Competition between annual weeds and vining peas grown at a range of population densities: effects on the crop

Competition between annual weeds and vining peas (Pisum sativum L.) at five target population densities between 11 and 194 plants/m² was examined by means of periodic destructive sampling of weedy and weed-free plots. A further area of each plot was cut and vined to assess yields. Weeds impaired vegetative development, particularly by reducing tillering in low density crops. This resulted in weedy plots having fewer pods per plant at harvest but a lower proportion of flat pods than weed-free plots. Weeds had no effect on numbers or weights of peas in full pods nor on tenderometer values of samples of vined peas. Adverse effects of weeds on the growth of individual crop plants decreased with increasing crop density. However, at lower crop densities many of the additional pods on weed-free plots contributed little to vined yield, while at higher densities, direct or indirect effects of weeds increased the problem of maintaining sufficient photosynthetic area during pod swelling to prevent pod abscission and poor ovule development. Regression analysis of yield on crop density and of yield on numbers of pods per plant showed that vined yield per hectare was reduced by weeds by a constant amount across the range of densities and numbers of pods examined. Vining throughput was also reduced in weedy as compared with weed-free crops, even on high density plots where little or no weed vegetation remained at harvest. In general, weed presence had effects similar to those caused by increasing crop density, but without the additional contribution to yield made by extra plants. Higher density crops suppressed weeds very effectively but were no less vulnerable to yield loss than those of lower density; they therefore merit just as much attention to effective weed control as crops suffering more visibly from competition by weeds.     

Competition from weeds and their control in direct-seeded rice

In direct-seeded upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield reductions due to weed competition ranged from 42 to 65% in field experiments conducted in eastern Utter Pradash, India. The most critical period, when crop losses due to weed competition were most severe, ranged from 10 to 20 days after emergence. Yields generally continued to increase, however, as the length of the weed-free period increased. The weed flora consisted of various grasses, sedges and broadleaved species. The most effective herbicide treatment evaluated was a pre-emergence application of alachlor followed by a post-emergence application of propanil or one mechanical weeding.     

Interaction between timings and doses of quindorac in rice

Quinclorac (3,7-dichloro-8-quinolinecarboxylic acid) is a new herbicide in United States rice production. Field studies were conducted in 1990 and 1991 in Mississippi to determine the influence of application timings and rates on weed control efficacy and rice yield. Control of Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. (barnyard-grass), Sesbania exaltata (Raf.) Rydb. ex A. W. Hill (hemp sesbania) and Ipomoea wrightii Gray (palmleaf morning glory) were greatest with early post-emergence application. Efficacy of pre-emergence application depends strongly on soil moisture, with significantly reduced weed control resulting when applied to dry soil. Weed control with pre-emergence application to moist soil was comparable with early post-emergence application at higher rates of quinclorac. Pre-plant and incorporated quinclorac controlled weeds effectively. Control of E. crus-galli, S. exaltata and I. wrightii ranged from 73 to 99%, 75 to 99%, and 92 to 99% at 28 days after treatment, respectively. Rice yield generally reflected weed control. No rice injury was observed for any treatment. Results indicate that early post-emergence application of quinclorac is the best time for using reduced rates and field conditions at application should be considered with these rates pre-emergence.     

Weed competition in spring-planted strawberries

Annual weeds germinating after planting strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis (L.) Duch. cv. Cambridge Favourite) in late March had no effect on crop growth if removed by late May. Dense weed cover thereafter severely inhibited stolon growth, virtually eliminating it if allowed to remain beyond mid-August. Shading by weeds inhibited leaf production and caused etiolation of existing leaves. New leaves appeared shortly after weed removal and few plants died unless weed cover persisted for most of the growing season. Further weed germination was allowed on some plots. Although not removed until late autumn, these weeds only had adverse effects on crop growth where initial weeding had occurred before mid-June. In one experiment, delaying weed removal until 6 July, 31 August or 2 November in the first year reduced fruit yield in the second (weed-free) year by 34%, 54% and 67% respectively. In a later experiment, competition from weeds until July or later in the first growing season gave fruit yields similar to those in the first experiment, but totally weed-free plots and those kept clean after weeding in mid-June produced less fruit than plots which remained weedy between mid-June and mid-August. It is suggested that competition from uncontrolled stolon growth in this experiment severely inhibited crown and hence truss production on plots which did not suffer weed competition. Unless left untouched until early September, weeds had less adverse effect on truss production than the stolons which they displaced. The results are interpreted in relation to improving the efficiency of weed control techniques.     

