Effects of loosing Aigamo ducks on the growth of rice plants, weeds, and the number of arthropods in paddy fields

Aigamo duck farming has been noticed as one of the techniques of environmental conservation agriculture. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of loosing Aigamo ducks on the growth and production of rice plants, the quantity of weeds and arthropods, and the balance of nitrogen (N) in paddy fields by changing the density of the Aigamo ducks. A paddy field was divided into three test plots: a 10-Aigamo-duck plot, a five-Aigamo-duck plot, and a weeding plot. The results show that the height, number of culms, and yield crops of the rice plants increased more in the 10-Aigamo-duck plot and the five-Aigamo-duck plot than that of the weeding plot. Millet ( Echinochloa oryzicola ) remained in both the Aigamo duck plots. The weeding plot was covered with monochoria ( Monochoria vaginalis ). In both the Aigamo duck plots, the outbreak of total arthropods was lower than that of the weeding plot, but the number of rice plants damaged by grass leaf rollers ( Cnaphalocrocis medinalis ) was increased. The number of spiders, regarded as useful insects, did not differ that much between the experimental plots. The N content of the soil did not differ as an effect of loosing the Aigamo ducks. The rice plants in the 10-Aigamo-duck plot absorbed more N than the rice plants in the other plots.     

A review of non-chemical weed control on hard surfaces

Weed control research to date has mainly focused on arable land, especially regarding herbicides, but also regarding non‐chemical methods. Some of these experiences can be applied to hard surface areas. However, weeds on hard surface areas cause problems that are different from those on arable land. Additionally, crop tolerance does not need to be considered when choosing an appropriate weed control method on these areas. The aim of this review is to describe current knowledge of weeds and weed control methods on hard surface areas and reveal potential ways of advancement. One of the shortcomings of non‐chemical weed control on hard surfaces thus far, is a lack of proper definition of efficiency of the weed control methods. To obtain effective control, more frequently repeated treatments are required than chemical weed management, thereby increasing the costs of labour and fuel. One way to reduce costs can be by adjusting the level of control to the required visual street quality. Weeds are adapted to the hard surface environment and may be less susceptible to certain control methods. This review indicates that for efficient weed control on hard surfaces there is a need for combining weed control techniques, applying sensors for detecting weeds, adapting the energy dose to type of weed flora and prevention of weeds by improved construction of new surfaces.     

Appropriateness of inexpensive, hand-held global positioning system units for creating weed maps in a pasture

This paper describes the practical use of a global positioning system receiver (hand-held GPS) as a means of measuring and describing pasture areas invaded by weeds. The accuracy of two GPS units, a hand-held GPS with an external antenna (GPS with an antenna) and the differential global positioning system receiver (DGPS), were examined in Morioka, northern Japan. In addition, an area of weed patches and a pasture, determined using the GPS with an antenna, were compared to the measurements made with a conventional tape and a weed map was created based on the coordinate data of latitude and longitude measurements. The accuracy of the GPS with an antenna was poor (8.3 m); however, the precision of the unit was reasonable in measuring area. An area estimation error by the GPS with an antenna was 7% when practically measuring weed patches of 141 m² and 1% in a paddock of 12 566 m². From these results, it appears that the GPS with an antenna might have an acceptable error in measuring areas for weed control in a pasture. A weed map produced from the coordinate data surveyed using the GPS with an antenna enables the state of weed growth and its domination in an area of pasture to be visually understood. Therefore, GPS technologies easily can be applied to quickly obtain information on weed infestation.     

害草薇甘菊生防因子——安婀珍蝶的自然种群生命表研究

室外设立隔离网笼，在自然气候条件下，饲养、释放薇甘菊重要生防因子——安婀珍蝶，研究了安婀珍蝶野外释放后对广东地区环境的适应能力；利用庞雄飞作用因子组配的生命表方法，组建安婀珍蝶自然种群生命表，量化分析评价各因子对安婀珍蝶的影响。结果表明：释放安婀珍蝶两代的自然种群趋势指数分别为0．0872和0．0939，都非常低，安婀珍蝶野外增殖能力较差。第一代和第二代中“捕食与其他”的控制作用指数分别为190．0191和84．8973，均高于其他因子的控制作用，“捕食与其他”为影响安婀珍蝶生长发育的重要因子。综合上述结果认为，需通过大量饲养人工释放、补充幼虫数量的方法，逐步提高安婀珍蝶在野外建立自然种群的能力。     

20种茎叶处理除草剂对冬小麦田宝盖草的防效及安全性测定

为筛选防除冬小麦田宝盖草的高效茎叶处理除草剂,本试验连续两年选取20种除草剂进行冬小麦田宝盖草的防除研究。结果表明,在小麦返青期施药,200 g/L氯氟吡氧乙酸异辛酯乳油、50%吡氟酰草胺水分散粒剂和10%苄嘧磺隆可湿性粉剂有效成分用量分别为210、120和60 g/hm~2时,药后40 d对宝盖草的株防效和鲜重防效均达到90%以上,并且对冬小麦表现安全,可大面积示范推广。     

