Weed:spring barley competition for applied nitrogen in pig slurry

Summary The experiments were carried out in the two spring barley fields of the organic six-course cattle:crop rotation at Foulumgaard, Denmark. The weed density was 300 and 1800 plants m⁻² respectively. Pig slurry was applied by hand in microplots by four methods: broadcasting followed by incorporation, or injected in bands to depths of 5, 10 or 15 cm. Spring barley and weeds were sampled separately six times during the tillering and elongation phase of the spring barley. The effect of application method on dry-matter (d.m.) production, nitrogen uptake and recovery of applied nitrogen in the spring barley and the weeds is reported. Slurry banding halved the weed d.m. and weed N uptake compared with broadcasting, irrespective of weed density. Weeds recovered up to 12% of the applied nitrogen, which made them a significant competitor when the slurry was broadcast and incorporated. Banding by direct injection reduced the slurry:soil contact and the weed:crop competition balance for applied nitrogen moved in favour of the crop. Thus, the crop recovery of applied nitrogen at the end of the sampling period was increased from approximately 45% for broadcast and incorporated to approximately 50% for injected slurry, and coincidental weed recovery was reduced to a maximum of 5%. As the nitrogen supply normally affects plant d.m. production, banding of slurry might well improve crop competitiveness and its tolerance to mechanical weed control.     

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

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

不同保护性耕作下冬小麦田杂草滋生情况调查研究

采用随机调查的方法,对不同保护性耕作处理下冬小麦田间杂草的种类和数量进行调查研究,发现不同的耕作处理对杂草种类和数量的消长有很大的影响.传统耕作、免耕、秸秆深松覆盖、高留茬深松覆盖四种处理,以免耕条件下杂草的种类和数量最多,秸秆深松覆盖、高留茬深松覆盖是控制冬小麦田间杂革滋生的一种有效措施.不同保护性耕作处理使冬小麦田间杂草种类与各杂草相对丰度均发生变化,各处理间Shannon多样性指教(H')和Mamclef物种丰富度指数(D)均存在差异,其原因可能是由于不同保护性耕作处理造成各处理间生态环境、土壤养分和土壤水分的不同,各种杂草的生长因而受其不同影响所致.     

Competition between weeds and spring wheat for 15N-labelled nitrogen applied in pig slurry

The changes in weed:crop competition as affected by the interaction of slurry distribution pattern with crop sowing pattern was examined, using the parameters dry matter (DM) production, nitrogen (N) uptake and recovery of applied N in spring wheat and weeds. Pig slurry enriched with isotopic nitrogen (¹⁵N) was applied either fully incorporated or in concentrated bands. The two slurry distribution patterns were combined with either crop density or distance between the slurry band and seed row. Spring wheat and weeds were sampled separately seven times during the season. A high and fast crop recovery of applied N coincident with a low recovery in weeds may be obtained by at least three management elements: sowing the crop with a high seed density, sowing the crop row close to the band-applied slurry N, and early sowing. The effects on crop DM, N-uptake and ¹⁵N recovery of a high crop density and a narrow distance between the slurry band and crop row appear clearly at the beginning of the spring wheat elongation phase. For weeds the effects were most pronounced for ¹⁵N recovery, and using DM as the only response variable may cause insignificant results. However, methods for N application may be part of a strategy controlling weeds, but to obtain satisfactory weed control the N management needs to be supplemented with chemical or mechanical weed management.     

Joint effects of biotic and abiotic stressors on winter wheat suppression of Bromus tectorum

In winter wheat systems in the Northern Great Plains of the United States, Bromus tectorum and wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) commonly co‐occur. While independent effects of these pests on wheat yields have been well documented, to our knowledge, no study has investigated whether WSMV modifies interactions between wheat and B. tectorum. Furthermore, the impact that environmental stressors such as nutrient availability have on these interactions has not been addressed. We conducted a randomised split‐plot field study over 2 years to investigate the effects of WSMV and nitrate (N) availability on winter wheat suppression of Bromus tectorum. The study included four N treatments (10–19, 20–31, 31–84, and 85–207 kg ha^?1) and two WSMV treatments (mechanically inoculated or control). Increasing soil N increased the susceptibility of wheat to WSMV infection. In 2009, wheat in the lowest and highest N levels had 24% and 65% of plants infected respectively. However, regression analysis indicated that interactive effects of wheat competition, N and WSMV did not play a consistent role in B. tectorum growth. Specifically, the effect of both wheat density and distance from row on B. tectorum biomass remained constant across inoculation treatments, suggesting that wheat inoculated with WSMV suppressed B. tectorum as effectively as healthy wheat. Furthermore, wheat had a greater impact on B. tectorum growth in higher N environments, even though incidence of WSMV infection in wheat was highest. Overall, our results suggest that WSMV infection may not change the ability of wheat to suppress B. tectorum.     

