The performance of the leaf mulches ofLeucaena leucocephala,Flemingia macrophylla andGliricidia sepium in weed control

The performance of the leaf mulches ofLeucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium andFlemingia macrophylla in weed control has been tested in two trials. The length of the period during which a mulch layer yields significantly less weedbiomass compared to the control plots is called the ‘effective life-span’ of the mulch. Of the three mulch materials only that ofF. macrophylla shows promise in retarding weed development. In the second trialF. macrophylla leaf mulch was applied at rates of 3, 6 and 9 tons dry matter per ha. The effective lifespan of a mulch layer of 3 tons is between 12 and 13 weeks. The treatments 6 and 9 tons have effective life-spans of over 14 weeks. For moderate quantities (up to 5 tons of dry leaf mulch per ha) the effective life-span is estimated at about a 100 days. The value of mulching in weed control is limited to the control of weed species that multiply by seed. Regrowth originating from roots or stumps from former vegetation is unlikely to be checked by a mulch layer. The subject of this paper is part of a broader study, presently conducted in Southern Ivory Coast, on the production, agronomical value and use in alley-cropping systems of the species mentioned in the title of the paper. A final report is scheduled for publication in 1988.     

The performance of the leaf mulches ofLeucaena leucocephala,Flemingia macrophylla andGliricidia sepium in weed control

The performance of the leaf mulches ofLeucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium andFlemingia macrophylla in weed control has been tested in two trials. The length of the period during which a mulch layer yields significantly less weedbiomass compared to the control plots is called the effective life-span of the mulch.Of the three mulch materials only that ofF. macrophylla shows promise in retarding weed development.In the second trialF. macrophylla leaf mulch was applied at rates of 3, 6 and 9 tons dry matter per ha. The effective lifespan of a mulch layer of 3 tons is between 12 and 13 weeks. The treatments 6 and 9 tons have effective life-spans of over 14 weeks.For moderate quantities (up to 5 tons of dry leaf mulch per ha) the effective life-span is estimated at about a 100 days.The value of mulching in weed control is limited to the control of weed species that multiply by seed. Regrowth originating from roots or stumps from former vegetation is unlikely to be checked by a mulch layer.The subject of this paper is part of a broader study, presently conducted in Southern Ivory Coast, on the production, agronomical value and use in alley-cropping systems of the species mentioned in the title of the paper. A final report is scheduled for publication in 1988.     

Weed control modifies Tuber melanosporum mycelial expansion in young oak plantations

Context

Black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) cultivation is a promising agro-forestry alternative for Mediterranean rural areas, but adequate weed control at seedling establishment still remains a challenge in black truffle plantations.

Aims

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of several weed control strategies on early development of Quercus ilex seedlings and the symbiotic T. melanosporum.

Materials and methods

In a young black truffle-inoculated holm oak plantation, we assessed for 3 years the effects of two types of mechanical weed control and five mulches in a young Q. ilex plantation inoculated with T. melanosporum. Herbaceous cover, seedling growth and abundance of T. melanosporum mycelium, based on PCR analysis of soil DNA extracts using T. melanosporum-specific primers, were estimated to determine the effectiveness of these treatments in controlling weeds and supporting the growth of both the host tree and the target fungus.

Results

The amount of T. melanosporum mycelium in the soil 30 cm around the seedlings was larger under double-layer white mulch than in the rest of treatments tested. Under the white colour mulches, which had the largest light reflection, we registered the cooler soil temperature, and the best weed control was observed on the single- and double-layer black truffles and double-layer white mulch.

Conclusion

The effects of double-layer white mulch on herbaceous cover, soil temperature, reflected light, and the expansion of T. melanosporum bring us closer to being able to substitute traditional tilling of truffle orchards for the less expensive mulching treatments.     

Root growth and water use efficiency of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.) seedlings

One-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.) seedlings were grown for 17 weeks in 100-cm deep, 7.8-liter containers. Two Douglas-fir provenances, one from a wet and one from a dry site in coastal British Columbia, and two lodgepole pine provenances, one from a wet and one from a dry site in interior British Columbia, were grown in wet (522% water content) or dry (318% water content) peat/vermiculite soil in a factorial design. Each container was sealed so that water loss occurred only through the seedling. Five harvests were made at three to five week intervals and water use, dry matter increment, root length and root weight were determined at each harvest. Stomatal conductance and shoot water potentials were measured during the last 12 weeks of the experiment. Lodgepole pine seedlings had greater dry matter production, water use, stomatal conductance and new root length than Douglas-fir seedlings. New root weight of lodgepole pine seedlings exceeded that of Douglas-fir seedlings during the last five weeks of the experiment, and specific root length (root length per unit root weight) of new roots was higher for lodgepole pine seedlings throughout the experiment. Douglas-fir seedlings showed higher water use efficiency (WUE) than lodgepole pine seedlings, and both species showed higher WUE in the dry soil treatment. Douglas-fir seedlings had lower water potentials and higher water uptake rates per unit of new root length than lodgepole pine seedlings, although water uptake rates per unit of root dry weight showed little difference between species. Soil water treatment influenced specific root length of new roots, water uptake per unit of new root length, and WUE in Douglas-fir seedlings more than in lodgepole pine seedlings.     

Physiological, morphological and anatomical responses of Fraxinus mandshurica seedlings to flooding

Two-year-old Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr. var. japonica Maxim. seedlings were flooded to 8 cm above soil level for 70 days. The flooding treatment altered the growth, morphology, stem anatomy and ethylene production of the seedlings. Although flooding did not affect height growth, it stimulated diameter growth of the submerged stems by increasing both the number and size of wood fibers produced; however, the thickness of the cell walls of the wood fibers was reduced by flooding. In response to the flooding treatment, the seedlings formed abundant hyperhydric tissues, originating from the vicinity of lenticels on the surface of the flooded stems, and adventitious roots, which grew through the hyperhydric tissues. Aerenchyma tissues were observed in the bark of the adventitious roots. The flooding treatment did not affect dry weight increment of leaves and stems, but it reduced the total dry weight increment of the root system even though it promoted adventitious root formation. Flooding also enhanced ethylene production in the submerged portions of stems. The potential roles of flood-induced ethylene in cambial growth and adventitious root formation in flooded plants are discussed.     

The dependance of root growth potential on light level,photosynthetic rate,and root starch content in jack pine seedlings

Number of new roots (root growth potential or RGP), new root length, photosynthesis, total nonstructural carbohydrate content of needles and roots, terminal bud condition, and shoot elongation were measured on jack pine container seedlings for 4 weeks at weekly intervals under greenhouse conditions of 100%, 20%, and 10% sunlight to simulate competition-induced, lower light levels in the field. Both lower light levels significantly reduced photosynthetic rate, RGP, new root length, total nonstructural carbohydrate (especially starch) content of needles and roots, speed of terminal bud flush, and shoot growth. Both light level and photosynthetic rate were positively correlated with RGP and new root length, indicating that jack pine seedlings may use current photosynthate as an energy source to support new root growth. RGP and new root length were also both negatively correlated with root starch content suggesting that jack pine seedlings may also use stored carbohydrates as a potential carbon source for root initiation and initial root growth.     

Soil fertility enhancement by planted tree-fallow species in the humid lowlands of Cameroon

Four shrub/tree species, Alchornea cordifolia, Pennisetum purpureum, Chromolaena odorata, and Calliandra calothyrsus were evaluated for their potential contribution to soil fertility restoration after two years fallow. Standing biomass, root distribution, nutrient content in the biomass, decomposition and nutrient release patterns, and association with mycorrhizae were the evaluation parameters. Alchornea and Pennisetum produced thehighest above-ground biomass, 66 t and 54 t/ha respectively. Pennisetum had more than 19 t/ha of root, 92% of which was in the 20 cm top soil. Alchornea had 74% of it roots in this soil layer, mostly as coarse roots while Calliandra had a deeper root system. Alchornea fallow accumulated more N and Ca, and Pennisetum fallow, more K than others, and mycorrhizae were mostly associated with Alchornea roots. The ranking of the different species for the decomposition rate was: Chromolaena > Pennisetum > Calliandra = Alchornea. Also release of nutrients during decomposition followed the order K > N > Ca. Alchornea and Pennisetum could be recommended as green manure species especially when high quantities of material are needed for weed or erosion control. Calliandra and Chromolaena, because of the flush of nutrient during early mass, loss can be used as mulch when the crop demand of nutrient is high. Alchornea decomposed slowly and therefore could be used to improve Chromolaena mulch, thus contributing to the build up of soil organic N and providing both short- and long-term nutrient release. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of soil temperature on biomass and carbohydrate allocation in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings at the beginning of the growing season