Evaluation of the combination of 1,3-dichloropropene and dazomet as an efficient alternative to methyl bromide for cucumber production in China

BACKGROUND: The combination of 1,3‐dichloropropene (1,3‐D) and dazomet (DZ) offers a potential alternative to methyl bromide (MB) for soil disinfection. MB is scheduled to be withdrawn from routine use by 2015 in developing countries. Combination treatments of 1,3‐D + DZ were evaluated in a laboratory study and in two commercial cucumber fields. RESULTS: Laboratory studies found that nearly all of the tested combinations of 1,3‐D and DZ displayed positive synergistic activity on root‐knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), two major soilborne fungi (Fusarium spp. and Phytophthora spp.) and the seeds of two major weed species (Digitaria sanguinalis and Abutilon theophrasti). Field trials revealed that the combination of 1,3‐D and DZ (at 10 + 25 g m^?2) successfully suppressed Meloidogyne spp. root galling, sharply reduced Fusarium spp. and Phytophthora spp. and maintained high cucumber yields. The combination treatment of 1,3‐D + DZ was more effective than 1,3‐D or DZ alone and provided results similar to methyl bromide with respect to pest control, plant mortality, plant height, yield and income. All of the treatments were significantly better than the non‐treated control. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the tested combination of 1,3‐D and DZ offers an efficient alternative to methyl bromide for cucumber production. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Over-winter predation of Abutilon theophrasti and Setaria faberi seeds in arable land

To improve understanding of over-winter weed seed predation in arable fields, we used data from winter exclosure trials to determine the amount of predation and the influence of crop habitats on predation of Abutilon theophrasti and Setaria faberi seed in 2-year (maize/soyabean) and 4-year (maize/soyabean/small grain+lucerne/lucerne) crop rotation systems between 2005 and 2008. Crop habitat influenced seed predation, and had similar impacts on the two weed species. Mean A. theophrasti predation ranged from 31% in the 2-year soyabean habitat to 99% in the 4-year lucerne habitat. Mean S. faberi predation ranged from 31% in the 2-year soyabean habitat to 97% in the 4-year lucerne habitat. Results suggest that a combination or interaction of cover and substrate may have affected crop habitat preference by seed predators. Future research should further examine the influence of physical habitat on seed predation to determine characteristics of cropping systems that encourage predation, particularly during over-winter periods, so as to routinely incorporate seed predators into long-term weed management strategies.     

4种除草剂对麦田禾本科杂草药效比较

采用室内盆栽的方法,测定精嗯唑禾草灵6．9％水乳剂、甲基二磺隆3％油悬剂、炔草酸15％可湿性粉剂、氟唑磺隆70％水分散粒剂四种茎叶除草剂对山东发生的主要麦田禾本科杂草硬草、看麦娘、多花黑麦草、雀麦、节节麦、野燕麦、茼草的杀草谱．结果表明：精嗯唑禾草灵6．9％水乳剂对硬草、看麦娘、茼草、野燕麦有良好的防效,鲜重抑制率在88％以上：甲基二磺隆3％油悬剂对硬草、看麦娘、多花黑麦草、雀麦、节节麦、野燕麦防效良好。鲜重抑制率在87％以上;炔草酸15％可湿性粉剂对硬草、看麦娘、茼草、野燕麦防效良好,鲜重抑制率在94％以上：氟唑磺隆70％水分散粒剂对雀麦、硬草、看麦娘、多花黑麦草有良好的防效,鲜重抑制率在88％以上。     

Robotic weeders can improve weed control options for specialty crops

Specialty crop herbicides are not a priority for the agrochemical industry, and many of these crops do not have access to effective herbicides. High‐value fruit and vegetable crops represent small markets and high potential liability in the case of herbicide‐induced crop damage. Meanwhile, conventional and organic specialty crop producers are experiencing labor shortages and higher manual weeding costs. Robotic weeders are promising new weed control tools for specialty crops, because they are cheaper to develop and, with fewer environmental and human health risks, are less regulated than herbicides. Now is the time for greater investment in robotic weeders as new herbicides are expensive to develop and few in number, organic crops need better weed control technology and governments are demanding reduced use of pesticides. Public funding of fundamental research on robotic weeder technology can help improve weed and crop recognition, weed control actuators, and expansion of weed science curricula to train students in this technology. Robotic weeders can expand the array of tools available to specialty crop growers. However, the development of robotic weeders will require a broader recognition that these tools are a viable path to create new weed control tools for specialty crops. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry