Reduced herbicide use does not increase crop yield loss if it is compensated by alternative preventive and curative measures

2018 ◽  
Vol 94 ◽  
pp. 67-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Colbach ◽  
Stéphane Cordeau
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Yield Loss ◽  
Herbicide Use ◽  
Crop Yield Loss ◽  
Increase Crop Yield

scholarly journals The Pitfalls of Relating Weeds, Herbicide Use, and Crop Yield: Don't Fall Into the Trap! A Critical Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Colbach ◽  
Sandrine Petit ◽  
Bruno Chauvel ◽  
Violaine Deytieux ◽  
Martin Lechenet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Yield Loss ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Arable Farming ◽  
Herbicide Use ◽  
The Impact

The growing recognition of the environmental and health issues associated to pesticide use requires to investigate how to manage weeds with less or no herbicides in arable farming while maintaining crop productivity. The questions of weed harmfulness, herbicide efficacy, the effects of herbicide use on crop yields, and the effect of reducing herbicides on crop production have been addressed over the years but results and interpretations often appear contradictory. In this paper, we critically analyze studies that have focused on the herbicide use, weeds and crop yield nexus. We identified many inconsistencies in the published results and demonstrate that these often stem from differences in the methodologies used and in the choice of the conceptual model that links the three items. Our main findings are: (1) although our review confirms that herbicide reduction increases weed infestation if not compensated by other cultural techniques, there are many shortcomings in the different methods used to assess the impact of weeds on crop production; (2) Reducing herbicide use rarely results in increased crop yield loss due to weeds if farmers compensate low herbicide use by other efficient cultural practices; (3) There is a need for comprehensive studies describing the effect of cropping systems on crop production that explicitly include weeds and disentangle the impact of herbicides from the effect of other practices on weeds and on crop production. We propose a framework that presents all the links and feed-backs that must be considered when analyzing the herbicide-weed-crop yield nexus. We then provide a number of methodological recommendations for future studies. We conclude that, since weeds are causing yield loss, reduced herbicide use and maintained crop productivity necessarily requires a redesign of cropping systems. These new systems should include both agronomic and biodiversity-based levers acting in concert to deliver sustainable weed management.

A simulation analysis of crop yield loss due to rust disease

1977 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.S. Teng ◽  
M.J. Blackie ◽  
R.C. Close
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Yield Loss ◽  
Simulation Analysis ◽  
Rust Disease ◽  
Crop Yield Loss

Modeling With Limited Data: The Influence of Crop Rotation and Management on Weed Communities and Crop Yield Loss

Weed Science ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen R. Canner ◽  
L. J. Wiles ◽  
Robert H. Erskine ◽  
Gregory S. McMaster ◽  
Gale H. Dunn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Yield Loss ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Alternative Crop ◽  
Weed Communities ◽  
Multiple Species ◽  
Crop Yield Loss

Theory and models of crop yield loss from weed competition have led to decision models to help growers choose cost-effective weed management. These models are available for multiple-species weed communities in a single season of several crops. Growers also rely on crop rotation for weed control, yet theory and models of weed population dynamics have not led to similar tools for planning of crop rotations for cost-effective weed management. Obstacles have been the complexity of modeling the dynamics of multiple populations of weed species compared to a single species and lack of data. We developed a method to use limited, readily observed data to simulate population dynamics and crop yield loss of multiple-species weed communities in response to crop rotation, tillage system, and specific weed management tactics. Our method is based on the general theory of density dependence of plant productivity and extensive use of rectangular hyperbolic equations for describing crop yield loss as a function of weed density. Only two density-independent parameters are required for each species to represent differences in seed bank mortality, emergence, and maximum seed production. One equation is used to model crop yield loss and density-dependent weed seed production as a function of crop and weed density, relative time of weed and crop emergence, and differences among species in competitive ability. The model has been parameterized for six crops and 15 weeds, and limited evaluation indicates predictions are accurate enough to highlight potential weed problems and solutions when comparing alternative crop rotations for a field. The model has been incorporated into a decision support tool for whole-farm management so growers in the Central Great Plains of the United States can compare alternative crop rotations and how their choice influences farm income, herbicide use, and control of weeds in their fields.

Estimation of Crop Yield Loss Due to Interference by Multiple Weed Species

Weed Science ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott M. Swinton ◽  
Douglas D. Buhler ◽  
Frank Forcella ◽  
Jeffrey L. Gunsolus ◽  
Robert P. King
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Yield Loss ◽  
Yield Function ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Species Competition ◽  
Coefficient Estimates ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Common Lambsquarters ◽  
Competition Coefficient ◽  
Crop Yield Loss

Previous efforts to model crop yield loss from multiple weed species constructed competitive indices based on yield loss from individual weed species. Our model uses a multispecies modification of Cousens’ rectangular hyperbolic yield function to estimate a nonlinear competitive index for weed-crop interference. Results from 13 Minnesota and Wisconsin data sets provide measures of the relative competitiveness of mixed green and yellow foxtails, common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, velvetleaf, and several other weed species. Competition coefficient estimates are stable over years, but not locations.

Analysis of competition between wet-seeded rice and barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) using a response–surface model

Weed Science ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 142-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanwen Ni ◽  
Keith Moody ◽  
Restituta P. Robles
Keyword(s):  
Response Surface ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Yield Loss ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Response Surface Model ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Weed Competition ◽  
Plant Type ◽  
Crop Density ◽  
Crop Yield Loss

Competition between wet-seeded rice and barnyardgrass under two distinct environments was analyzed using a two-parameter response–surface model at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines. The findings showed that this model could predict crop yield loss due to weed competition over a wide range of crop and weed densities. The low-tillering, new plant–type cultivar was a weaker competitor and had a higher yield loss than high-tillering cultivar ‘IR72’ and a hybrid. Increasing the crop density could reduce yield loss due to weed competition. This effect was greater for the new plant type than for IR72 and the hybrid when barnyardgrass density was low. In contrast, this effect was less for the new plant type than for IR72 and the hybrid when the weed density was high. Competitiveness of the three rice cultivars was also affected by season. Crop yield loss was higher in the wet season than in the dry season.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document