We studied effects of soil temperature on shoot and root extension growth and biomass and carbohydrate allocation in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings at the beginning of the growing season. One-year-old Scots pine seedlings were grown for 9 weeks at soil temperatures of 5, 9, 13 and 17 degrees C and an air temperature of 17 degrees C. Date of bud burst, and the elongation of shoots and roots were monitored. Biomass of current and previous season roots, stem and needles was determined at 3-week intervals. Starch, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol and inositol concentrations were determined in all plant parts except new roots. The timing of both bud burst and the onset of root elongation were unaffected by soil temperature. At Week 9, height growth was reduced and root extension growth was much less at a soil temperature of 5 degrees C than at higher soil temperatures. Total seedling biomass was lowest in the 5 degrees C soil temperature treatment and highest in the 13 degrees C treatment, but there was no statistically significant difference in total biomass between seedlings grown at 13 and 17 degrees C. In response to increasing soil temperature, below-ground biomass increased markedly, resulting in a slightly higher allocation of biomass to below-ground parts. Among treatments, root length was greatest at a soil temperature of 17 degrees C. The sugar content of old roots was unaffected by soil temperature, but the sugar content of new needles increased with increasing soil temperature. The starch content of all seedling parts was lowest in seedlings grown at 17 degrees C. Otherwise, soil temperature had no effect on seedling starch content.     

The effects of the degree of soil cover with an impervious sheet on the establishment of tree seedlings in an arid environment

Low precipitation and high evaporation rates hinder the establishment of tree seedlings in arid environments. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of covering different fractions (0, 30, 70 and 100%) of the wetted area surrounding seedlings of Acacia saligna (Labill.) H.L. Wendl. with a black polyethylene sheet on the seedlings development and water use. The cover treatments were applied to plots with and without Acacia seedlings. Within the mulched areas at all depths, soil temperatures close to the edges were lower than at the corresponding depth close to the center, but still higher than in the non-mulched plots. In plots with Acacia seedlings, the total soil water losses were similar among treatments. However, the cumulative evaporative losses near the soil surface were lower with larger mulched areas. During early growth stages, roots grew deeper in the 30% mulch treatment and more laterally in the other mulched treatments. The non-mulched treatment produced the smallest root system. Larger canopies developed in the mulched treatments and the gross water use efficiency increased with the increasing fraction of the mulched area. Optimum utilization of stored soil water and seedling development were attained with the 70% mulch treatment.     

Effects of slash chips placed around trees planted after whole-tree logging: movement and nutrient supply

 Whole-tree harvesting at clearcutting sites using cable yarding systems and processors disrupts the process of nutrient return via leafy and woody slash otherwise left on the forest floor. This study examined the effect of placing slash chips around trees planted in a clearcut area. Chips made from branches with needles (branch chips) and three types of wood scrap chips (wood chips) were prepared for the study. Changes in the thickness of slash chip layers and in the concentration and weight of decomposing chips were measured. The nutrient effect of applying chips to the soil was analyzed, and the effects of chip coverage on weed control were measured. The branch and 18-mm-thick wood chips were stable on slopes; 9- and 4-mm-thick wood chips readily shifted to the lower and outer positions in the plots. On branch chips and wood chips, the annual rate of decomposition (k) calculated by exponential model was 0.69–0.7 and 0.04–0.17/year, respectively. Branch chips provided more nutrients for decomposers, and were rapidly decomposed during the first month. Nevertheless, the nutrient effect on the soil could not be confirmed. Placing branch or wood chips around planted trees effectively eliminated the need for weeding for 1 year, but these light materials did not suppress shrub sprouting. Received: November 14, 2001 / Accepted: September 26, 2002 Acknowledgments The authors thank the graduates of Kochi University, especially Ms. Y. Shinnobu, Ms. A. Fujita, Ms. A. Sugiyama, and Ms. Y. Suzuki for their help with the field work and chemical analyses. This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (No. 09660164) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. Correspondence to:J. Gotou     

