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

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

Effect of initial herbicide treatment and planting material on woody weed development and the growth of Eucalyptus nitens and Eucalyptus regnans

A research study of establishment techniques in plantations of Eucalyptus nitens (Deane et Maiden) Maiden and Eucalyptus regnans F Mueller was assessed for growth at age 12 years. Biomass of trees and woody weeds was determined in the 13th year to evaluate the long-term effect of herbicide treatment on plots established with optimum seedling tree and site preparation. Eucalyptus regnans produced only 60% of the biomass of E. nitens. Under-storey woody weed biomass under E. regnans comprised 18–30% of the total biomass compared with 6% for E. nitens plots. There was less total under-storey weed biomass under the herbicide-treated plots, but a similar weed leaf biomass. Under-storey weed leaf biomass contributed 14–40% of the total leaf biomass on the plots. Despite under-storey weed biomass being substantially greater on the no-herbicide plots sampled, this competition had not generally reduced growth of the trees compared with the herbicide-treated plots. Suitable site preparation, providing weed-free conditions at the time of planting, resulted in woody weed control adequate to establish seedlings and allow full growth without the use of herbicides, given suitable seedling material. Although pre-planting herbicide treatment was not necessary for optimum growth of E. nitens grown from bare-root transplants, it did improve growth of slower-growing planting stock.     

Weed competition in spring-planted strawberries

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

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

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

Weed competition in irrigated cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in the Sudan Gezira

Losses of crop yield due to weed competition in unweeded plots averaged nearly 60% of weed-free yields in cotton and 70% in groundnuts. Weed competition was not directly related to weed groundcover but was dependent on the seasonal growing conditions. The critical period of weed competition in both crops was the 6 weeks between 4 and 10 weeks after crop emergence. During this period cotton could tolerate up to 25% weed groundcover without appreciable loss in crop yield. Groundnuts could tolerate not more than 10% weed cover before yield loss occurred. A main factor in achieving standards of weed control within these limits was preventing the early growth of monocotyledonous weed species: pre-sowing application of trifluralin and benfiuralin provided this over a wide range of growing conditions.     

Effect of time of weed removal on growth and yield of potato

The effects of weed removal at five dates after planting the crop were examined and compared with weed-free and unweeded controls. The results revealed that the total weed population increased up to 6 weeks after planting and then decreased drastically in both the years. Total dry weight of weeds (at weeding and at haulm-cutting) was greatest in the unweeded control, followed by weeding at 10 weeks after planting. In both years, maximum yield was obtained where plots were kept weed-free, followed by weeding at 4 and 6 weeks after planting. The remaining treatments, including weeding at 2 weeks after planting, resulted in significant reductions in tuber yield. In unweeded control plots the tuber yield of potato was reduced by 40–43%.     

Weed competition in spring-planted raspberries

Spring-planted raspberries (Rubus idaeus L. cv. Malling Jewel) were exposed to competition from annual weeds for various lengths of time during the first growing season. Weeds germinating following crop planting in late March had no effect on numbers of new canes produced provided weed removal occurred by early June. The importance of preventing competition from these weeds during the critical period of cane emergence (June/July) was demonstrated. Dense weed cover reduced cane growth and, if weeds were left beyond late June, caused considerable mortality of planting material. Weed growth also frequently reduced cane height. In the second year, all plots were maintained free of weeds. Fruit yields showed effects of weeds similar to or greater than those indicated by total cane growth in the previous year. Height of new canes was unaffected by previous weeding treatments, but the numbers of new canes produced continued to show severe effects of initial competition from weeds. Allowing further weed growth to develop after initial weeding had no additional effect on crop survival or cane numbers in the first year. In one experiment, however, a reduction in cane height due to weeds germinating in June was followed in the second year by a reduction in the numbers of new canes produced.     

Competition from weeds and their control in direct-seeded rice

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

Row spacing impacts the critical period for weed control in cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis>)

The knowledge on the critical crop-weed competition period is important for designing an efficient weed management program. Field studies were conducted in 2012 and 2013 at the Agricultural Research Institute, Kahramanmaras, Turkey to determine the effects of three row spacing (50, 70 and 90 cm) on the critical period for weed control (CPWC) in cotton. A four parameter logistic equation was fit to data relating relative crop yield to both increasing duration of weed interference and length of weed-free period. The relative yield of cotton was influenced by the duration of weed-infested or weed-free period, regardless of row spacing. In cotton grown at 50 cm row spacing, the CPWC ranged from 117–526 growing degree days (GDD) (V2–V11 growth stages) in 2012 and 124–508 GDD (V2–V10) in 2013 based on the 5% acceptable yield loss level. At 70 cm row spacing, the CPWC ranged from 98–661 GDD in 2012 (V2–V13) and 144–616 GDD (V2–V12) in 2013. At 90 cm row spacing, the CPWC ranged from 80–771 GDD in 2012 (V1–V14) and 83–755 GDD (V1–V14) in 2013. In order to obtain a 95% weed-free yield, the weed management should start at 16 days after crop emergence (DAE) and continued until 52 DAE (V2–V11) for crops grown in 50 cm row spacing, 15 and 60 DAE (V2–V13) for 70 cm row spacing and 11 and 67 DAE (V1–V14) for crops grown in 90 cm row spacing. This suggests that cotton grown in narrow row spacing (50 cm) had greater competiveness against weeds compared with wider row spacing (70 and 90 cm). Cotton growers can benefit from these results by improving cost of weed control through better timing of weed management.     

An integrated approach to weed management practices in direct-seeded rice under zero-tilled rice–wheat cropping system

An increasing water crisis as well as shortage of farm labor farmers in many Asian regions is forcing a shift from puddled transplanted rice to direct-seeded rice. The weeds, however, are a major constraint to the production of direct-seeded rice. In this perspective, a field study was carried out to evaluate various pre- and post-emergence herbicides and different possible integrated weed management practices in zero-till direct-seeded rice. Weed infestation decreased the rice yield by near about 75%. Co-culture rice with Sesbania followed by (fb) pendimethalin fb 2,4-D effectively reduced the total weed population (65.1%) and biomass (86.7%) at 30 days after sowing (DAS). The lowest total weed dry biomass at 60 DAS was recorded from bispyribac-sodium+azimsulfuron-treated plot and such tank mix application of herbicide performed better against diverse weed flora as compared to a single herbicide. Higher yield and more profit from zero-till direct-seeded rice were obtained with the application of bispyribac-sodium+azimsulfuron herbicides as a tank mixture or an integrated approach through cowpea green-manuring fb 2,4-D+glyphosate fb bispyribac-sodium by effective management of versatile weed flora.     

Seed production of Chenopodium album in competition with field vegetables

Total weed control within a crop is both difficult and expensive to achieve, so that some weeds will often remain to set seed. The seed production resulting from these weeds will ultimately affect the sustainability of the weed control strategy. If too much is allowed to return each season there could be a gradual, but significant, increase in the potential weed flora over a number of seasons. Field trials were carried out in 2000 and 2001 to quantify the potential magnitude of this weed seed return from Chenopodium album L., grown at two planting densities either in pure stands or in competition with one of two crops (cabbage or onion). Crop and weed weights and weed seed production were notably greater in 2001. Both dry weight and seed production of C. album were suppressed by increasing planting density or by the presence of crop, with cabbage having a more suppressive effect. Despite the plasticity in seed production, a linear relationship was demonstrated between log weed seed production and log weed biomass that was robust over a range of competitive situations with onion and cabbage, at different planting densities and in growing seasons. The study also demonstrated that the relationship could be combined with an existing simple competition model to allow the consequences of incomplete weed control to be assessed in terms of potential weed seed return.     

Effects of cultural methods and physical weed control on intrarow weed numbers, manual weeding and marketable yield in direct-sown leek and bulb onion

Manual weeding of intrarow weeds in direct-sown leek and bulb onion crops grown organically can be very labour-intensive. Four field experiments, two in direct-sown leek and two in direct-sown bulb onion were made in this investigation to study the effects of physical and cultural methods on intrarow weed numbers, time consumption for hand-weeding and marketable yield parameters. The physical methods considered were: pre-emergence flaming and harrowing, and post-emergence hoeing close to the row (only leek) and vertical brush weeding. The cultural methods were: seed priming, slurry placement and cultivar choice (only leek). Generally, flaming plus brush weeding gave the highest intrarow weed control at 92% and 87%, respectively, in the two leek experiments and 39% (only brush weeding was effective) and 74%, respectively, in the two onion experiments. Time consumption for hand-weeding after the different treatments was linearly related to the remaining numbers of intrarow weeds, with no significant influences of the experimental factors on the general relationship. Generally, the cultural methods had no significant influence on the effects of physical weeding in terms of their effect against intrarow weeds. They did not affect the tolerance or robustness of the crop plants against negative impact from the physical control methods. However, generally, seed priming and cultivar choice did improve yield in the leek experiments and seed priming also did so in the one experiment with onion.     

