Integration of soil, crop and weed management in low-external-input farming systems

Greater adoption and refinement of low-external-input (LEI) farming systems have been proposed as ways to ameliorate economic, environmental and health problems associated with conventional farming systems. Organic soil amendments and crop diversification are basic components of LEI systems. Weed scientists can improve the use of these practices for weed management by improving knowledge of four relevant ecological mechanisms. First, multispecies crop rotations, intercrops and cover crops may reduce opportunities for weed growth and regeneration through resource competition and niche disruption. Secondly, weed species appear to be more susceptible to phytotoxic effects of crop residues and other organic soil amendments than crop species, possibly because of differences in seed mass. Thirdly, delayed patterns of N availability in LEI systems may favour large-seeded crops over small-seeded weeds. Finally, additions of organic materials can change the incidence and severity of soil-borne diseases affecting weeds and crops. Our research on LEI sweetcorn and potato production systems in central and northern Maine (USA) suggests that these mechanisms can reduce weed density and growth while maintaining crop yields. Low-external-input farming systems will advance most quickly through the application of interdisciplinary research focused on these and other ecological mechanisms.     

Control of crop diseases through Integrated Crop Management to deliver climate-smart farming systems for low- and high-input crop production

Crop diseases affect crop yield and quality and cause significant losses of total food production worldwide. With the ever-increasing world population and decreasing land and water resources, there is a need not only to produce more food but also to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to mitigate climate change and avoid land use change and biodiversity loss. Thus, alternative climate-smart farming systems need to adapt to produce more food per hectare in a more sustainable way than conventional high-input farming systems. In addition to breeding new high-yielding cultivars adapted to future climates, there is a need to deploy Integrated Crop Management (ICM) strategies, relying less on synthetic inputs for fertilization and crop protection and less on fossil fuel-powered machinery to decrease yield losses due to pest and pathogens and guarantee food security. In this review, we compare some low-input farming systems to conventional agricultural systems with a focus on ICM solutions being developed to reduce synthetic inputs; these include crop genetic resistance to pathogens, intercropping, canopy architecture manipulation, and crop rotation. These techniques have potential to decrease crop disease frequency and severity by decreasing amounts and dispersal of pathogen inoculum and by producing microclimates that are less favourable for pathogen development, while decreasing GHG emissions and improving environmental sustainability. More research is needed to determine the best deployment of these ICM strategies in various cropping systems to maximize yield, crop protection, and other ecosystem services to address trade-offs between climate change and food security.     

Integrated crop management, the basis for environment friendly crop protection of potatoes

Relatively large amounts of pesticides are needed to control diseases and pests in modern, intensive potato production. Integrated crop management offers a way of reducing the need for pesticides. It aims to reduce costs and improve the quality of the product and of the production methods, while maintaining soil fertility and the quality of the environment. The components of integrated crop management are described. Prevention of diseases and pests has high priority. If diseases or pests are present, non-chemical control methods are preferred and chemical control is based on economic criteria and the monitoring of the soil and crops. The contribution of integrated crop management to the control of two important fungal diseases, late blight (Phytophthora infestans), and stem canker (Rhizoctonia solani) and of one pest, potato cyst nematode (Globodera spp..) is described. The prospects for further development of integrated crop protection are discussed.     

Operationalizing sustainability: exploring options for environmentally friendly flower bulb production systems

