Additive infestation model (AIM) analysis for the study of two-weed species interference

A graphical method of analysis designed to study the efficacy of herbicide mixtures, the additive dose model, was adapted for use in analysing the effect of two-weed species interference on crop yield. It is possible to categorize two-weed species interference as synergistic or antagonistic with regard to the effect on crop yield. It is also possible to quantify the degree to which the effect of species mixture deviates from additivity. Within the analysis, different forms of regression models may be used to estimate interference from one species or another, or for species in combination, provided that the models used are all special cases of the same basic model. This allows for flexibility in summarizing data. The method was demonstrated using data from field experiments in which the influence of Stellaria media     

Vertical distribution, size and composition of the weed seedbank under various tillage and herbicide treatments in a sequence of industrial crops

Investigations were conducted during the 2003, 2004 and 2005 growing seasons in northern Greece to evaluate effects of tillage regime (mouldboard plough, chisel plough and rotary tiller), cropping sequence (continuous cotton, cotton–sugar beet rotation and continuous tobacco) and herbicide treatment on weed seedbank dynamics. Amaranthus spp. and Portulaca oleracea were the most abundant species, ranging from 76% to 89% of total weed seeds found in 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil depths during the 3 years. With the mouldboard plough, 48% and 52% of the weed seedbank was found in the 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil horizons, while approximately 60% was concentrated in the upper 15 cm soil horizon for chisel plough and rotary tillage. Mouldboard ploughing significantly buried more Echinochloa crus‐galli seeds in the 15–30 cm soil horizon compared with the other tillage regimes. Total seedbank (0–30 cm) of P. oleracea was significantly reduced in cotton–sugar beet rotation compared with cotton and tobacco monocultures, while the opposite occurred for E. crus‐galli. Total seed densities of most annual broad‐leaved weed species (Amaranthus spp., P. oleracea, Solanum nigrum) and E. crus‐galli were lower in herbicide treated than in untreated plots. The results suggest that in light textured soils, conventional tillage with herbicide use gradually reduces seed density of small seeded weed species in the top 15 cm over several years. In contrast, crop rotation with the early established sugar beet favours spring‐germinating grass weed species, but also prevents establishment of summer‐germinating weed species by the early developing crop canopy.     

A survey of weeds of oilseed rape in central southern England

Weeds in a total of 450 fields of winter oilseed rape in nine areas of central southern England were surveyed, just prior to harvest during summer 1985, to identify those that had survived herbicide treatment or had not been sprayed and, thus, were capable of re-infestation or contamination of the harvested crop. Sixty-two species were identified; their levels of infestation were scored and distribution within the field noted. The most frequent species was Galium aparine, which occurred in 57% of fields. Mayweeds (Tripleurospermum inodorum, Matricaria recutita and Anthemis cotula) occurred in 23% of fields and Papaver rhoeas in 21%. All other species occurred in less than 20% of fields, the most prevalent being Sonchus asper(18%). Grassweeds were relatively infrequent, reflecting the widespread use of effective graminicides; the most prevalent was Arena spp., found in 9% of fields. Although most species were distributed throughout the field, Geranium dissection (13%) and Sisymbrium officinale (7%) were virtually confined to field margins (extending 1 m into the crop) and headlands (10m into the crop), respectively. Several species exhibited a well-defined regional distribution; Silene alba was virtually restricted to the most southern counties surveyed, whilst Papaver rhoeas and Viola arvensis were conspicuously absent from the eastern area.     

A survey of grass weeds in cereals in central southern England

A survey of grass weeds in cereals in nine areas of central southern England was made in summer 1981 with the primary purpose of determining the importance of Bromus sterilis. A total of 1477 fields of winter wheat, 715 of winter barley and 434 of spring barley were assessed by visually scoring the whole field for grass flower heads. In all, 19 species were found; their levels of infestation were scored. In winter cereals the most frequent species were Avena spp. in 32% of fields. Agropyron repens in 24%, Poa trivialis in 22% and Alopecurus myosuroides in 19%. Bromas sterilis was next most frequent in 9%. In spring barley the two most frequent species were Agropyron repens in 53% of the fields and Avena spp. in 52%. The third most frequent was Alopecurus myosuroides in 1 1%. Bromus sterilis was recorded in 12% of winter wheat and 4% of winter barley crops, but did not occur in spring barley. Of the 206 fields where it was present it occurred throughout the field in only 82 and it was confined to the headlands in the remainder.     

Germination of proximal and distal seeds of Poa trivialis L. from contrasting habitats

Seeds of Poa trivialis L. were collected from one grassland and two arable habitats. Seeds from the grassland population were less dormant than the arable populations. Distal (upper) seeds were consistently more dormant than proximal (basal) seeds. Dry storage at 4°C and 15°C for 4 weeks after shedding resulted in a slightly greater loss of dormancy than storage at 23°C. Germination was enhanced by subjecting seeds stored at 15°C to repeated hydration and dehydration cycles. Germination of P. trivialis seeds was density-dependent. Germination of distal seeds was particularly impaired at high densities. The ecological implications of these results are discussed in relation to seed survival strategies.     

