Herbicides are more cost-effective than alternative weed control methods for increasing early growth of Eucalyptus dunnii and Eucalyptus saligna

Effective weed control is an essential management task in establishing commercial tree plantations. Much of the current weed control strategies employed in Australian forestry relies on the use of available herbicides. However, given community concern regarding the use of herbicides, investigation of alternative weed control methods is warranted. We tested the ability and cost-effectiveness of mechanical (hand weeding and inter-row slashing), mulching (sawdust over newsprint, woodchips and jute), cover crops and herbicide applications for weed control in establishing eucalypt plantations. Jute matting and herbicide treatments reduced weed competition and increased seedling growth to age 2 years in plantations of Eucalyptus dunnii and Eucalyptus saligna in northern NSW, Australia. Growth increased by 269 % (Experiment 1) and 196 % (Experiment 2) in the Jute and by 216 % (Experiment 2) in the Herbicide treatments when compared to the control (no weed control) at 2 years age. As the Jute material deteriorated, after nearly 2 years, weed cover increased and there were significantly more weeds present in the Jute treatment compared to the Herbicide treatment. Jute matting costs approximately 15 times more than the herbicide regime used and, therefore, could not presently be considered a viable option for weed control in commercial eucalypt plantations. Other weed control treatments, including hand weeding, sawdust and woodchip mulches, slashing and sowing cover crops did not effectively control weeds and did not improve survival or increase seedling growth to age 2 relative to the control. We conclude that herbicides remain the most cost-effective weed control option available to commercial growers of eucalypt plantations.     

Weed dynamics during the change of a degraded pasture to agroforestry system

This study evaluates weed dynamics during the first 4 years (2008–2011) of the implementation of an agroforestry system in the municipality of Tomé-açu in the state of Pará, Brazil. The study was conducted in a degraded pasture of Brachiaria humidicola, and treatments (T) included mixed plantations of oil palm with short-cycle leguminous species (T1) with the inclusion of manioc in T2 and forest species and palm trees in T3. In 2008, a floristic survey was conducted in 12 plots of 2 × 2 m per treatment. In 2009, herbicide was applied to one half of the area in each treatment. A total of 19,367 individuals of height <1.5 m were surveyed, of which 51 % were B. humidicola and 21 % were leguminous species that had been planted. Overall, an increase in plant density was observed between 2009 and 2010, followed by a decrease over the following year in areas without herbicide and a tendency for high densities to persist in areas with herbicide. Species richness increased over the study period in all areas (with or without herbicide), which might be related to habitat availability resulting from the reduced density of B. humidicola due to the effects of the herbicide, the leguminous species planted and the development of the agroforestry system. The association of short-cycle leguminous plants with afforestation appears to be an effective method for controlling weeds in the absence of herbicides.     

Pre-emergence herbicides affect seedling emergence of tropical forest tree species

Testing techniques to reduce weed infestation is a crucial step in developing direct tree seeding systems. The use of pre-emergence herbicides may be an alternative to manual weeding techniques, but so far, information on how they affect the seeds of native tree species is scarce. We established a greenhouse experiment to evaluate the effects of four pre-emergence herbicides (atrazine, diuron, isoxaflutole and oxyfluorfen) on weed suppression and seedling emergence and early growth of seven tropical forest tree species (Annona coriacea Mart., Citharexylum myrianthum Cham., Cordia ecalyculata Vell., Peltophorum dubium (Spreng.) Taub., Psidium guajava L., Pterogyne nitens Tul. and Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with five treatments and five replicates. The treatments consisted of a single dose of each pre-emergence herbicide and a control. Throughout the 60 days after sowing we evaluated weed cover and seedling emergence and early growth of tree species. Overall, our results suggest that all tested herbicides reduced weed cover; however, they also negatively affected tree species seedling emergence. Of the four herbicides tested, atrazine and diuron showed the greatest effects on tree seedling emergence, oxyfluorfen was least aggressive towards native species and isoxaflutole was most effective in weed control. Native tree species varied in their responses to herbicides, indicating that future experiments should increase the number of species tested as well as investigate how seed traits can affect the species responses to different herbicides.     