The effect of sowing date, stale seedbed, row width and mechanical weed control on weeds and yields of organic winter wheat

Three field experiments were carried out in organically grown winter wheat in Denmark. The treatments were sowing time (normal or late sowing) and false seedbed, row width (12 and 24 cm) and weed control method [untreated; mechanical weed control (weed harrowing at 12 cm supplemented with inter‐row hoeing at 24 cm); and herbicide weed control]. Weed biomass in midsummer was greatest on plots sown at the normal sowing time (compared with delayed sowing) and was reduced by mechanical or chemical weed control (compared with untreated plots). Row width alone had no influence on weed biomass, but in the experiment with high weed pressure, the more intensive mechanical weed control used at a row width of 24 cm reduced weed biomass. Normal sowing time tended to give higher yields, but this was only statistically significant in one of the three experiments. Wide rows gave a yield decrease in the experiment with low weed pressure. The effect of weed control on yield was dependent on the weed pressure. At low weed pressure, mechanical weed control caused a yield decrease compared with untreated or herbicide treated. At intermediate weed levels there were no differences, whereas at high weed pressure, mechanical weed control and herbicide treatment caused a yield increase compared with untreated. False seedbeds were shown to contribute to a decrease in the soil seed reserve.     

不同覆盖条件下冬小麦作物系数试验研究

试验共设置裸地(CK)、秸秆覆盖(JF)、地膜覆盖(DF)3个处理,基于冬小麦2013—2014年实测数据及气象数据,利用Penman-Monteith公式计算杨凌地区冬小麦全生育期内参考作物蒸发蒸腾量,利用农田水量平衡方程计算冬小麦全生育期实际作物蒸发蒸腾量,由此计算冬小麦各生育阶段的作物系数。结果表明:秸秆覆盖和地膜覆盖可以减少冬小麦全生育期的作物需水量,减少量分别为13.07 mm和17.86 mm;秸秆覆盖处理对水分比较敏感;作物系数在全生育期呈双峰变化,峰值出现在分蘖~越冬期和抽穗~灌浆期,其中CK为0.82和1.16,JF为0.89和1.05,DF为0.87和1.13;冬小麦作物系数与种植后天数和大于0℃积温呈现良好的四次多项式和二次多项式关系,其中JF与DF的相关系数均在0.88以上。     

Weed suppression by cover crops: comparative on‐farm experiments under integrated and organic conservation tillage

Cover crops are increasingly being used for weed suppression and to enhance the sustainability of agro‐ecosystems. However, the suitability of cover crops for weed suppression in integrated and organic conservation tillage systems is still poorly investigated. Therefore, a 2‐year field study at eight sites was conducted to test the weed suppressive potential of six legume‐based cover crops, with the aim to reduce herbicide input or mechanical weed management interventions. In all experiments, cover crops were directly sown after cereals before next year's main crop (grain maize or sunflower). The presence of cover crops caused a 96% to 100% reduction of weed dry matter at the four sites managed under integrated production, while effects were lower at the four sited managed under organic production, ranging from 19% to 87%. Cover crops that covered soil quickly and which produced much dry matter had the best weed suppressive potential. However, their weed suppressing effect was difficult to predict, as it depended on the year of the investigation, experimental site, cover crop species, the speed of soil cover in autumn and the density of the resulting mulch layer in spring. The study demonstrated that cover crops are a useful tool to suppress weeds under integrated and organic conservation tillage practices. Our recommendation for supporting weed management in conservation tillage systems is to use locally adapted cover crops that have rapid establishment, good soil coverage and high dry matter production. However, additional weed management measures are required for reliable weed control under on‐farm conditions.     

The implication of stubble tillage for weed population dynamics in organic farming

In practical farming, early and shallow stubble tillage is carried out post‐harvest to stimulate germination of freshly ripened crop and weed seeds, to kill the resulting seedlings and hence to reduce the input into the soil seedbank. Additionally, it aims at reducing perennial weeds by mechanical damage. In this paper, field experiments and laboratory studies are presented which show that stubble tillage can reduce perennial weeds. However, it had a variable effect on annual weeds. After 5 years of experimentation, no effect of stubble tillage was seen on the aboveground vegetation. In contrast, the soil seedbank of the control was roughly doubled where the stubble had been left uncultivated until autumn ploughing. These results indicate that practical experience which assumes that stubble tillage reduces annual weed populations may be correct, despite the fact that in other published studies stubble tillage exerted no control on annual weeds or had a variable effect. This will have practical application in organic arable production systems.     