Current production systems for flower bulbs in the Netherlands employ considerable quantities of pesticides and nutrients per unit area. In 1993, an association of growers and environmentalists set out to design new farming systems that meet environmental objectives in addition to economic objectives. To support the design process, an explorative study was carried out to bring together the fragmented agronomic information and to assess agro-technical options for sustainable flower bulb production with a time horizon of 10 to 15 years. Crop and inter-crop management systems representing the agro-technical components of sustainability at the farm level, were generated with a computer model by systematically varying four system characteristics, three of which represented strategic and tactical aspects of crop protection. Subjective components, one economic and two environmental objectives and various socio-economic constraints, were identified in interaction with the stakeholders. Interactive multiple goal linear programming was used to optimize the objectives at the farm level and determine the exchange value of the economic objective in terms of the environmental objectives. Calculations were carried out for two reference farm types. The results revealed that the negative impact of environment-oriented production systems on farm gross margin is importantly mitigated by strategic choices at the farm level, such as renting land and allowing a soil health improving crop, even though of low gross margin, into the rotation. In contrast, the a priori attention of the growers was focused on improving tactical pest and nutrient management at the crop level, the effect of which on farm gross margin is constrained by the strategic choices. Sensitivity analyses highlighted the need for more insight into the ecology of soil-borne growth reducing factors and their effect on crop yield. The paper describes the approach used, reports results and discusses the usefulness of the approach for the stakeholders and for disciplinary crop protection research.     

IPM and Organic Agriculture for Smallholders in Africa

The markets for organic produce offer the opportunity for smallholders in Africa (and elsewhere) to increase their income through access to the price premiums paid in Europe and North America. Facing declining soil fertility, the high cost of off-farm inputs and the collapse of state or para-statal input credit schemes, organic farming offers a sustainable solution for resource-poor farming communities, quite apart from the lure of price premiums. The use of purchased inputs is already at a low level in the smallholder sector in Africa and this may allow farm produce to immediately meet organic standards. The principles of IPM can be applied to organic agriculture to achieve adequate pest and disease control with the restricted use of pesticides that is required for farm produce to meet organic standards. The paper describes some of the problems facing smallholders wishing to access organic markets and describes the IPM options available, which meet the standards of organic certification.     

阴山北麓旱作区主要作物热能值及结构调整研究

阴山北麓农牧交错地带,气候干旱冷凉,种植结构单一,生产能力低而不稳。农业生产不仅要考虑作物综合生产能力,同时要考虑其水分消耗数量。作物的热能产值反映了其综合生产能力。文中采用能值研究方法,通过田间试验、实验室分析测试对该地区三年主要作物的热能产值、耗水量及其生物产量和经济效益进行了系统研究,结果表明,当地主要作物的热能值大小依次为:向日葵>玉米>马铃薯>草玉米>草谷子>草莜麦>油菜>莜麦>小麦>胡麻>箭筈碗豆>山黧豆。考虑到热能值、生物产量、经济效益和水分生产能力,该地区种植结构调整首先应考虑马铃薯的种植,其次是向日葵,然后是饲草和杂粮。优化作物布局,可以获得作物综合生产能力和环境资源保护的双赢,能够促进资源合理利用与农牧业的可持续发展。     

新疆棉花精准种植技术系统集成设计

作为一种新的农业微观经营管理方式,精准农业已成为农业发展的趋势之一。从新疆兵团棉花种植的实际情况出发,结合在试验区开展的精准棉花种植研究工作中采用的技术思想、方法、手段及取得的初步成果,从精准农业种植系统的农田信息采集系统、信息处理系统和实施系统3个技术环节入手,分析和评述精准农业技术体系的关键技术。然后,结合新疆农业生产自主开发及引进的系列数字农业技术软件产品,在以往精准农业关键技术研究成果的基础上,开发出基于GIS的农田资源和生产管理、土壤养分管理与变量施肥决策、农田变量灌溉决策、病虫害防治及测报等功能为一体的,适合新疆本地的精准农业技术平台,进行棉花精准种植信息系统集成软件设计与开发,可为新疆及其他地区棉花精准种植提供参考模式。     

Yield and competitive ability in potato cultivars characterised by different developmental timing

