127 and 79 g a.i. ha⁻¹ for saflufenacil applied alone, or with NIS, COC and MSO, respectively. MSO was the best adjuvant, which provided the most enhancement of saflufenacil. COC was the second best, or similar to MSO, on many weed species. NIS provided the least enhancement of saflufenacil. The ED₉₀ values determined for different broadleaf weed species are within the proposed label dose of saflufenacil.     

玉米抗烟嘧磺隆基因研究进展

我国于20世纪90年代初期开始推广烟嘧磺隆,作为高效、广谱的磺酰脲类除草剂,大量应用于玉米苗后杂草防治。多年生产实践发现,烟嘧磺隆会对部分玉米品种产生一定药害,从而造成玉米产量下降。挖掘并应用玉米抗烟嘧磺隆基因,培育抗除草剂新品种,是解决药害问题的最有效方法。本文概述烟嘧磺隆的除草、选择及解毒机制,不同玉米品种对烟嘧磺隆抗性差异,对玉米抗烟嘧磺隆基因的遗传机制、基因定位和克隆及不同单倍型等进展进行系统阐述,加快抗性基因的应用进程,推进抗除草剂新品种培育,保障我国玉米生产安全。     

东北部分春玉米地乙莠合剂防效下降的原因和对策

在我国的东北春玉米区,长时间使用乙草胺和莠去津,导致部分地区防效下降。在吉林省农安县通过定点试验、大面积试验和大范围调查发现,乙莠合剂防效下降的主要原因是因为杂草群落结构的变化引起的,同时降水的减少和药剂使用方法不当也起了一定的作用,未发现产生明显抗性的迹象。在未来,乙莠合剂仍是该地区玉米地除草剂的主要药剂,对于杂草群落尚未发生变化的地块仍然有很好的防效,而在杂草群落发生变化的地区,应适当更换除草剂或适当增加轮作;针对当地特点,适当推迟乙莠合剂的喷施时间,采用机械喷雾、加大用水量等措施来提高乙莠合剂的防效。     

Economic analysis of chemical weed control in irrigated garlic (Allium sativum L.) in Sudan Savanna Ecology, Nigeria

An economic analysis on the use of herbicide to control weeds in garlic production in 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 dry seasons indicated a considerable reduction in the cost of weed control and labour demand with the application of herbicide. Although the hoe weeding and the herbicide gave comparable bulb yield in 2002/2003 dry season, the net return per hectare was higher with herbicide application in both seasons. Similarly, the value of labour saved through herbicides use was positive throughout and increased significantly in 2003/2004 dry season.