Response of weed flora to combinations of reduced tillage, biocide application and fertilization practices in a 3-year crop rotation

Weed flora in a crop rotation of soybean, sugar beet, and spring wheat were studied under combinations of conventional and reduced tillage, biocide application, and chemical fertilization to investigate whether any combination of conservational practices offers the potential to increase weed community diversity while maintaining weed biomass at an acceptable level. Weed density increased under reduced biocide application. Weed density and size increased under manure compost application (with reduced chemical fertilization) because of weed seed introduction. Weed emergence from seeds dispersed in the previous year was greater under reduced tillage. Two-year individuals increased under a combination of reduced tillage, reduced biocide application and manure compost application. These increases in weed population density and size under conservational practices were yet not consistent; rather, they showed an annually fluctuating trend. In terms of weed diversity, species richness and Shannon's diversity index were higher under manure application because of the introduction of new species and probably as a result of suppression of weed growth and reproduction, which can reduce the chance of dominance by certain species. When combined with manure application, reduced tillage may offer the potential for increasing diversity by reducing the competitiveness of dominant species and facilitating establishment of new or minor species.     

Weed management in conservation crop production systems

Information on weed management in conservation crop production systems is needed as adoption of practices such as reduced tillage and cover crops becomes more widespread. This review summarizes recent research on weed management aspects in these systems. Changes in patterns of tillage, planting systems, and other management strategies can alter the soil environment and lead to shifts in weed populations. Weed patterns and populations are not always consistent and vary with locale, crop, and herbicide use. However, in many long-term conservation management studies, a general increase in perennial weeds and grass species has been observed. The development of low-dose herbicides, selective postemergence herbicides, and transgenic crops has greatly improved the flexibility of producers who use conservation systems where opportunities for tillage are limited. With a higher level of management inputs, producers can successfully implement conservation management practices.     

Weed seed bank as affected by tillage,residue, and fertilization management under sweet corn-wheat cropping sequence in Iran

Soil weed seed bank is an important factor determining above-ground floristic composition and weed density in agricultural systems. The quantitative and qualitative measures of weed seed bank can help growers to predict the extent to which they are facing weed problems. Along with tillage, crop residues can affect the fate of weeds in the upcoming crops. To investigate such effects, we compared the effects of tillage systems [conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no tillage (NT)], wheat residue retention, and nitrogen (N) rates (0, 69, 138, and 207 kg N ha⁻¹) on depth-related characteristics of the weed seed bank under a sweet corn-wheat sequence during 2014–2015 growing seasons in Shiraz, Iran. Soil bank was not affected by tillage systems but tended to be slightly higher under RT. The highest (898 seeds m⁻²) and lowest (322 seeds m⁻²) weed population at 0–10 cm depth were found when 138 kg N ha⁻¹ in 2015 and 207 kg N ha⁻¹ in 2014 were applied. Species richness and diversity were higher under NT and RT practices at the top layer, but CT system was more diversified at deeper depths. They were higher when crop residues were retained as well. Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli [L.] Beauv), common lambsquarter (Chenopodium album L.), common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.), flixweed (Descoreinia sofia [L.] Webb. & Berth.), henbit (Lamium amplexicaule L.), pigweeds (Amaranthus spp.), and stinking goosefoot (Chenopodium vulvaria L.) were the most common weeds found in all tillage systems and soil depths. Grasses were relatively lower than broadleaves regardless of treatments. Weed seed bank was mostly affected by weather conditions than treatments in this short-term experiment.     

Apera spica-venti population dynamics and impact on crop yield as affected by tillage, crop rotation, location and herbicide programmes