Dynamics and control of Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. shoot populations: a test of a thermal calendar model

The dynamics of Sorghum halepense tiller emergence and rhizome biomass were studied in field experiments. The effect of different application dates of a post-emergence herbicide on crop yield was measured. The relationship between accumulated thermal units (A.T.U.) and the percentage of emerged tillers in soybean was described by a single non-linear regression model, independent of initial bud density. The estimates of population density were generally higher than those predicted by the original model developed by Satorre, Ghersa & Pataro (1985). In the absence of a crop, the higher the density of the weed the more concentrated the tiller emergence in the early part of the tillering period. The rhizome biomass reached a minimum value at about 230°C days, and was independent of the initial weed density. The maximum herbicide efficiency was achieved when the application was performed closest to the period of minimum rhizome biomass. The results show the feasibility of optimizing S. halepense control by calculating the period f minimum rhizome biomass. Such a criterion ls consistent with the maximization of crop yields.     

Effects of pre- and post-emergence weed harrowing on annual weeds in peas and spring cereals

To assess the effects of timing and frequency of weed harrowing on weed abundance and crop yield, different pre- and post-emergence weed harrowing sequences were applied to spring cereals and peas in field experiments performed during 2003 and 2004 in Sweden. Post-emergence harrowing was performed at crop growth stages 2–3 and 5–6 true leaves respectively. The best weed control was obtained by a combination of pre- and post-emergence harrowing, but these treatments also caused yield losses of 12–14% in spring cereals, while no yield losses were observed in peas. Pre-emergence weed harrowing treatments alone or combined with weed harrowing shortly after crop emergence proved to be most effective against the early emerging annual weed species Sinapis arvensis and Galeopsis spp. Post-emergence harrowing alone in peas had no effect on S. arvensis . The late emerging annual weed species Chenopodium album and Polygonum lapathifolium were most effectively controlled when pre-emergence weed harrowing was combined with one or two weed harrowing treatments after crop emergence.     

Weed interference in maize, cowpea and maize/cowpea intercrop in a subhumid tropical environment. II. Early growth and nutrient content of crops and weeds

Early growth and nutrient content of crops and weeds from weed-free and weedy no-tillage maize (Zea mays L, cv. TZB), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp. cv. VITA-5) and maize/cowpea intercrop at populations of 40000, 50000 and 30000 + 40000 plants ha^?1 grown on a loamysand Oxic Ustropept in a subhumid tropical location were monitored in the early and late 1979 cropping seasons. In the first 6 weeks of growth in the early season, cropping pattern had no effect on weed growth; weeds did not suppress crop growth significantly until 5–6 weeks after sowing and total crop dry weights were not affected by cropping pattern. Three weeks after sowing, weeds from weedy crop plots had taken up two to four times as much nutrient (N, P, K, Ca + Mg) as was taken up by corresponding weed-free crops. In the late season, weed dry weight 6 weeks after sowing was depressed in the intercrop compared to monocultures and dry-matter production of the intercrop was higher than those of monocultures. The resource use index (RUI), defined as the amount of an environmental resource used by a weed-free crop divided by the combined amount of the same resource used by the corresponding weedy crop and the associated weeds, increased with age of crop and was higher for the intercrop than the monocultures only in the late season.     