Vegetation response to intensity of herbaceous weed control in a newly planted loblolly pine plantation

Growth of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings through three growing seasons after planting increased with intensity of herbaceous weed control using herbicides. Weed control had no effect on pine survival. Two years of complete herbaceous weed control (CHC, control throughout the first two growing seasons after planting) and operational herbaceous weed control (OHC, sulfometuron at 0.42 kg ai/ha at the beginning of the first growing season), resulted in lower biomass of weeds plus trees than with no herbaceous weed control (NHC) during the first growing season. Differences in total biomass during the first year were due to differences in biomass of herbaceous weeds. Total biomass on CHC and OHC plots was at least as great as NHC the second year, and greater by the third year, as pines assumed dominance as a result of increased growth from reduction of herbaceous weeds. The operational herbicide treatment had no significant impact on overall herbaceous weed biomass and cover, and little effect on species composition compared to no herbaceous weed control two and three growing seasons after treatment. The CHC treatment significantly reduced herbaceous weed biomass, cover and composition through three growing seasons.     

林业苗圃杂草种群结构的研究

林业苗圃杂草种群结构的研究结果表明:苗圃地的杂草种群结构受环境条件的影响,不同的覆盖物、不同的时期杂草种群的结构有所差异;苗圃杂草种群的形成有一定的规律,遵循S型曲线的变化规律;杂草种群个体数量的高发生期在10 d左右,一般在6月中旬大量发生;播下林木种子后,立即施用除草剂,能够有效地控制杂草种群,缩短杂草的大量发生期限。     

The tolerance of newly emerged broadleaved tree seedlings to the herbicides clopyralid, cycloxydim and metazachlor

In direct-seeded woodlands and nursery seed-beds, weeds canrapidly invade newly sown areas, leading to death or suppressionof tree seedlings. Hand weeding is usually expensive, and thesafe use of broad-spectrum contact herbicides is seldom possible.Hence in the work reported here, the tolerance of young treeseedlings to the potentially more selective, post-emergenceherbicides clopyralid, cycloxydim and metazachlor, was tested.Seedlings of Fraxinus excelsior L. (ash) with two to four expandedtrue leaves (2–4 ETL), Fagus sylvatica L. (beech) (2–4ETL), Acer pseudoplatanus L. (sycamore) (4–6 ETL), Prunusavium L. (cherry) (6–8 ETL) and Quercus robur L. (oak)(6–8 ETL) appeared to tolerate applications of cycloxydimat a rate of 0.45 kg a.i. ha^–1. Applications of 0.2 kga.i. ha^–1 clopyralid or 1.25 kg a.i. ha^–1 metazachloralso appeared to be generally tolerated, but did cause somesuppression of annual growth increment in Q. robur, P. avium,F. sylvatica and A. pseudoplatanus, particularly where repeatapplications were made to the earliest growth stages. Seedlingsurvival was unaffected by any herbicide treatment. Mixturesof all three herbicides were no more damaging than the sameherbicides applied separately. Therefore, depending on treespecies and growth stage, it appears that clopyralid could potentiallybe safely used to control a range of herbaceous weed species,metazachlor a variety of seedling or germinating weeds and cycloxydima range of established grass weed species, in direct sown woodlandsor nursery seed-beds, although further research is advisableto confirm crop safety.     

Density-effect and economic threshold of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) in soybean

Purple nutsedge (~nutsedge) is an important perennial weed, which infests soybean in India and causes high yield losses. Selective pre-emergence herbicides hardly control nutsedge. Post-emergent application of imazethapyr is effective against nutsedge with almost 70 % efficiency. Information on the interference effect of nutsedge across densities on soybean and its economic threshold (ET) is hardly available, but would be useful for its management, and saving herbicide treatments with lower densities. An experiment was designed to evaluate the interference of nutsedge in pure stands, and that of natural weed infestations on soybean. Moreover, it was aimed to determine ET of nutsedge in soybean. The dry weights of weeds in the treatments ‘natural weeds including nutsedge’ and the one of nutsedges in the pure stand density of nutsedge 200 plants/m² were similar and higher than weed biomass in other nutsedge densities. The ‘natural weed infestation both including and excluding nutsedge’ and the treatment of 200 nutsedge plants/m² caused greater reductions in soybean yields and were the most competitive. The ET of nutsedge in soybean was 19–22 (~mean 21) plants/m², considering 70 % efficiency of the herbicide imazethapyr. It predicts that a density of 21 nutsedge plants/m² can cause 9.1–11.5 % yield losses, which are an economic loss under this situation. This ET would help in making decisions for nutsedge management and fitting models and could be used for other similar sites with nutsedge dominance. This ET, considering several production factors, is more precise and reliable than the ET determined with only yield losses.     