A COMPARISON OF THE GROWTH AND COMPETITION BEHAVIOUR OF SEEDLINGS AND PLANTS FROM RHIZOMES OF AGROPYRON REPENS (L.) BEAUV. AND AGROSTIS GIGANTEA ROTH

Summary. Seedlings and plants derived from single-node rhizome fragments of Agropyron repens and Agrostis gigantea were grown in au unheated glasshouse, separately or together with wheat ( cv. Kolibri), in sandy loam soil in well-spaced pots, adequately watered and moderately fertilized. Samples of crop and weeds were taken for growth analysis in mid- May, late June and early August (when the wheat was ripe).
On average, wheat decreased the weight of weed shoots by 84% and of rhizomes by 77%, but the weeds decreased the weight of wheat shoots by only 7% and of grain by 13%. Without wheat, seedlings of both weed species had, by late June, grown as much as plants from rhizomes, but with wheat, the weed seedlings were throughout most of the experiment more susceptible to competition than were plants from rhizomes. There was no simple relationship between the final dry weights of the weeds and the amount they decreased wheat yield: although Agropyron seedlings in competition with wheat were much lighter than Agrostis from rhizomes, they decreased grain yield of wheat as much, suggesting that they competed more intensely for a limiting factor, possibly nitrogen.
It is concluded that the faster initial growth rate of wheat seedlings relative to the weeds from rhizomes and a larger initial seed reserve relative to the weed seedlings enabled the wheat to dominate the weeds.
Comparaison de la croissance et comportement compétitif de plantules et de plantes issues de rhizomes d'Agropyron repens ( L.) Beauv. et d' Agrostis gigantea Roth     

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

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

Weeding techniques in transplanted and direct wet-seeded rice in Pakistan

Field studies were undertaken to explore the weed management strategies for transplanted and direct wet-seeded rice in the Dera Ismail Khan district of North-west Frontier Province, Pakistan. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a split plot arrangement. The main plots consisted of two planting techniques (transplantation and direct seeding), while weed control practises assigned to the subplots included the use of the granular herbicide Sunstar 15WG (ethoxy sulfuron), Machete 60EC (butachlor), conventional hand weeding, and the weedy check (untreated control). Data were recorded on weed dynamics and the agronomic parameters of the rice crop. Economic analyses on the data were also run. The weed density and biomass were lower in the transplantation plots than the direct-seeding plots. The herbicides ethoxy sulfuron and butachlor reduced the density over the weedy check, with a density comparable to hand weeding in 2002, but slightly higher in 2003. As a result of weed management by hand weeding and herbicides, the paddy yield and its components were significantly higher for the transplanted method compared to the direct-seeded method. The comparable yield of herbicides with hand weeding offers an option for the use of herbicides as an alternative management tool. In light of our findings, it is concluded that for good economic returns, rice crops may be transplanted rather than direct-seeded. The herbicides ethoxy sulfuron and butachlor offer a weed control cover comparable with hand weeding under the transplantation method, while butachlor is good for controlling weeds even under the direct-seeded conditions in the agroclimatic conditions of the area.     

Weed suppression ability of upland rice under low-input conditions in West Africa

Weeds are a major constraint to upland rice production in west Africa. The objectives of this investigation were to study differences in weed suppression ability among upland rice cultivars and to determine the morphological traits involved. Twelve contrasting cultivars, including West African indigenous Oryza glaberrima (Steudel) lines and traditional and improved O. sativa L., were cultivated under natural weed competition and low-input conditions in Côte d'Ivoire in two seasons. Significant differences between cultivars were observed in weed biomass at 100 days after seeding (DAS) in 1994 and 1995, indicating differences in their competitive ability. Weed biomass was negatively correlated with rice root growth at early growth stages and with rice shoot and root growth at later growth stages. Across cultivars, grain yields with a single hand-weeding were 60% in 1994 and 49% in 1995 of those in plots that were weeded regularly. High grain yields in weedy plots were associated with low weed biomass. IG 10, an O. glaberrima cultivar, was the most competitive against weeds.     