灯盏花大田杂草种类调查及防除

经过4年对灯盏花田杂草种类的调查确定,在云南玉溪地区灯盏花田常见杂草有32种,隶属16科,主要杂草是鹅肠菜、野燕麦、长芒棒头草、无芒稗、酸模叶蓼,6月下旬至7月初为发生第1高峰期,10月中至11月下旬为发生第2高峰期,可通过药剂土壤处理、药剂茎叶喷雾防治和人工拔除控制灯盏花田杂草。     

Asulam mixtures for weed control in flax

Five field experiments were conducted from 1972 to 1975 to evaluate weed control in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) using post-emergence treatments of asulam [methyl (4-aminobenzenesulphonyl) carbamatel alone and in combination with other herbicides. The ¹⁴C-asulam absorption by leaf segments and roots of glasshouse grown wild oats (Avena fatua L.) was also investigated. Asulam at 1.12 kg/ha gave good wild oat control and acceptable control of green foxtail (Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.). However, wild oat control was poorer when asulam was combined with other herbicides: on a 3-year average, as compared with asulam alone at equal rates, the asulam+MCPA mixture resulted in a greater antagonism and a significant 6% reduction in flax seed yield, whereas the asulam+bromoxynil/MCPA mixture gave the least antagonistic effect, improved broadleaf weed control and increased yield by 13%. In mixtures, the potassium salt of MCPA was more compatible with asulam for weed control than the amine form. Both leaf segments and roots of wild oats absorbed and distributed less ¹⁴C-asulam from solutions containing MCPA than from those containing bromoxynil or bromoxynil/MCPA.     

A simple model of crop loss by weed competition from early observations on relative leaf area of the weeds

A new simple empirical model for early prediction of crop losses by weed competition was introduced. This model relates yield loss to relative leaf area of the weeds shortly after crop emergence using the relative damage coefficient q as the single model parameter. The model is derived from the hyperbolic yield density relationship and therefore accounts for the effects of weed density. It is shown that the model also accounts for the effect of different relative times of weed emergence. A strong advantage of the approach is that it can be used when weeds emerge in separate flushes. The regression model described experimental data on sugar-beet – lambsquarters (Beta vulgaris L. –Chenopodium album L.) and maize-barnyard grass (Zea mays L. –Echinochloa crus-galli L.) competition precisely. The model describes a single relationship between crop yield loss and relative leaf area of the weeds over a wide range of weed densities and relative times of weed emergence. Possibilities for scientific and practical application of the model are discussed.     

机插秧稻田二次封闭控草应用技术

稻田草害是机插秧生产中最严重的问题。传统水稻田"一封二杀三补"控草策略策略已经不能适应机插秧的除草要求。本文综合小区试验和大区示范,针对不同栽培条件下的土壤和杂草情况,提出"二封一补"的除草对策。3年试验示范结果表明,土地平整后插秧前使用57%苄·丙·异丙隆可湿性粉剂1 500~1 800 g/hm~2进行第1次封闭处理,插秧后10 d用50%苄·丁·异丙隆可湿性粉剂1 200~1 500 g/hm~2进行第2次封闭,既能有效控制早期杂草为害,保证秧苗安全,又能延长对杂草持续控制作用,提高水稻产量。在2次封闭基础上,针对不平整地块和烤田后抗性杂草发生情况,提出相对应的补治措施。     

Critical period of weed competition in three vegetable crops in relation to management practices

The critical period of weed competition was determined in three vegetable crops: early cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.), pickling cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.), and field-seeded processing tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum L.). There were significant interactions between weed-removal treatments, year, and row width. Cabbage yields were reduced if plots were not kept weed-free for at least 3 weeks after transplanting or if weeds which emerged with the crop were allowed to remain longer than 4–5 weeks, Cucumber yields were reduced if plots were not kept weed-free for up to 4 weeks after seeding or if plots remained weed-infested longer than 3–4 weeks. Higher crop population densities (narrower row widths) in cabbage and cucumbers resulted in smaller plants, earlier competition from weeds, and therefore a shorter period that the crop could remain weed-infested without suffering reduced yields. Yields of direct-seeded tomatoes were reduced if plots were not kept weed-free for up to 9 weeks after seeding or if weeds which emerged with the crop were allowed to remain longer than 5 weeks. In each crop the timing of the critical period of competition was verified by weed removal only during this interval. There was a true critical period in direct-seeded tomatoes, but not in cabbage or cucumbers where a single weeding was sufficient to prevent yield losses.     