Potato is very susceptible to weed interference during the early growth stages due to slow emergence, and again at the end of the growing cycle when branches collapse and the canopy opens. Weed control usually is performed through a combination of physical and chemical methods. A growing concern for the environment and human health has encouraged the development of non‐chemical weed control. We evaluated the effects of an integrated weed management strategy consisting of physical and cultural methods on naturally emerging weeds over two field seasons in central Italy. One harrowing plus one hilling operation were conducted during the early crop stages, and the competitive abilities against late emerging weeds of six different cultivars of potato, characterised by differences in developmental timing and growth habit, were evaluated. Two measures of competition were evaluated, the competitive balance index (Cb) and the relative total biomass of crop and weed. Higher competitive ability (Cb) was associated with traits such as fast early above‐ground biomass production, height and final above‐ground biomass. Medium late maturity cultivars showed higher Cb than earlier ones, but this was associated with lower yield, providing evidence for a trade‐off between competitive ability and yield. The trade‐off was in part biased by the lack of adaptation of the medium late cultivars to hot weather conditions, so we concluded that cultivars characterised by different developmental time need to be screened and tested for local systems.     

四川丘陵水旱轮作区保护性耕作对土壤水分和小麦产量的影响

在四川丘陵区水旱轮作田进行了保护性耕作与传统耕作栽培模式的对比研究,对秸秆还田条件下的不同耕作模式对土壤水分及小麦产量的影响进行了探讨.试验结果表明,在小麦整个生育期,覆盖处理土壤水分含量均明显地高于不覆盖处理(对照),且免耕覆盖处理又显著优于翻耕覆盖处理.小麦分蘖高峰期覆盖处理的土壤水分比不覆盖处理分别高4.9%～12.8%,对土壤有较好的保墒作用.覆盖处理的小麦最高茎蘖数比翻耕不覆盖增加11.4%～45.8%,由于增加了小麦成穗数、穗粒数和千粒重,保护性耕作条件下覆盖处理比翻耕覆盖增产3.2%～18.1%,对提高小麦产量有明显的作用.     

Long-term weed community dynamics in Swiss organic and integrated farming systems

In 1991, a farming-system comparison was established on Burgrain Farm (Alberswil) to investigate the long-term sustainability of farming systems in Switzerland. In this study, the impacts of the three farming systems [organic (ORG), and integrated (IF) with an extensive (IF ext ) and an intensive (IF int ) variant] on weed dynamics and diversity in six fields planted with winter wheat, maize, summer/winter barley, potatoes/oilseed rape and temporary grassland are examined. Altogether, 51 plant species were recorded from 1999 to 2006 in the maize and winter wheat crop. Total weed ground cover prior to harvest was seven times higher for wheat and 15 times higher for maize in ORG than in IF int , but grain yields were not negatively affected. Weed diversity was higher for ORG than for IF. In the temporary grassland, Taraxacum officinale and Rumex obtusifolius increased with time and dominated the weed community in the maize which followed. Chenopodium and Polygonum species dominated in the wheat, especially in ORG. We conclude from this study that an optimal combination of direct and indirect means for controlling weeds would allow organic farming at this site, provided that problematic weeds (e.g. Elytrigia repens ) can be kept at the low level observed at the end of 2006.     

Effect of strip-intercropping potato and annual alfalfa on populations of Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say and its predators

Intercropping systems are practiced to reducing pest density, enhancing predator's diversity and stabling crop yield. We evaluated the effect of strip-intercropping potato and annual alfalfa on populations of Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, predator's biodiversity and potato yield over two seasons (2014 and 2015). Our results revealed that the densities of egg masses, eggs, larvae and adults of Colorado potato beetle (CPB) were significantly lower in intercrops than in monoculture. The main CPB predators recorded on potato plants (ladybirds and the green lacewing) showed a significant increase in the density at each of the three intercrops than in monoculture. The percentage of dry tubers weight loss was 40.9%–42.6% in monoculture, 16.3%–18.7% in 6P: 2A and <10% in 2P: 2A and 4P: 2A in two studied years. Our results suggest that strip-intercropping potato with annual alfalfa, particularly in 2P: 2A and 4P: 2A patterns may be an effective way in integrated management of CPB for reducing pest density, enhancing the presence of predators in potato fields and improving potato yield.     