Die Wirkung mechanischer und chemischer Freistellungsverfahren auf die Entwicklung von Fichten und Kiefern

The effect of mechanical and chemical release on the growth of spruce and pine Trials were carried out in North Rhine-Westphalia on plots in typical spruce- and pine-growing areas to evaluate the following treatment variants: cutting/ slashing, herbicides before planting and herbicides after planting, maintenance of total weed-free plots. The variants were further divided into spot, strip or overall treatments. The trial was carried out on nine sites which were divided into three parts consisting of: five spruce plots infested with a mixed weed population; two spruce plots infested with bracken; two pine plots, one infested with grass and one with bracken. On the last four mentioned plots the nine treatment variants had to be partially restricted. Assessment at four different times after planting produced the following results.

• 1 On the five plots with spruce and a mixed weed population, there were differences between the treatments in respect of tree less, though these were not significant. Differences in annual growth in terms of tree height became apparent in the third and fourth year, but, viewed as an average of all plots, there was still no significant difference in terms of aggregate height. The effect on tree width was somewhat more pronounced, but a distinct growth increase was only apparent on the plots that were maintained weed free, a procedure which was uneconomic. Slashing, according to intensity, resulted in rather targer growth increases than did the use of herbicides after planting; herbicides applied before planting performed rather better.
• 2 On the two spruce plots infested with bracken there was likewise no difference between the treatments in terms of tree loss. On the other hand, plots slashed late and those maintained weed free showed increases in tree height of 20%. Tree width was promoted by all treatments, least by slashing or herbicides applied strips before planting, and most where plots were weed free.
• 3 On the grass- or bracken-infested plots the pines responded more to any reduction in competition than did the spruces. On the grassy plots tree losses were reduced only by complete removal of the ground cover, while in bracken reduction in loss was also evident by slashing and herbicides applied before planting. The effects on growth in terms of aggregate height were not entirely clear, but there appeared to be some response as measured by the diameter of the shoot bases. On the grassy plots slashing was ineffective whereas the herbicides were beneficial in that they removed competition from the roots of the ground cover plants. On the bracken-infested plots late cutting had the least effect. The efficiency of herbicides applied before planting was impaired by ingress of weeds from the periphery of plots towards the end of the trial.

Thus in the case of spruce, apart from extremely competitive situations, normal weed control treatments do not appear to be likely to promote young growth or to affect tree survival rate, and they cannot be recommended for normal conditions. Pines, on the other hand, arc more responsive. They can on occasions benefit from the use of herbicides to remove grass vegetation which, with slashing, is not possible.     

THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELECTIVE HERBICIDES FOR KALE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

Summary. The purpose of this paper is firstly to describe the background of an investigation started in 1961 to develop new herbicides for the control of weeds in agricultural kale, Brassica oleracea vars. acephala D.C. and fruticosa Metz, and secondly to present the results of four experiments concerned with the effects of weeds on the yield of kale. The results of the herbicide investigation are to be presented in subsequent papers.
Kale as grown in the United Kingdom is a valuable fodder crop and relatively easy to grow, but beset by weeds against which existing mechanical and chemical methods of control have not usually been successful. The effect of weed competition on the yield of four farmers'crops was investigated in 1961 and 1962. When grown entirely free of weeds, the crops provided yields in the range of 20.9–34.5 tons of green material per acre. Where no attempt was made to control the weeds, the yields were reduced by 9.4, 14.5 and 18.9 tons/ac, respectively, in three experiments. In no case did kale, hoed only between the rows, produce as high a yield as the weed-free crop. Although variable in effect, uncontrolled weed growth early in the life of the crop always lowered the yield of kale.
Le développement de l'usage des herbicides selectifs pour le chou fourrager dans le Royaume-Uni. La plante cultivée, les mauvaises herbes et le problème     

A model of the cost of delay in spraying weeds in cereals

Using a previous model as a base, data derived in field trials in wheat ( Triticum aestivuort L.) and bailey ( Hordeum vulgare L.) were assessed to estimate the yield penalty, and resulting reduction in economic benefit, from progressive spraying of herbicides up to late crop tillering. Compared with early post-emergence application, yield penalties from delayed spraying began at early tillering. For median values of weed-free yield and weed density in the data set. the loss in potential yield increase when spraying at late tillering compared with early post-emergence was 71%, Crops with higher weed-free yield potential and with greater initial weed density showed a proportionately (as well as absolutely) larger yield penalty from a moderate delay in spraying, indicating an earlier and more intense onset of competition with weeds.