Weed interference in maize, cowpea and maize/cowpea intercrop in a subhumid tropical environment. I. Influence of cropping season

Field experiments were conducted in the early and late cropping seasons of 1979 on a loamysand Oxic Ustropept in a subhumid environment in Nigeria, using 40000, 50000 and 30000 + 40000 plants ha^?1 of maize (Zea mays L. cv. TZB), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. cv. VITA-5) and maize/cowpea intercrop respectively. These indicated that weed interference effects on crops under no-tillage depended on cropping season, cropping pattern and crop species. In the early and late seasons respectively, thirty-five and twenty-nine different weed species were recorded and weed dry weights of approximately 10·4 and 5·7 t ha^?1 from the plots kept weedy throughout the season reduced corresponding food energy yields by 60 and 82%. Except for the intercrop, which in the early season showed significant yield reduction when exposed to 4 weeks’ weed interference after sowing, all cropping patterns needed more than 4 weeks’ interference to show significant yield reductions, regardless of cropping season. In the early season, weed interference accounted more for the yield reductions in monocultures than it did for those in the intercrop, but in the late season all cropping patterns were equally sensitive to weed association. Maize, which performed much better in the early season, showed greater yield reductions than cowpea under early weed interference but less under full-season interference irrespective of cropping pattern and season. Cowpea seed quality was more reduced by intercropping than by weed interference in the early season but neither of these factors affected seed quality significantly in the late season.     

Weed interference and control in white yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir)

The climbing growth habit of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) coupled with its inability to shade the ground completely at any stage of its growth and development makes it very susceptible to weed interference. The critical period of weed interference in white yam was between the 8th and 16th week after planting (w.a.p.) for yam planted at the onset of rains. Keeping yam plants weedy for 16 w.a.p. or beyond significantly reduced tuber yield; keeping them weed-free for the same period resulted in a significant increase in tuber yield. A minimum of three weedings within 16 w.a.p. are necessary to minimize yield reduction caused by weeds. The lowest weed weight and highest crop yield from herbicide treatments were obtained where a mixture of fluometuron and metolachlor each at 2.0 kg a.i./ha was used for pre-emergence weed control.     

Critical periods of weed competition in cotton in Greece

Four experiments were conducted in central Greece during 1997 and 1998 to determine the late-season presence of weeds in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and the critical times for removing weeds. Experiments were conducted in natural, heavily infested cropland. The presence of weeds for more than 3 weeks after crop emergence caused significant reductions in crop growth and lint yields. However, weeds that emerged 11 weeks or more after crop emergence did not adversely impact yields. Total weed biomass increased with increasing time prior to weed removal. A weed-free period of 11 weeks after crop emergence was needed to prevent significant reductions in cotton height, biomass, number of squares, and yield. These results indicated that postemergence herbicides or other control measures should be initiated within 2 weeks after crop emergence to avoid significant yield reduction. For greater efficiency, soil-applied herbicides in cotton should provide effective weed control for at least 11 weeks. Curvilinear regression equations were derived to describe the relationship between critical periods of weed presence and cotton growth and fruit development.     