A comparison of GHG emissions from UK field crop production under selected arable systems with reference to disease control

Crop disease not only threatens global food security by reducing crop production at a time of growing demand, but also contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by reducing efficiency of N fertiliser use and farm operations and by driving land use change. GHG emissions associated with adoption of reduced tillage, organic and integrated systems of field crop production across the UK and selected regions are compared with emissions from conventional arable farming to assess their potential for climate change mitigation. The reduced tillage system demonstrated a modest (<20%) reduction in emissions in all cases, although in practice it may not be suitable for all soils and it is likely to cause problems with control of diseases spread on crop debris. There were substantial increases in GHG emissions associated with the organic and integrated systems at national level, principally due to soil organic carbon losses from land use change. At a regional level the integrated system shows the potential to deliver significant emission reductions. These results indicate that the conventional crop production system, coupled to reduced tillage cultivation where appropriate, is generally the best for producing high yields to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to global food security, although there may be scope for use of the integrated system on a regional basis. The control of crop disease will continue to have an essential role in both maintaining productivity and decreasing GHG emissions.     

作物景观结构对旋幽夜蛾种群动态的影响

农业景观复杂性对昆虫种群的影响是目前昆虫生态学研究的热点。新疆兵团和地方在土地利用模式及作物景观上存在着明显的差异,这可能影响昆虫种群动态及其管理策略。在兵团和地方的不同试验点,应用智能测报灯、杀虫灯诱集监测在地区尺度和区域尺度旋幽夜蛾Scotogramma trifolii种群动态,结合各样点作物种类及面积调查,分析旋幽夜蛾种群动态与景观复杂性之间的关系,研究结果表明:(1)在地区尺度上,简单景观条件下旋幽夜蛾诱集量小于复杂景观,不同调查半径下旋幽夜蛾诱集量与景观多样性指数(Shannon-Wiener)呈显著正相关(P0.05);(2)在区域尺度上,兵团作物体系内,南疆的旋幽夜蛾诱集量小于北疆,并且存在显著性差异;地方作物体系内南疆的旋幽夜蛾诱集量大于北疆,同样存在显著性差异;在南疆地区,兵团和对应地方的诱蛾量均呈现显著性差异(P0.05),在北疆地区,兵团与对应的地方之间无显著性差异(P0.05),这可能与北疆地区兵团和地方在土地利用模式及其作物布局趋于一致有关。     

我国旱区作物根域微集水种植技术研究进展及展望

概述了我国旱作区作物根域微集水种植技术的增产机理与效果,在总结现有研究基础上,指出了目前根域微集水种植技术研究中存在的若干问题,并提出针对该技术的完善与深化应加强其影响作物生产力机制及水肥耦合机理方面的研究,科学评价在不同雨量区根域微集水种植的应用效果和水保效应,同时应进一步规范根域微集水种植技术的相关技术标准和操作规程。作者认为该技术在深化试验研究与广泛示范的基础上,在旱农区有十分广阔的应用前景,是提高旱区降水资源化效率及作物增产的重要技术途径。     

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.     

Integrated weed management: Quo vadis?

The different components of Integrated Weed Management (IWM), such as crop selection, crop husbandry, plant nutrition, crop protection, farm hygiene, and the site-specific conditions, all are factors having an influence on the successful adoption of the basic IWM concept. Farmers' field activities, directly or indirectly, affect germination and development of weeds as well as weed population dynamics. However, also important non-agronomic parameters indirectly affect weed management. They include farm structure, farmers' personal targets and preferences, the provision and communication of technical know-how, economics, but also demands from society and in the area of ecology. In the light of the many additional important influences and interactions, rather than thinking in terms of IWM, it seems appropriate to view crop production as a whole process, probably best defined as Integrated Crop Management (ICM). Boiling down the mass of information and outlining a rational, straightforward, easy-to-apply and cheap approach for the site-specific weed management is needed for the successful implementation of IWM principles within the framework of ICM.     