Effect of post-planting applications of granulated atrazine and fertiliser on the early growth of Eucalyptus nitens

A factorial experiment was established in a plantation of Eucalyptus nitens in southern Tasmania on a site which had formerly carried native eucalypt forest. Before planting, the site had been cleared of weeds with foliar translocated and pre-emergence herbicides. The first factor of the experiment examined the effects on tree growth of no post-planting weed control, control by hand or with three levels of application of granulated atrazine, 0.9, 1.8 and 8 kg ha^–1. The second factor examined the effects of no fertiliser application or the application of nitrogen as urea at 200 kg ha^–1 N plus triple superphosphate at 120 kg ha^–1 P. Tree growth responses to treatments were examined at 11, 16, 23 and 29 months of age.Fertiliser application increased tree height and diameter growth. Application of atrazine generally reduced height and diameter growth, but this was statistically significant only at the highest rate of application. Growth reduction occurred even though atrazine reduced post-planting weed cover on the site and hence potential competition with the tree crop for site resources. Hand weeding reduced the weed crop on the site even more than atrazine, but this did not increase growth of the tree crop.Given satisfactory establishment practices which include the use of herbicides pre-planting, it was concluded that post-planting weed regeneration was not sufficiently vigorous to warrant post-planting weed control on these sites. The use of atrazine for post-planting weed control could even be deleterious to eucalypts.     

The Importance of Weed Control and the Use of Tree Shelters for Establishing Broadleaved Trees on Grass-Dominated Sites in England

The results of seven experiments are used to illustrate themechanisms of weed competition and its effects. Studies of soilmoisture tension and foliar nutrient content indicated thatcompetition was primarily for moisture and nutrients reducingthe survival and growth of young trees. These effects are greateron soils with poor moisture retention, or where the climateresults in high soil moisture deficits. To be effective, weedcontrol must eliminate root competition. This can be done bycultivation, herbicides or mulching; cutting weeds above groundlevel is ineffective. Tree shelters accelerate the height growthof young trees and protect them from mammals and herbicide drift.     

Effects of application date and rate of foliar-applied glyphosate on pine seedlings in Turkey

Glyphosate is the herbicide most extensively used for site preparation and conifer release. It is a broadspectrum herbicide and therefore crop safety is a critical issue. This study assessed the early effects of 14 different treatments, including no weed control, manual weed control, and 12 foliar-applied herbicide treatments at low,intermediate, high, and highest application rates and application timing on glyphosate phytotoxicity of containerized seedlings of Austrian pine(Pinus nigra J.F.Arnold.), Scots pine(P. sylvestris L.) and maritime pine(P.pinaster Aiton), conifer species widely used for afforestation and supplementary plantings in Turkish forestry. In general, Scots pine seedlings were tolerant to glyphosate compared to the other species. Glyphosate phytotoxicity varied significantly according to the time and rate of application. Seedlings were relatively tolerant to glyphosate in April whereas they were intolerant in May. The highest herbicide rate(1.2% v:v) was consistently phytotoxic to all species. Moreover, the effect of herbicide rate on seedling survival and growth varied significantly according to application date(i.e., application rate 9 date interaction). Seedlings appeared tolerant to glyphosate at low and intermediate rates(0.2, 0.4% v:v) between midspring and mid-summer, whereas they demonstrated significant sensitivity to the highest rate across all time periods. Glyphosate at the high rate(0.8% v:v) was particularly more phytotoxic when applied in May. Application of glyphosate at rates up to 0.8% could be recommended for weed control without significant pine damage in midspring when the needles presumably have a dense leaf epicuticular wax layer limiting herbicide penetration.Applications of 0.8 and 1.2% v:v are not recommended during May–June.     

Pine growth response to different site-preparation methods with or without post-plant herbaceous weed control on North Florida's Lower Coastal Plain

A study was initiated in 1994 to evaluate the effects of bedding timing and frequency and pre-plant herbicide application, with and without post-plant herbaceous weed control, on growth of three slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) plantations and one loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation on flatwoods sites. Site preparation treatments included early bedding alone, late bedding alone, double bedding, early bedding plus banded pre-plant herbicide, and early bedding plus broadcast pre-plant herbicide. Each site preparation treatment was tested with and without a first-year post-plant herbicide application for herbaceous weed control (HC). Results ranging from age 5 to 11 are reported, depending on installation. Pine growth following late bedding alone was similar or greater than that with early bedding alone. Double bedding did not consistently increase pine growth as compared with single bedding alone. Early bedding plus either broadcast or banded pre-plant herbicide application generally exhibited greater pine growth than did bedding alone treatments or bedding plus post-plant herbaceous weed control treatments. Broadcast pre-plant herbicide application resulted in similar or greater growth than banded pre-plant herbicide application. Post-plant herbaceous weed control improved loblolly pine growth across all site preparation regimes on the one test location. For slash pine plantations evaluated, post-plant herbaceous weed control resulted in significant growth increases on some but not all sites. The differences in growth response to bedding and pre- and post-plant herbicide applications are discussed in relation to treatment efficacy in controlling woody shrub and herbaceous competing vegetation. Effective bedding and chemical site preparation reduces the need for post-plant herbicide applications for slash pine on certain sites. Good site preparation, including the application of herbicides for competition control, is essential for fast growing slash and loblolly pine plantations in the flatwoods.     