Control of weed barley species in winter wheat with sulfosulfuron at different rates and times of application

Field experiments were conducted at five locations in the major wheat production regions of Iran to evaluate the efficacy of sulfosulfuron in controlling weed barley species (including Hordeum spontaneum , Hordeum murinum , Hordeum distichon , and Hordeum vulgare ) in the 2004–2005 and 2005–2006 growing seasons. Sulfosulfuron was applied either postemergence (POST) or preplant-incorporated (PPI) at 0, 20.25, 30.75, 40.5, 51.0, 60.75 or 71.25 g ai ha⁻¹ to plots arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Sulfosulfuron at the recommended rate (20.25 g ai ha⁻¹) failed to provide acceptable control of the weed barley species. However, the level of control increased with the application rate, particularly at rates >51.0 g ai ha⁻¹. Generally, PPI-applied sulfosulfuron resulted in markedly greater control levels than those of a POST application and complete control of H. murinum and H. vulgare was achieved with PPI-applied sulfosulfuron at all rates >20.25 and 30.75 g ai ha⁻¹, respectively. In most cases, the wheat yield increased with the application rate without any crop injury. The highest yield increase (186%) was obtained with a PPI application of 71.25 g ai ha⁻¹.     

Impact of site conditions and farming practices on the occurrence of rare and endangered weeds on arable land in the Czech Republic

This article documents the impact of site conditions and farming practices on the occurrence of rare and endangered weeds on arable land in the Czech Republic. A survey was conducted between 2006 and 2008 in winter cereals, spring cereals and wide‐row crops. The relationship between the occurrence of plants and explanatory factors was analysed using a multivariate analysis to calculate species frequencies in different types of farming, crops and altitudes. In total, 290 relevés were recorded, with a total number of 172 weed species. Nineteen weeds, classified as rare and endangered species according to the national Czech list, were identified in 106 relevés. The highest effect on the occurrence of rare and endangered weed species was observed for altitude. Almost half of the recorded endangered and rare species belonged to the thermophilous weed vegetation typical for cereals on basic soils. A higher occurrence of endangered species has been confirmed for organic farming, where the sum of frequencies was 4.5 times higher than in conventional farming. Field size was not included in our analyses, but could be a factor affecting weed assemblages. The highest frequency of rare species was recorded in spring cereals, followed by winter cereals and wide‐row crops. Higher numbers were identified within fields with higher weed coverage. Lower farming intensity and diversified farming systems at higher altitudes provided better conditions for the occurrence of rare species than intensively farmed lowlands.     

浙沪小麦田杂草调查及优势杂草化学防除技术研究

为了明确浙沪小麦田杂草发生情况及优势杂草控制技术,采用唐氏五级目测法和随机取样计数法相结合的方法,对上海和浙江的116块冬小麦田杂草进行了抽样调查,同时采用盆栽试验和田间小区试验测定了7种除草剂对主要危害杂草的防效。结果表明,浙沪冬小麦田共调查到杂草43种,隶属于14科,其中菊科杂草种类最多,有10种,其次是禾本科杂草9种,再次是石竹科杂草5种。杂草群落组成以禾本科杂草为主,优势杂草为日本看麦娘Alopecurus japonicus Steud.、菵草Beckmannia syzigachne(Steud.) Fern.、棒头草Polypogon fugax Nees ex Steud.、硬草Sclerochloa dura(L.) Beauv.、早熟禾Poa annua L.、鹅肠菜Myosoton aquaticum(L.) Moench、救荒野豌豆Vicia sativa L.、猪殃殃Galium spurium L.和小藜Chenopodium ficifolium Smith。室内除草活性及田间药效试验结果表明,日本看麦娘可用15%炔草酯WP、5%唑啉草酯EC、30 g/L...     

Fertilisation and weed control effects on yield and weeds in durum wheat grown under rain-fed conditions in a Mediterranean climate

Summary A field study was undertaken to examine the effect of fertiliser type and weed control system on grain yield, yield components and weed population in durum wheat ( Triticum turgidum. var. durum) grown in a 4-year rotation [bare fallow–barley ( Hordeum vulgare )–vetch ( Vicia sativa )–wheat]. Fertilisation treatments were: no fertilisation, organic fertilisation with 2500 kg ha⁻¹ of compost (sheep manure and cereal straw) and chemical fertilisation with 100–60–60 kg ha⁻¹ of NPK. Weed-control treatments were: no control, herbicide, harrowing with long-flex spring tines and strip sowing with inter-row hoeing. Chemical fertilisation increased grain yield with respect to the other treatments, amongst which no significant differences were noted. Weed-control systems afforded no improvement in yield compared with controls; indeed, yields obtained using inter-row hoeing were lower. The weed population consisted of a large variety of species, of which the most important were Convolvulus arvensis and Polygonum aviculare . Application of weed-control systems reduced weed density. Herbicide was the most effective, reducing weed biomass by 80%, whilst harrowing and hoeing reduced weed biomass by 40% and 52% respectively. Inter-row hoeing does not appear to be a viable alternative to herbicides, when used as the sole weed control method in a non-diverse cropping system in Mediterranean climates. The lack of response to compost suggests a need for further long-term research.     