Apera spica‐venti is a winter annual grass and, increasingly, a severe weed problem in autumn‐sown crops. Non‐inversion tillage has become more common in Denmark in recent years, but may accentuate problems with A. spica‐venti. These problems may be avoided, if selected preventive and cultural weed management practices are adopted. To this end, we conducted a 4‐year field study investigating the effects of crop rotation, tillage method, location and limited herbicide input on A. spica‐venti population dynamics and crop yield. Additionally, detailed studies were performed on the fate of A. spica‐venti seeds when incorporated to different soil depths. The location with a lighter soil texture, cooler climate and higher rainfall favoured A. spica‐venti growth and consequently crop yield loss, especially in the crop sequence comprised only of autumn‐sown crops and with non‐inversion tine tillage. Incorporating A. spica‐venti seeds in the soil improved their survival, explaining the higher A. spica‐venti proliferation seen with tine tillage as opposed to direct drilling. The rotations including an even mixture of spring‐ and autumn‐sown crops did not lead to noteworthy changes in the A. spica‐venti population, irrespective of tillage method. Thus, in many regions, management of A. spica‐venti will require rotations that balance autumn‐ and spring‐sown crops.     

Effects of crop management practices on Echinochloa crus-galli and Chenopodium album seed production in a maize/soyabean rotation

Seed production of residual weed populations needs to be taken into account when estimating the long-term impact of low-input agronomic practices. The objective of this study was to measure the effects and interactions of crop, weed control, tillage practice and nutrient source on the seed production of the dominant residual weed species in a maize/soyabean rotation at two sites: Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. on a Sainte-Rosalie clay and Chenopodium album L. on a Duravin clay loam. Seed production per unit area was estimated in each experimental unit. Weed seed production was greater under mechanical weed control compared with chemical weed control. In 1997, E. crus-galli seed production reached over 326 000 seeds m^–2 in mechanical weed control treatments, but averaged less than 500 seeds m^–2 in the chemical weed control treatments. Chenopodium album produced in the range of 766 000 and 73 000 seeds m^–2 in mechanical and chemical weed control treatments respectively. Very few or no weed seeds were produced in soyabean under chemical control. Tillage intensity and nutrient source did not affect seed production of either weed species, with the exception that E. crus-galli produced more seeds in chisel than in mouldboard plough tillage in soyabean. Weed control method had more impact on seed production than tillage intensity and nutrient source in a maize/soyabean rotation.     

Effect of tillage, cover crop and crop rotation on the composition of weed flora in a sandy soil

The development of integrated weed management strategies requires knowledge of mechanisms that influence compositional changes in weed flora. A 9-year study was initiated in 1988 at Delhi, Canada, on a loamy sand soil to evaluate the effect of tillage systems [conventional (CT) and no-till (NT)] and cover crops (only in NT) on weed density, species composition and associations, and crop yield in a winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)/bean/winter wheat rotation. Three bean types: soyabean ( Glycine max L. Merr.), white bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and kidney bean ( P . vulgaris L.) were included. The NT system included variations: rye ( Secale cereale L.) or maize ( Zea mays L.) cover crop, volunteer wheat disked after harvest and wheat stubble. Data were collected in 1994, 1995 and 1996. Tillage systems, cover crops and crop type had differential effects on weed densities, species composition and associations. Weed densities were not affected by tillage or cover crops in wheat but, in the beans, densities were greater in the CT than in the NT systems. Various associations of weed species with tillage system, cover crop and crop type were observed. Crop yields were not affected by tillage type or cover crop, except that soyabean yields were highest in plots with cover crops.     

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.     

Competition between sugarbeet and Sinapis arvensis and Chenopodium album, as affected by timing of nitrogen fertilization

The effects of timing of N fertilization (early, standard or late) on competition between two sugarbeet cultivars (Ritmo, semi-prostrate; and Rizor, erect) and two weeds ( Sinapis arvensis and Chenopodium album ) were studied over 2 years at Viterbo. In both years, time of N fertilization did not influence biomass, yield and yield quality of the weed-free crop, but early N fertilization gave higher crop biomass reduction in the presence of S. arvensis and lower crop biomass reduction in the presence of C. album . Root and sucrose yield responded to competition in the same way as biomass. However, percentage reductions were higher, as both weeds affected harvest index. The two cultivars showed the same response to competition. At the weed densities studied, crop competitive ability was favoured by late N fertilization in the presence of S. arvensis and by early N fertilization in the presence of C. album . Crop competition only reduced seed production by C. album but lowered seed germination of both weeds.     

耕作与施肥模式对渭北旱塬春玉米田蓄水保墒与玉米产量的影响

为揭示渭北旱塬春玉米田休闲期不同保护性耕作模式的蓄水保墒与增产增收效应,寻找适合渭北旱塬春玉米田水肥高效利用的耕作方式和施肥水平,于2013—2014年度在陕西省合阳县甘井镇春玉米田分别设置传统农户模式(翻耕+低肥,S1)、现有高效模式(免耕+高肥,S2)、创新高效模式(深松+平衡施肥,S3)等模式处理,研究各类耕作与施肥相结合保护性耕作模式下春玉米水分利用率、产量和经济效益差异。结果表明,创新模式S3和现有模式S2较农户模式S1播前增加了土壤贮水量;创新模式S3和现有模式S2处理在玉米主要生育期0~200 cm土层平均土壤贮水量分别比农户模式S1增加23.3 mm和18.1 mm,水分利用效率分别提高12.3%和10%,产量增加11.1%、9.2%。创新模式和现有模式均较农户模式能够增加土壤贮水量,提高水分利用效率,增加产量和经济效益,但创新模式蓄水保墒,增产增收优势明显,是适合渭北旱塬地区春玉米生产的水肥管理模式。     

渭北旱塬不同耕作措施对土壤养分分布及作物产量的影响

基于8年(2007—2015)定位试验,在小麦-玉米轮作下研究了免耕-深松(NS)、深松-翻耕(SC)、翻耕-免耕(CN)和连年免耕(NN)、深松(SS)、翻耕(CC)等轮耕措施对土壤养分分布及作物产量的影响。结果表明:深松处理(连年深松、免耕-深松)使表层(0~10 cm)土壤与底层(10~20、20~35、35~50 cm)土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、速效磷、速效钾等养分含量差异更大,翻耕或免耕的相对差异较小;在0~50 cm的土层中,硝态氮含量在20~35 cm土层相对较高,且以翻耕(CC)处理的含量最高;铵态氮含量在10~20 cm土层相对较高,以免耕-深松(NS)处理的含量最高;连年深松(SS)处理使土壤全钾表层含量较高。免耕-深松(NS)措施在6种耕作措施中小麦和玉米产量均为最高,显著高于翻耕(CC)、免耕(NN)措施。     

Weed seed decay in conventional and diversified cropping systems

Diversified cropping systems can have high soil microbial biomass and thus strong potential to reduce the weed seedbank through seed decay. This study, conducted in Iowa, USA, evaluated the hypothesis that weed seed decay is higher in a diversified 4‐year maize–soyabean–oat/lucerne–lucerne cropping system than in a conventional 2‐year maize–soyabean rotation. Mesh bags filled with either Setaria faberi or Abutilon theophrasti seeds and soil were buried at two depths in the maize phase of the two cropping systems and sampled over a 3‐year period. Setaria faberi seed decay was consistently greater at 2 cm than at 20 cm burial depth and was higher in the more diverse rotation than in the conventional rotation in 1 year. Abutilon theophrasti seeds decayed very little in comparison with seeds of S. faberi. Separate laboratory and field experiments confirmed differences in germination and seed decay among the seed lots evaluated each year. Fusarium, Pythium, Alternaria, Cladosporium and Trichoderma were the most abundant genera colonising seeds of both species. A glasshouse experiment determined a relationship between Pythium ultimum and S. faberi seed decay. Possible differences in seed susceptibility to decay indicate the need to evaluate weed seedbank dynamics in different cropping systems when evaluating overall population dynamics and formulating weed management strategies.     

Benchmark study on glyphosate-resistant cropping systems in the United States. Part 4: Weed management practices and effects on weed populations and soil seedbanks