Impact of indigenous aphids on development of the invasive common ragweed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ambrosia artemisiifolia</Emphasis> L.) in Hungary

The common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia is a widespread invasive weed species in Europe. In order to estimate the deteriorative effect of native arthropods on the invasive ragweed the effect of three indigenous aphid species on plant development and pollen production was studied. Common ragweed plants grown in a greenhouse were artificially infested with five apterous individuals of either Aphis fabae, Brachycaudus helichrysi or Myzus persicae at the 4-leaf stage. Feeding by all three aphid species over a 5-week period significantly reduced plant height, the number of male inflorescences, the length of racemes, pollen emission and plant dry mass. Brachycaudus helichrysi produced the largest colonies, followed by A. fabae and M. persicae. In a host plant choice test, B. helichrysi showed significant preference for ragweed over sunflower, whereas A. fabae preferred sunflower and M. persicae did not show any preference. In a field experiment, the growth rate of A. fabae on caged ragweed plants was similar to that in the greenhouse, but the final numbers of B. helichrysi and M. persicae after 30 days was ten and seven times lower than under greenhouse conditions, respectively. On exposed field plants, B. helichrysi was more abundant than other species. However, no aphid species affected the height or dry mass of either caged or exposed plants during a 30-day period. Under controlled conditions aphids effectively hampered development and pollen production of ragweed, however, under Hungarian field conditions the development of ragweed was much more dynamic, therefore no deleterious effect of aphid feeding occurred.     

豚草卷蛾调查研究初报

豚草是从北美传入我国的恶性杂草，传播广，繁殖快，严重影响了农业生产和危害人类的健康，目前对豚草的防治主要用化学除草除和连根拔除的方法，对豚草生物防治鲜见研究，据调查，江西首次发现豚草卷蛾能使豚草枯心，萎蔫，枯顶，这对用生物方法控制豚草蔓延了有重要作用。     

Results from six Pinus taeda nursery trials with the herbicide pendimethalin in the USA

Pendimethalin is used by some nursery managers to control weeds in Eucalyptus and Pinus seedbeds and cutting beds of Pinus. Six trials were implemented in open-rooted seedbeds to test the response of Pinus taeda to postemergence (to the crop) applications of 2.2 kg ha^?1 active ingredient of pendimethalin (the formulation contained 455 g l^?1). No stunting was noticed when treating seedlings with 2.2 kg ha^?1 four to 10 weeks after sowing. In one study, treated seedlings were larger than those not treated. Although the 2.2 kg ha^?1 rate provided good control of the prostrate weed Chamaesyce maculata, pine seedlings developed herbicide galls on the stem near the groundline. The frequency of herbicide galls at 2.2 kg ha^?1 varied by study and ranged from 0 to 28%. At present, it is not known if the frequency of gall formation depends on environmental or genetic differences.     

不同除草剂对长柄扁桃苗圃杂草的防治效果

对1年生长柄扁桃苗圃杂草进行了10种除草剂茎叶处理,结果表明：苗圃中的杂草以藜科和禾本科为主,所有除草剂处理对藜科杂草均有防除作用,14%草除灵、10.8%盖草能、12.5%拿扑净、48%排草丹、10.8%高盖+48%排草丹、12.5%拿扑净+48%灭草松、50%异丙隆对禾本科杂草的防效率较高,其中,50%异丙隆的杀草谱最广。48%灭草松和12.5%拿扑净+48%灭草松处理的杂草防效率高,但其对苗木的为害严重。高剂量10.8%盖草能和12.5%拿扑净处理下,杂草防效率达到了68%和56%,长柄扁桃苗未表现出药害症状,二者适用于长柄扁桃苗圃杂草的防治。     

Weed management through short-term improved fallows in tropical agroecosystems

Weeds in tropical agricultural systems can cause serious economic damage, and their control often requires the commitment of substantial resources in the way of labor, capital, or pesticides. Tropical shifting cultivation systems employ a fallow period to help overcome weed infestations in addition to improving soil productivity and reducing other pest populations. Short-term, intensive fallow systems that employ herbaceous and woody species to facilitate rapid restoration of soil productivity have evolved as an alternative to long-term fallows. Short-term fallows can impact weeds at all growth stages and play a role in the integrated management of weeds and crops. Fallow management that promotes vegetative soil cover may reduce weed recruitment due to attenuation of soil temperature and/or shift in light quality at the soil surface. Residues or litterfall from fallow species may alter the chemical and microbial ecology of the soil to favor losses from the weed seed bank due to germination, loss of seed vigor, or seed decay. In addition, fallow vegetation can influence weed seed predation. Enhancement of soil productivity should increase the vigor of crop growth and enable crops to better compete with weeds. The burning of fallow species residues may result in weed seed death due to extreme temperatures or may induce seed germination by the release of mechanical dormancy or chemical germination cues. Certain weeds may serve as improved fallow species due to their high nutrient scavenging efficiency in low-fertility environments and their ease of establishment. Short-term improved fallows can be an important component of integrated weed management, particularly by promoting the prevention and tolerance of weeds in crops.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Weed seedbank characteristics of arable fields under different fallow management systems in the humid tropical zone of southeastern Nigeria

The composition and pattern of weed flora in arable fields are determined by their seedbank structure; but the influence of fallow management practices on weed seedbank structure is presently unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate weed seedbank characteristics and weed population dynamics in arable fields in natural and planted-fallow systems. The study plots were at Mbaise, a densely populated area of southeastern Nigeria, where farmers regenerate their exhausted soils by maintaining planted fallows of Dactyladenia barteri (Hook. F. ex Oliv.) Prance & F. White, and at Umuahia, a less-densely populated area in the same region, where farmers depend on natural bush fallow for soil regeneration. The effect of three years of fallow on the weed flora of arable fields in the two fallow management systems differed remarkably. The first flush of weeds on fields that were cultivated after three years of planted D. barteri fallow (Mbaise) consisted of 80% broadleaf weeds, 7% grass weeds and 13% sedges. On the other hand, the first flush of weeds on the natural bush fallow fields (Umuahia) of the same fallow duration as the D. barteri fallow system consisted of 17% broadleaf weeds, 70% grasses and 13% sedges. Three years of planted fallow caused 36% decrease in weed seedbank at Mbaise relative to the cropped field while the same duration of natural bush fallow caused a 31% increase in weed seedbank at Umuahia. These results show that the planted D. barteri fallow system has a higher potential to reduce weed pressure in smallholder agriculture than the natural bush fallow system and may explain in part why farmers in this humid forest zone have adopted the practice. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

森泰除草剂防除香椿幼林地杂草的试验研究

使用25%森泰水剂和5%森泰颗粒剂防除香椿幼林地的杂草研究试验结果表明:25%森泰水剂和5%森泰颗粒剂均能够有效防除香椿幼林地的五节芒、苦竹、刚竹、芒萁骨等多年生恶性杂草,防除效果均可达93%以上。使用25%森泰水剂除草比人工除草可减少用工56 1%～92 2%,降低除草成本36 1%～61%。同时,可根据幼林地杂草的种类、高度、盖度和水源等因素选择合适的森泰除草剂的剂型和剂量组合,以达到理想的防除杂草效果。     

Relationship between fallow period,forest vegetation and weeds in swidden agriculture in northern Laos

Weed suppression is an important reason for fallowing in swidden systems. Recently, in Laos, an increase in weeds and resulting increase in labor input has become a problem; however, causal factors influencing weed growth and weeding labor other than fallow period have yet to be fully examined. Therefore, an experimental research on swidden weeds, combining a forest survey and interviews with local farmers, was conducted in a mountain village in northern Laos where swidden agriculture is practiced as a major means of livelihood. Weed amount, weed composition and time required for weeding were found to be more influenced by fallow vegetation than fallow period. Bushy vegetation in a short fallow field was shown to lead to abundance of herbaceous weeds, resulting in higher labor input. There was a possibility that increases in some bamboo species were a cause of recent weed increases. Based on the results, we suggest that maintaining a minimum fallow period of forest fallowing, with fallow management to suppress bamboo and promote tree growth may be effective in reducing labor input in swidden agriculture.     

Site influences herbicide efficiency and growth of planted hardwoods

Several herbicides (dalapon, 2,4-D, simazine, and diphenamid) were evaluated in response to their ability to promote height growth of black walnut, white ash, and yellow poplar through weed control when applied alone and in combinations on an upland and a bottomland site. Griwth benefits were highly dependent on the vegetation on the site. Dalapon and simazine were beneficial on the predominantly grassy upland for all three species whether applied alone or in combination. Simazine and 2,4-D alone or in mixture were beneficial on the bottomland, which contained mostly broadleaved weeds.