不同栽培模式下冬小麦籽粒糖及淀粉累积的动态研究

以冬小麦小偃22为试验材料,在120 kg/hm2施氮水平和基本苗为130~150万hm2下,研究常规栽培(CK)、覆草栽培、地膜覆盖3种不同栽培模式灌浆期小麦籽粒可溶性总糖含量、蔗糖含量及淀粉累积的动态变化。试验结果表明,不同栽培模式小麦籽粒可溶性总糖含量、蔗糖含量、淀粉含量存在差异。与常规栽培相比较,在覆草栽培条件下,可溶性总糖含量、蔗糖含量在灌浆前期高于常规栽培,在成熟期低于常规栽培;而淀粉含量始终高于常规栽培,且籽粒的饱满指数和产量均显著高于常规栽培。地膜覆盖栽培条件下,可溶性总糖含量、蔗糖含量在灌浆前期高于常规栽培,在成熟期低于常规栽培;而淀粉含量始终高于常规栽培,且籽粒的饱满指数和产量均高于常规栽培。在覆草和地膜覆盖栽培条件下冬小麦器官中可溶性总糖、蔗糖的合成代谢旺盛,可溶性总糖含量、蔗糖积累量高,"库"器官中可溶性总糖、蔗糖供应充足,可溶性总糖、蔗糖的降解代谢旺盛,具有较强的同化物利用能力,为籽粒中淀粉的快速积累以及最终实现较高的粒重和产量奠定了基础。     

An on-farm approach to investigate the impact of diversified crop rotations on weed species richness and composition in winter wheat

Weed species diversity may benefit from organic farming due to enhanced temporal diversification of crop species in a rotation and omission of herbicide applications. However, in intensively managed conventional systems, little evidence exists as to what extent diversified crop rotations contribute to higher weed species richness. Using an on-farm approach, the effect of crop rotation (organic, conventional diverse (CD) and conventional simple (CS) crop rotations) and weed control (with vs. without) on weed species richness, cover, community composition and crop biomass, was analysed in 24 winter wheat fields. Weed species with beneficial functions for invertebrates and birds were analysed separately. Weed species richness was higher in the organic crop rotation, but did not differ between CD and CS crop rotations. Weed control treatment reduced species richness in both conventional rotations, but not in the organic one. Redundancy analyses revealed that crop rotation intensity accounted for the largest part of the explained variation in weed species composition. Results from the study indicate that the maintenance of weed species richness and conservation of species with important ecological functions requires not only temporal diversification of crop species in the rotation, but also an adjustment of weed control strategies.     

Weed populations in winter wheat as affected by crop sequence, intensity of tillage and time of herbicide application in a cool and humid climate

Summary There is a lack of information on the combined effects of preceding crop, reduced tillage (especially no-tillage) and the time of herbicide application on the development of weed populations and the efficiency of weed control in winter wheat in humid temperate climates. An experiment was conducted with a crop rotation (winter wheat – oilseed rape – winter wheat – maize) on a sandy loam and a loamy silt soil in the Swiss midlands to investigate the impact of different preceding crops and pre- and post-emergence control of weeds in conventional tillage (CT; mouldboard plough), minimum tillage (MT; chisel plough) and no-tillage (NT; no soil disturbance systems). When winter wheat was grown after maize and winter wheat was grown after oilseed rape, the ranking order of weed density in treatments without herbicide application was NT < MT < CT and CT < MT < NT respectively. Analysis of variance and canonical discriminant analysis showed that Epilobium spp., Sonchus arvensis , Myosotis arvensis and volunteer crops were more abundant in NT than in MT and CT. The efficiency of post-emergence weed control was generally better than that of pre-emergence weed control, regardless of tillage intensity.     

不同冬小麦品种对秸秆覆盖响应的差异

对6个冬小麦品种的秸秆覆盖试验结果表明,秸秆覆盖处理节水效应明显,但不同品种对秸秆覆盖的响应存在一定差异。在华北平原秸秆覆盖农田小气候条件下,8901和6365对春季低温效应不敏感。在节水的同时,可以增产,提高水分利用效率。水分利用效率高的品种总干物质累积以及干物质向穗、茎、叶的运转,与3种处理下品种产量水平水分利用效率的综合评价位次一致,即产量水平水分利用效率高的品种的总干物质累积,以及干物质在穗、茎、叶的累积在不覆盖充分灌溉处理、覆盖充分灌溉处理、和不覆盖亏缺灌溉处理情况下都较高,黄叶干物质累积规律与之相反。