红豆树苗木根瘤及其对生长的影响

红豆树根瘤的形成时间和根瘤的数量与圃地土壤的质量有关,在土壤水肥条件好的环境中,1 a生苗木中的根瘤少见,且根瘤个体极小;在土壤较贫瘠的圃地中,红豆树根瘤十分发达,数量多且形成时间早。红豆树根瘤能够促进苗木生长,有根瘤生长比无根瘤生长的1年生红豆树植株中,根系的干物质增长率46%、根系鲜重的增长率41.9%、茎干物质增长率40.3%、植株总干物质的增长率35.0%、植株总鲜重增长率22.4%、植株叶的干物质增长率14.8%。截根处理有助于根瘤菌感染苗木植株,苗木生长更健壮:截根处理的苗木径高比为4.1%,未截根处理的为3.4%;截根处理促进根系的发育,截根处理的侧根总长度47cm/株、未截根处理的侧根总长度为26cm/株、侧根增加率为80.8%,截根处理的须根总长度228cm/株、未截根处理的侧根总长度为102cm/株、须根增加比率123.5%;截根处理促进苗木根幅的扩大,比未截根处理的根幅增大27.3%。     

不同磷水平下刺梨实生苗生长及根系形态特征与内源激素含量的关系

【目的】探究不同磷水平对‘贵农5号’刺梨实生苗生长、根系形态变化的影响及其与内源激素的相互作用,了解刺梨应对低磷胁迫的适应策略,为喀斯特地区低磷土壤刺梨的磷养分管理和生长调控提供科学依据。【方法】采用基质培养方法,设5、25、45、65和85 mg·L^-1有效磷含量的5个供磷水平处理,对不同处理的生长和根系形态指标及叶、根中内源激素含量进行测定,解析不同磷水平下根系形态与内源激素含量变化的关系。【结果】1) 45 mg·L^-1磷水平下实生苗生长的最好,整株生物量、主根长度、总根尖数和根的总长度、总体积、总表面积、平均直径、侧根长度和数量、一级侧根密度均最大,根和叶中的GA₁₊₃含量最高,ABA含量最低。2)供磷水平低于或高于45 mg·L^-1后,植株生长受到抑制,生物量明显减小,GA₁₊₃含量降低,ABA含量增大,上述根系形态指标变小。在5 mg·L^-1的低磷胁迫下,植株根冠比、2级、3级侧根密度和根毛的密度及长度达到最大。3)根和叶中的IAA及ZR含量随磷水平的降低而增大。4)不同磷水平下植株的生长指标和生物量大小与根和叶中的IAA和ZR含量间均表现出极显著(P<0. 01)的一元二次非线性回归关系,与GA₁₊₃和ABA的含量分别呈极显著(P<0. 01)正相关和极显著(P<0. 01)负相关。供磷水平过低、过高对植株生长的抑制是IAA、ZR、GA₁₊₃、ABA含量改变后协同作用的结果。低磷水平下根的生长抑制与叶和根中的IAA、ZR和ABA含量增大和GA₁₊₃含量降低有关,高浓度的GA₁₊₃和低浓度的ABA能促进主根的伸长和侧根的形成,而高浓度的IAA和ZR对根毛的形成及伸长和增加根毛的密度有促进作用。【结论】45 mg·L^-1磷水平下刺梨实生苗生长和根系发育最好,主根长度、总根尖数和根的总长度、总体积、总表面积、平均直径、侧根长度和数量、一级侧根密度最大。降低或提高磷水平后植株生长受到抑制,上述根系形态指标随之变小。低磷胁迫下刺梨实生苗根冠比和2、3级侧根密度、根毛密度及长度明显增大。供磷水平变化导致刺梨实生苗叶和根中IAA、ZR、GA₁₊₃、ABA的含量发生改变,并共同对植株生长和根系形态变化产生协同调控作用。根冠比的增大,2、3级侧根密度和根毛密度及长度的增加是刺梨实生苗应对低磷胁迫采取的适应策略,根和叶中高水平的ZR和IAA发挥重要的促进和调控作用。     

Influence of rain water harvesting and conservation practices on growth and biomass production of Azadirachta indica in the Indian desert