Interference by the weed Parthenium hysterophorus L. with grain sorghum: Influence of weed density and duration of competition

Two sets of field experiments were conducted at two sites (lowland and intermediate altitude) for 2 years in eastern Ethiopia to determine the influence of parthenium weed ( Parthenium hysterophorus ) density and duration of competition on grain yield of sorghum. In the first set of experiments, target weed densities of 0, 3, 7, 13, 27, 53 and 100 plants m -2 were used. Yield loss was severely affected by parthenium weed density, peaking at 97% at the lowland site in 2000. At this site, even very low density (e.g. three plants m -2 ) resulted in a high yield loss (69%). Owing to differences between sites and years, however, it was not possible to specify meaningfully the threshold densities for weeding. In the critical weed-free period experiments, four parthenium weed-infested and four weed-free periods from emergence to harvesting of sorghum were maintained by hand hoeing. The critical periods for weed control, i.e. the period over which weeding had the greatest benefit on yield, were 19 - 69 and 40 - 57 days from emergence of sorghum in 1999 and 2000, respectively, at the intermediate altitude (assuming an acceptable loss of 10%). In the lowland, however, it ranged directly from emergence to 61 and 66 days, indicating more severe competition at this site. The substantial variation in yield and yield loss between sites and years illustrates the problems of attempting to give well-established, accurate recommendations for threshold densities and critical periods in small-scale, rain-fed agriculture.     

Weed communities of winter wheat as influenced by input level and rotation

The influence of cropping systems constituted by the combination of three input levels (low, intermediate and high) and four 2-year rotations between a spring summer crop and winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) on the density and composition of the winter wheat weed flora was evaluated from 1989 to 1992. Spring summer crops were maize ( Zea mays L.). soyabean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr.). sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris L.) and sunflower ( Helianthus and L.) Total weed density at the end of the wheat tillering stage ranged from 2.5 to 128.7 plants m^-2 and generally decreased with cropping intensity, although to a differing extent, depending upon rotation. Differences among weed communities of the 12 cropping systems were mostly dependent upon input level. The effect of the preceding crop on the weed flora composition of winter wheat was evident only with reduced herbicide use (low-input systems). Weed species could be ascribed to four categories: (a) species sporadically associated with cropping systems (most of the weeds); (b) species associated with a specific input level (e.g. Papaver rhoeas L. to low and intermediate input levels and Veronica persica Poiret to the high input ievel): (c) species associated with a specific rotation (e.g. Anm majus L. to sugar beet winter wheat): and (d) species associated with specitie plots that become important every other year (e.g. Convolvulus arvensis L. and Stellaria media (L.) Vill.).     

耕作方式对夏玉米地杂草关键无草期的影响

在河北省夏玉米地调查了免耕地和常规翻耕地条件下杂草出苗和发生的情况,比较了这两种耕作方式的关键无草期。免耕地杂草出苗较常规耕地略有延后,但很快便趋于一致,两种耕作方式下杂草结束出苗的时间没有区别。耕作方式对夏玉米地关键无草期没有影响,在免耕和翻耕两种耕作方式下,玉米相对产量(RY)和苗后无草期(T)的模型为:RY=98.93×exp[-0.1439×exp(-0.04031×T)],关键无草期均为玉米苗后31d。     

Chemical weed control in irrigated direct-seeded rice in the Sudan Gezira

Unrestricted weed growth resulted in serious yield losses (60–75%) in rice (Oryza saliva L.). Hand-weeding once at 2 weeks after crop emergence was ineffective, but weeding at 2 and 2 weeks after crop emergence brought yield losses down to 20%. Pre-emergence application of bifenox and oxadiazon (12 l) and post-emergence application of molinate + propanil gave crop yields comparable to that of the clean weeded control (91–129%). Grain yields obtained with pre-emergence application of oxadiazon (25 EC) and post-emergence applications of propanil, bentazone + propanil, and bifenox alone or as a tank mix with propanil or bentazone were considerably less than those obtained from the clean weeded plots. Bifenox, oxadiazon (12 l) and propanil + molinate gave adequate and persistent weed control (72–97%), and did not damage rice. Oxadiazon (25 EC) gave good weed control but resulted in a serious stand reduction. Post-emergence application of propanil, propanil + bentazone bifenox alone or as a tank mix with propanil or bentazone had no adverse effect on crop stand, but gave poor control of grasses (0–40%).     