A second survey of cereal weeds in central southern England

A survey of grass weeds of cereals in central southern England made in 1981 was repeated in 1982 between 28 June and 23 July. Dicotyledonous weeds were also assessed in 1982. A total of 1021 fields were surveyed, 702 in winter wheat. 198 in winter barley and 121 in spring barley. A total of twenty-four grass weeds were found and their levels of infestation were scored. The most frequently found grass weeds were the same as in 1981. In all cereals combined, these were Elymus (Agropyron) repens in 35% of fields, Avena fatua in 32%, Alopecurus myosuroides in 26% and Poa trivialis in 24%. Sixty-three species of dicotyledonous weeds were recorded and of these, eighteen species occurred in 2% or more of fields. The eight most frequent were Viola arvensis, Galium aparine, Stellaria media, Myosotis arvensis, Polygonum aviculare, Convolvulus arvensis, Bilderdykia (Polygonum) convolvulus and Lamium purpureum. Most species were fairly uniform in distribution, but Galium aparine, Convolvulus arvensis and Cirsium arvense were most frequent in the east while Viola arvensis was least frequent there. The cereals varied in weediness, 32% of winter barley, 23% of spring barley and only 7% of winter wheat fields had no weeds recorded.     

The influence of tillage on the weed flora in a succession of winter wheat crops on a clay loam soil and a silt loam soil

Weed populations were monitored for 4 years on two experiments designed to compare the effect of different primary tillage treatments on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping. Ploughing was compared with deep and shallow tine cultivation and with no tillage on both a clay loam and a silt loam over chalk. Soil-acting residual herbicides were used to control weeds, especially Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. and Avena fatua L. Dicotyledonous weeds were uncommon on the clay loam but on the silt loam, in a year when no residual herbicide was used, they were most numerous where the soil was disturbed most. In other years there was little difference in the number emerging. Six species were reduced in number by reduced cultivation or no tillage, whilst four species, including two grasses, were increased. At both sites, A. myosuroides was more numerous on direct drilled and tine cultivated plots than on ploughed. Herbicides gave good control on the silt loam but failed to control the weed on the clay loam. On the clay loam, A. fatua was most numerous on tine cultivated plots and a combination of herbicides and roguing produced a decline in the population.     

Potential changes in weed floras associated with reduced-cultivation Systems for cereal production in temperate regions

The effects of reduced-cultivation Systems on weeds in cereals are reviewed. Increasing dependence of these Systems upon Chemical weed control together with changes in the soil physical environment are expected to modify existing weed floras. Annual-grass weeds are likely to remain a problem with the use of minimal cultivations, particularly when early drilling is practised, while hitherto unimportant species may become more prevalent, e.g. Bromus spp. Furthermore, reduced cultivations may encourage the establishment of wind-disseminated species. However, annual dicotyledonous species characteristic of arable land are expected to continue to decline.     

Predicting yield loss due to interference from two weed species using early observations of relative weed leaf area

Experiments were conducted on linseed ( Linum usiãissimum L.) and autumn-sown field bean ( Vicia faha L.) to test how well the relative leaf area-based yield loss prediction model of Kropff & Spitters could estimate yield loss due to interference from Stellaria media L. (common chick-weed) or barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) alone or a combination of both S. media and barley . Damage coefficients were calculated for all comparisons. Generally, the model provided a better estimate of yield loss due to interference from barley than from S. media because of both the variability in crop yield response stemming from S. media's plasticity and the generally minor crop yield response to S. media interference. The addition to the model of a parameter accounting for asymptotic yield loss was, generally, not warranted for either S. media or barley in the single-weed species data sets. When both S. media and barley were present as weed species in the crop, the model that fitted the data best for six out of 10 data sets was the one in which a separate damage coefficient was included for both species. There was no evidence that the presence of S. media influenced damage coefficient values for barley. However, in the presence of barley a parameter accounting for asymptotic yield loss was warranted for S. media in the two-weed species model. The combination of the addition of this parameter and the presence or barley affected the values of the damage coefficients for S. media in the two-weed species compared with the single-weed species models. Consequently, it was shown for these two weed species that two-weed species yield loss prediction models parameterized using data from single-weed species experiments generally resulted in different estimates of yield loss in comparison with models parameterized using data from two-weed species experiments.     

Weed infestation and tea growth under various weed management methods in a young tea (Camellia sinensis[L.] Kuntze) plantation

A field experiment was conducted in the low country of Sri Lanka, during the period 1994–1995 to investigate the severity of weed infestation and tea growth in relation to weed management methods in newly established tea ( Camellia sinensis [L.] Kuntze). Manual weeding (hand and slash weeding) at various intervals was compared with various herbicides, with or without mulching. Weed control with herbicides was superior to that of hand weeding at 6-week intervals or more. Weed control with oxyfluorfen at 0.29 kg ai ha⁻¹ + paraquat at 0.17 kg ai ha⁻¹ or glyphosate at 0.99 kg ai ha⁻¹ + kaolin at 3.42 kg ha⁻¹ were superior. Plots unweeded for 12 weeks or more produced significantly greater ( P  < 0.05) weed biomass than plots unweeded for 6 weeks. Although the least weed dry weight ( P  < 0.05) and the greatest number of weed species were recorded with hand weeding at 2 week intervals, there was no particular benefit on tea growth when compared with hand weeding at 6 and 12 week intervals. Inter row mulching in chemically treated plots was more favorable for tea growth than no mulching, while living weed cover in unmulched slash weeded plots suppressed tea growth. A combination of mulching and herbicides, particularly oxyfluorfen and paraquat, followed by hand weeding at least every 6–8 weeks was considered the most appropriate weed management system for young tea.