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of various rain water harvesting and conservation techniques on soil moisture storage, growth and biomass production of Azadirachta indica (neem) in the Indian desert. The treatments were as follows: control; weed removal; weed removal plus soil working; saucers of 1.0 m diameter; saucers of 1.5 m diameter; saucers of 1.5 m diameter covered with mulch around the trees; bunding around each tree in a checkerboard design; inter-row slopes of 20%. The treatment with inter-row slopes of 20% produced the highest amount of soil moisture storage, a four times increase in total biomass of a 26-month-old neem plantation (from 1.69 to 6.39 t ha⁻¹), a 4.5 times increase in root mass (from 0.43 to 1.92 t ha⁻¹) and a 70% increase in tree height, as well as an appreciable enhancement in all the growth parameters. The treatment with larger saucers (1.5 m diameter) combined with a surface mulch was equally effective. Growth increases owing to the other water harvesting treatments were lower, though significantly better when compared with the control. The various treatments significantly improved the water use efficiency of neem.     

Can bioplastic or woodchip groundcover replace herbicides or plastic mulching for valuable broadleaf plantations in Mediterranean areas?

Weed control is fundamental in plantations of valuable broadleaved species. The most common weeding techniques are repeatedly applied herbicides and removable plastic mulching, both raising environmental concerns. We studied the performance of these techniques on a hybrid walnut plantation, compared with three biodegradable mulch alternatives: a prototype bioplastic film, a layer of composted woodchips and a layer of ramial chips. The durability and effect of the treatments on tree performance (survival, growth, physiological traits) and soil features (moisture and temperature) were evaluated over 4 years. Herbicide yielded the best results, while all the mulching treatments provided better results than controls for nearly all the variables. The performance of plastic and bioplastic films was similar, suggesting that the latter could replace plastic mulching. The performance of the two chip mulches was similar and slightly below that of the films, probably because of the excessive thickness of the former (13–14 cm). In summary, biodegradable mulches showed high effectiveness in controlling weeds and so could offer an alternative to herbicide application and plastic mulching when these are contra-indicated technically (accessibility, repeatability), economically (labour cost), legally or environmentally.     

Configuration and development of root systems of cuttings and seedlings of Eucalyptus globulus

Stem cuttings of Eucalyptus globulus are used within tree improvement programs and for mass deployment. To be successful, cuttings must perform as well or better than seedlings. The root systems of cuttings are fundamentally different from those of seedlings. If these differences influence growth, the differences and their consequences must be identified and the propagation system manipulated to improve performance of the propagules.Cuttings are only a viable alternative to seedlings as planting stock if the method of propagation does not affect their growth and development adversely. Full-sibling cuttings and seedlings of Eucalyptus globulus were compared under controlled environmental conditions to minimise extraneous sources of variation, and to establish whether changes in growth or development were induced by propagation. On three occasions over a period of eight weeks root-collar diameter, shoot height, leaf and stem weight, shoot/root ratios and root system morphology were measured on cuttings and seedlings. Seedlings were taller than cuttings throughout the experiment, but both plant types had similar height growth rates. Diameter growth rates were lower in cuttings than seedlings, and there were differences in both height and diameter growth rates between families. Root system configuration differed between the plant types. Seedlings had strongly gravitropic tap-roots, with two types of primary roots from which secondary roots emerged. Cuttings had no tap roots, and the main structural components of their root systems were adventitious roots formed during propagation. Cuttings did not develop further structural roots during the experiment, whereas seedlings continued to develop primary roots. Individual primary roots of cuttings were longer and had larger mid-point diameters than those of seedlings, but the total length of primary roots was greater in seedlings. Seedlings also had a greater number and total length of secondary roots. Shoot/root ratios, calculated from a range of functional measures, were higher in cuttings than seedlings.     