BACKGROUND: Weed management in glyphosate‐resistant (GR) maize, cotton and soybean in the United States relies almost exclusively on glyphosate, which raises criticism for facilitating shifts in weed populations. In 2006, the benchmark study, a field‐scale investigation, was initiated in three different GR cropping systems to characterize academic recommendations for weed management and to determine the level to which these recommendations would reduce weed population shifts. RESULTS: A majority of growers used glyphosate as the only herbicide for weed management, as opposed to 98% of the academic recommendations implementing at least two herbicide active ingredients and modes of action. The additional herbicides were applied with glyphosate and as soil residual treatments. The greater herbicide diversity with academic recommendations reduced weed population densities before and after post‐emergence herbicide applications in 2006 and 2007, particularly in continuous GR crops. CONCLUSION: Diversifying herbicides reduces weed population densities and lowers the risk of weed population shifts and the associated potential for the evolution of glyphosate‐resistant weeds in continuous GR crops. Altered weed management practices (e.g. herbicides or tillage) enabled by rotating crops, whether GR or non‐GR, improves weed management and thus minimizes the effectiveness of only using chemical tactics to mitigate weed population shifts. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Weed seed predation rate in cereals as a function of seed density and patch size,under high predation pressure by rodents

Weed seed predation is an ecosystem service, influencing weed population dynamics. The impact of weed seed predation on weed population dynamics depends on how predators respond to seed patches at the field scale. Seed predation will be most effective if the proportion of seeds predated increases with increasing size and seed density of patches. Density‐dependent rodent seed predation was measured by varying seed density and patch size in four irrigated conventionally managed cereal fields in north eastern Spain. Artificial weed seed patches were created by applying a range of Lolium multiflorum seed densities from 0 to 7500 seeds m^?2 in 225 m² patches (2008) or in patches that varied in size from 1 to 9 m² (2009). Seed predation was estimated using seed cards and seed frames. The granivorous rodents Mus spretus and Apodemus sylvaticus caused high seed predation rates (92%) in three fields, whereas in a fourth field, it was lower (47%). Rodents responded in an inversely density‐dependent manner, but this had little biological meaning as even in patches seeded with the highest density, the input to the soil seedbank was reduced by 88%. For the period of time this experiment lasted, hardly any new seeds would have entered the seedbank.     

Cover crops and mulches influence weed management and weed flora composition in strip‐tilled tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

This study was conducted in the Mediterranean environment of Central Italy from 2011 to 2013 with the aim of evaluating the effects of winter cover crops and their residues on weed composition in a cover crop‐tomato sequence. Treatments consisted of five soil managements (three cover crop species ‐ hairy vetch, phacelia, white mustard, winter fallow mulched with barley straw before tomato transplanting and conventionally tilled soil), two nitrogen fertilisation levels (0 and 100 kg N ha^?1) and two weed management levels (weed free and weedy) on tomato. Cover crop residues were arranged in strips on the soil surface and then used as beds for transplanting the tomato seedlings in paired rows. Rotary hoeing was performed in the bare strips between paired tomato rows. At tomato harvesting, the weed aboveground biomass and density was higher in nitrogen‐fertilised tomato than unfertilised tomato, except in hairy vetch and barley straw that showed similar values. Hairy vetch used as a cover crop and dead mulch was the most suppressive species with the highest production of residues, while phacelia and mustard were not suitable for controlling weeds. The tomato yield was high in nitrogen fertilised and weed‐free treatments, except in barley straw mulch, which showed similar values among the weed management treatments. The mulch strips caused variations in weed species composition that was mainly composed of perennial ruderal weeds, while in tilled soil, the weed flora was dominated by annual photoblastic weeds.     

Weed flora in the Rift Valley sugarcane plantations of Ethiopia as influenced by soil types and agronomic practises

A survey was carried out on 72 sugarcane fields in Wonji-Shoa and Methara sugarcane plantations in the Rift Valley, Ethiopia, to determine the composition and distribution of weeds and to assess the influence of soil types and crop management practises on weed species composition and distribution. A total of 180 weed taxa belonging to 40 families was recorded. Poaceae, Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, and Malvaceae were the most abundant families based on the number of species recorded. Annuals were more common (137 taxa) than perennials (43 taxa). The most frequent and problematic weed species in the plantations, irrespective of the soil types and crop types, were Cyperus spp., Sorghum spp., Euphorbia hirta , Ipomoea cordofana , Rhynchosia malacophylla , Datura stramonium , Launaea cornuta , Portulaca oleracea , and Amaranthus spp., with a frequency of > 65%. Perennial, rhizomatous Cyperus spp. were more dominant in ratoon crops than in plant crops. A partial canonical correspondence analysis (pCCA) showed that soil types, fertilizer application, and crop cycles were the major factors influencing the species distribution in the plantations among all the variables considered in the study. The first pCCA axis structured weed species associated with light-textured soil in contrast to weeds on heavy soil. D. stramonium , Tagetes minuta , and Galinsoga parviflora were mostly associated with light-textured soil, while Xanthium strumarium , Hibiscus trionum , Vigna fischeri , and Ipomoea eriocarpa were mostly associated with heavy-textured soils. The second axis distinguished those species associated with fields receiving fertilizers versus those that were not fertilized. Rottboellia cochinchinensis and Phyllanthus tenellus were mainly associated with fertilized fields while E. hirta and L. cornuta were common on unfertilized fields.     