An economic threshold model for spraying herbicides in cereals

A model has been developed for calculating the economic benefit of early spraying of herbicides in wheat and barley crops, using data derived from routine herbicide evaluation field experiments. Annual grass and broadleaf weed densities are converted to weed units using a weighting for the competitiveness of each species. The absolute yield benefit (kg ha^?1) from controlling a forecast proportion of estimated weed units present when the crop is sprayed at or before the early tillering stage has three major determinants: the weed-free yield potential of the crop (kg ha^?1); the number of weed units m^?2 at spraying; and the relative growth stages of weeds and crop at spraying. The weight of evidence from the data used indicates that there is an approximately linear relationship between weed density after spraying and grain yield. We have based the model on this expectation, which contrasts with the strongly curvilinear relationship of yield and unsprayed weed density. It is suggested that this difference is attributable to the effects of the herbicide treatments on surviving weeds, which are less competitive with the crop than untreated weeds. Un modèle de seuil économique pour I'application des herbicides dans les céréales Un modèle a étéélaboré pour calculer l'intérêt économique de traitements herbicides précoces dans le blé et l'orge, en utilisant des données issues d'évaluations d'herbicides au champ. Les densités de graminées annuelles et de di-cotylédones étaient converties en ‘unités mau-vaise herbe’ après pondération par 1'aptitude à la concurrence de chaque espèce. Le gain de rende-ment absolu (kg ha^?1) obtenu en détruisant, avant ou au moment du tallage, une proportion donnée d'un nombre estimé d'unités mauvaise herbe', a trois déterminant: le potentiel de la culture en l'absence de mauvaises herbes (kg ha^?1), le nombre d'unités mauvaise herbe' par m^?2 au moment du traitement, et les stades de dévelop-pement relatifs de la culture et des mauvaises herbes au moment du traitement. Les données utilisées montrent qu'il existe une relation approximativement linéaire entre la densité de mauvaises herbes après le traitement et le rende-ment de la culture en grain. Nous avons basé le modèle sur cette observation, ce qui contraste avec les relations forgement curvilinéaires entre le rendement et la densité de mauvaises herbes non traitées. II est suggéré que cette différence peut être attribuée aux effets du traitement herbicide sur les mauvaises herbes survivantes, qui sont moins compétitives à l'égard de la culture que des mauvaises herbes non traitées. Ein Modell der ökonomischen Schadensschwel-len für die Behandlung von Getreide mil Herbiziden Anhand von Daten aus Herbizid-Feldprüfungen wurde ein Modell zur Abschätzung des ökonomischen Vorteils früher Herbizidbehandlungen in Weizen und Gerste entwickelt. Für die Gewichtung der Konkurrenzkraft jeder Unkrau-tart wurden die Dichten der mono- und dikotylen Arten zu Unkraut-Einheiten verrechnet. Der absolute Ertragsgewinn infolge der Bekämpfung eines prognostizierten Anteils der zum Spritzter-min während oder vor Beginn der Bestockung geschätzten Unkraut-Einheiten hat 3 Haupt-Determinate: das Ertragspotential der Kultur ohne Unkrautkonkurrenz, die Unkrautdichte und die Entwicklungsstadien von Unkraut und Kultur bei der Behandlung. Die Beweiskraft der benutzten Daten zeigt, daß eine fast lineare Beziehung zwischen der Unkrautdichte bei der Behandlung und dem Ertrag besteht. Das Modell basierte auf dieser Erwartung, die zur sehr kurvilinearen Beziehung zwischen Ertrag und unbehandelter Verunkrautung in Gegensatz steht. Dieser Unterschied wird darauf zurückgeführt, daß behandelte Unkräuter eine geringere Konkurrenz ausüben als unbehandelte.