Responses of citrus fine roots to localized soil drying: a comparison of seedlings with adult fruiting trees

We studied the responses of citrus (Citrus volkameriana Tan. & Pasq.) roots to 15 weeks of soil drying. A comparison was made between the fine roots of 1-year-old seedling root systems (seedling) and the fine roots of woody laterals of 6-year-old grafted trees (adult). Each seedling and woody lateral root system was established in a pair of vertically separated and independently irrigated soil compartments located in field root chambers excavated adjacent to the trees to which the woody laterals were attached. Root + soil respiration and fine root survival of seedlings and adults were similar for the first 5 weeks. However, eight weeks after termination of irrigation to the upper soil compartments, mortality of fine roots was high in adults but not seedlings. Fine roots of adults exposed to dry soil for 5, 8 and 15 weeks exhibited 2, 26 and 33% mortality, respectively, whereas the corresponding values for fine roots of seedlings were 2, 6 and 8%. Although root + soil respiration rates of adults and seedlings were similar before the soil drying treatment, rates for adults were only 25% of those for seedlings after 15 weeks of soil drying. We conclude that, although fine roots of adults and seedlings are similar in form, they respond differently to soil drying.     

Temporal variations in cold sensitivity of root growth in cold-stored white spruce seedlings

We examined effects of soil temperature on the number of roots produced by white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench.) Voss) seedlings during the first month of growth following 0-30 weeks of storage in darkness at -2 degrees C. After storage, seedlings were planted in pots and placed in a controlled-environment chamber with a constant air temperature of 11 degrees C and a 16-h photoperiod. Water baths were used to keep soil temperature at 3, 7 or 11 degrees C. The number of long roots (> 10 mm) produced was strongly dependent on soil temperature. At soil temperatures of 3 or 7 degrees C, the number of long roots produced was only 11 to 30% that at 11 degrees C. Seedlings that had been stored for 14 weeks and then planted in soil at 11 degrees C produced the greatest number of long roots. For seedlings planted in soil at 11 degrees C, the number of long roots increased with time of storage up to 14-18 weeks and then declined progressively with length of storage. No increase in number of long roots with length of storage up to 18 weeks was evident in seedlings planted in soil at 3 or 7 degrees C. The maximum number of short roots (5-10 mm) was observed in seedlings that had been stored for 17 weeks and then planted in soil at 7 or 11 degrees C.     

Leaf water status and root system water flux of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) seedlings in relation to new root growth after transplanting

Water relations and root growth of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) were studied four weeks after seedlings from a half-sib family had been transplanted to one of three regimes of soil water availability at a root zone temperature of either 15 or 20 degrees C. About one-third of the variation in new root growth was explained by the root zone environment. The interaction between root zone temperature and soil water availability accounted for 10% of the variation in new root growth. In the most favorable root environment, new roots averaged 620 mm(2) of projected surface area. Leaf water potential increased exponentially with new root projected surface area, becoming constant at about 300 mm(2). Leaf conductance and root system water flux increased linearly with new root growth.     

Changes in soil carbon during the establishment of a hardwood plantation in subtropical Australia

Soil carbon (C) pools are not only important to governing soil properties and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems, but also play a critical role in global C cycling. Mulch and weed control treatments may alter soil C pools by changing organic matter inputs to the forest ecosystem. We studied the 12-month mulch and weed control responses on the chemical composition of soil organic C and the seasonal dynamics of water extractable organic C (WEOC), hot water extractable organic C (HWEOC), chloroform-released organic C (CHCl₃-released C), and acid hydrolysed organic C (acid hydrolysable C) in a hardwood plantation of subtropical Australia. The results showed that compared with the non-mulch treatment, the mulch treatment significantly increased soil WEOC, HWEOC, and CHCl₃-released C over the four sampling months. The weed control treatment significantly reduced the amount of HWEOC and CHCl₃-released C compared with the no weed control treatment. Neither the mulch nor weed control treatment significantly affected soil acid hydrolysed organic C. There were no significant seasonal variations in soil WEOC, HWEOC, CHCl₃-released C, and acid hydrolysed organic C in the hardwood plantation. Solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to study the structural chemistry of soil C pools in hydrofluoric acid (HF) treated soils collected 12 months after the mulch and weed control treatments were applied. Overall, O-alkyl C was the dominant C fraction, accounting for 33–43% of the total NMR signal intensity. The mulch treatment led to higher signal intensity in the alkyl C spectral region and A/O-A ratio (the ratio of alkyl C region intensity to O-alkyl C region intensity), but lower signal intensity in the aryl C and aromaticity. Compared with the no weed control treatment, the weed control treatment reduced signal intensity in the aryl C and aromaticity. Together, shifts in the amount and nature of soil C following the mulch and weed control treatments may be due to the changes in organic matter input and soil physical environment.     

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.