柯西河流域干旱对作物产量的影响及其空间差异

干旱是柯西河流域中山区发生最为频繁的气象灾害之一,对农业生产造成极大的影响。利用气象、农业数据,结合线性趋势、回归分析等方法,分析了1998-2015年研究区的干旱变化特征及其对作物单产增长率的影响。结果表明:(1)研究区作物缺水指数呈先上升后下降的趋势,就作物缺水程度来看,南部干旱灾害最为严重,中部其次,北部最轻;(2)干旱对不同作物产量的影响差异显著。当0.60≤CWSI(作物缺水指数)<0.63时,小麦单产增长率受到干旱的影响;当0.63≤CWSI<0.64时,马铃薯和小麦受到干旱影响;当0.64≤CWSI<0.65时,大麦、马铃薯和小麦受到干旱影响;当0.65≤CWSI<0.66时,玉米、大麦、马铃薯和小麦受到干旱影响;当CWSI≥0.66时,玉米、大麦、马铃薯、小麦和水稻等5种作物均受到干旱影响;(3)干旱对作物产量的影响存在显著的区域差异,不同地区的作物受干旱影响的临界值和程度不同。     

Integrated pest management and weed management in the United States and Canada

There is interest in more diverse weed management tactics because of evolved herbicide resistance in important weeds in many US and Canadian crop systems. While herbicide resistance in weeds is not new, the issue has become critical because of the adoption of simple, convenient and inexpensive crop systems based on genetically engineered glyphosate‐tolerant crop cultivars. Importantly, genetic engineering has not been a factor in rice and wheat, two globally important food crops. There are many tactics that help to mitigate herbicide resistance in weeds and should be widely adopted. Evolved herbicide resistance in key weeds has influenced a limited number of growers to include a more diverse suite of tactics to supplement existing herbicidal tactics. Most growers still emphasize herbicides, often to the exclusion of alternative tactics. Application of integrated pest management for weeds is better characterized as integrated weed management, and more typically integrated herbicide management. However, adoption of diverse weed management tactics is limited. Modifying herbicide use will not solve herbicide resistance in weeds, and the relief provided by different herbicide use practices is generally short‐lived at best. More diversity of tactics for weed management must be incorporated in crop systems. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Plant training for induced defense against insect pests: a promising tool for integrated pest management in cotton

Enhancing cotton pest management using plant natural defenses has been described as a promising way to improve the management of crop pests. We here reviewed various studies on cotton growing systems to illustrate how an ancient technique called plant training, which includes plant topping and pruning, may contribute to this goal. Using examples from cotton crops, we show how trained plants can be brought to a state of enhanced defense that causes faster and more robust activation of their defense responses. We revisit the agricultural benefits associated with this technique in cotton crops, with a focus on its potential as a supplementary tool for integrated pest management (IPM). In particular, we examine its role in mediating plant interactions with conspecific neighboring plants, pests and associated natural enemies. We propose a new IPM tool, plant training for induced defense, which involves inducing plant defense through artificial injury. Experimental evidence from various studies shows that cotton training is a promising technique, particularly for smallholders, which can be used as part of an IPM program to significantly reduce insecticide use and to improve productivity in cotton farming. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

发展化学除草重视综合治理

我国农田杂草有２５０多种，全国农田受草害面积４３００多万ｈｍ２，平均受草害减产１３．４％，每年减产粮食１７５０万ｔ，皮棉２５．５万ｔ和大豆５０万ｔ。传统农业生产采用机械作业及人力等除草。随着农村经济的发展，化学除草面积迅速扩大，全国农田化学除草面积从１９７５年的１７０万ｈｍ２增加到１９９５年的４１３３万ｈｍ２。但是，长期化学除草也带来了除草剂土壤残留对后茬作物药害、农田杂草种群更替和产生抗药性等新问题。必须重视农田杂草综合治理，通过采用各种有效的农业技术措施，为农作物保持良好的生态条件，结合化学除草才是最有效的防除杂草方法