Weed species composition of maize fields in Germany is influenced by site and crop sequence

During the last decade, maize has become the crop with the second largest acreage in Germany. Therefore, agricultural advisors and the plant protection sector are interested in an overview of the weed species composition in maize fields, their determining factors and trends. From 2001 to 2009, a weed survey was conducted in 1460 maize fields throughout Germany. Data on crop management and soil characteristics were collected via farmer questionnaires. Principal component analysis and redundancy analysis were used to analyse patterns in weed species composition. The late spring and summer germinating species Chenopodium spp., Echinochloa crus‐galli and Solanum nigrum occurred with high densities and frequencies, but their occurrence was determined by different factors. Other frequent weed species were those that typically accompany autumn‐sown crops. The variation in species composition was significantly related to environmental factors (9.1% explained variance), particularly geographical latitude and precipitation, and management factors (4.7% explained variance), particularly crop sequence. The relative importance of these factors seems universal, when compared with surveys in other crops and regions. The factor ‘year’ was of minor importance (0.9% explained variance). Over the 9‐year period, no changes in weed species composition could be determined. The results suggest that despite the limited impact of crop management on weed species composition, farmers can use crop sequence to suppress individual species. The survey furthermore sets a baseline against which future changes can be measured in a landscape of rapidly changing agricultural land use.     

用增稳系数评价钾肥配合秸秆还田对作物的增产稳定性效应

根据长期定位试验结果,提出增产稳定性系数(增稳系数)指标,据此研究化学钾肥和秸秆配合施用对小麦玉米产量的持续增产稳定性效应,以期更合理评价钾肥配合秸秆还田这一施肥方式对作物增产稳定性的影响。试验共设4个处理,分别为:(1)只施氮磷肥的对照(NP);(2)在对照基础上加施秸秆(NPSt);(3)在对照基础上加施钾肥(NPK);(4)在对照基础上加施秸秆和钾肥(NPKSt)。结果表明:增稳系数可以作为评价施肥方案对作物产量长期持续增产效应的综合指标;不同施肥方案的长期持续增产效应定量分析表明,钾肥配合秸秆还田方案不但促进作物增产,还能提高增产的持续稳定性。     

Behaviour of bentazon as influenced by water and tillage management in rice‐growing conditions

Bentazon is a widely used herbicide in rice agroecosystems that has commonly been found in water resources. To assess how tillage and water regimes affect sorption/desorption, dissipation and leaching of bentazon in Mediterranean rice‐growing conditions, field experiments were carried out using tillage and flooding (TF), tillage and sprinkler irrigation (TS), no‐tillage and sprinkler irrigation (NTS) and long‐term no‐tillage and sprinkler irrigation (NTS7). After 3 years, the K_d values in TS were 2.3, 1.6 and 1.7 times lower than the values in NTS7, NTS and TF respectively. Greater sorption of bentazon was related to higher contents in total organic carbon and, although to a lesser extent, in humic acids and dissolved organic carbon. The persistence of bentazon was significantly greater under anaerobic (half‐life DT₅₀ = 94.1–135 days) than under aerobic (DT₅₀ = 42.4–91.3 days) incubation conditions for all management regimes. Leaching losses of bentazon were reduced from 78 and 74% in TS and TF to 61 and 62% in NTS7 and NTS respectively. The mid‐ and long‐term implementation of sprinkler irrigation in combination with no‐tillage could be considered a management system that is effective at reducing water contamination by bentazon in Mediterranean rice‐growing agroecosystems. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry