Maize/Weed Competition Experiments: Implications for Tropical Small-Farm Weed Control Research

1983 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 341-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Vernon ◽  
J. M. H. Parker

SUMMARYTwo sets of experiments examined the effects of weeds on maize yields using weeding methods typical of small farms in Zambia where oxen are used for cultivation. Maize yield losses of 30% due to weeds were evident with common weeding practices. A critical period of competition, during which the crop should be kept clean, was demonstrated from 10 to 30 days after emergence. This is a period of peak labour demand and the prospect of using chemical weed control to ease the situation is considered. The value of weed competition data, given its variability between sites, is discussed.

1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 575-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. WEAVER ◽  
C. S. TAN

The critical period of weed interference in field-seeded tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum L. ’TH 318’) was determined in 1981, 1982 and 1983. The minimum weed-free period varied among years from 7 to 9 wk after sowing, while the maximum weed-infested period varied from 5 to 6 wk after sowing. A minimum of two weed control operations during the critical period was required to prevent yield losses. Reductions in tomato yields were correlated with weed dry weights and could be attributed both to reductions in light levels due to shading and weed competition for water which resulted in stomatal closure.Key words: Competition, critical period, weed, tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum L.


Weed Science ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 634-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio M. Dunan ◽  
Philip Westra ◽  
Edward E. Schweizer ◽  
Donald W. Lybecker ◽  
Frank D. Moore

The question of when to control weeds traditionally has been approached with the calculation of critical periods (CP) based on crop yields. The concept of economic critical period (ECP) and early (EEPT) and late (LEFT) economic period thresholds are presented as a comprehensive approach to answer the same question based on economic losses and costs of control. ECP is defined as the period when the benefit of controlling weeds is greater than its cost. EEPT and LEFT are the limits of the ECP and can be used to determine when first and last weed control measures should be performed. Calculation of EEPT accounts for the economic losses due to weed competition that occur between planting and postemergence weed control. In this way it is possible to better evaluate the economic feasibility of using preplant or preemergence control tactics. The EEPT for DCPA application is analyzed in the context of onion production in Colorado. The EEPT for DCPA application was calculated from an empirical regression model that assessed the impact of weed load and time of weed removal on onion yields. The EEPT was affected by control efficacy, weed-free yield, DCPA cost, and onion price. DCPA application was economically advisable in only one of 20 fields analyzed because of the tow DCPA efficacy (60%).


2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Agostinetto ◽  
L.C. Fontana ◽  
L. Vargas ◽  
L.T. Perboni ◽  
E. Polidoro ◽  
...  

Determining the periods of weed competition with crops helps the producer to choose the most appropriate time to use weed control practices. This strategy allows for the reduction of the number of herbicide applications, reducing costs and the environmental impact of pesticides. The objectives were to determine the period before the interference (PBI) of crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris) competing with flooded rice, the critical period of interference prevention (CPIP) of crabgrass with soybean and the effects of competition on the grains yield and their components. Experiments were conducted with the coexistence of BRS Querência rice cultivar with crabgrass, for periods of 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 110 days after emergency (DAE) and Fundacep 53RR soybean cultivar, whose periods of coexistence and control of crabgrass were 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 156 DAE. Rice can grow with crabgrass infestation until 18 DAE, while soybean should remain free from the presence of crabgrass in the period between 23 and 50 DAE. The grain yield and its components, in the crops studied, are affected when grown with crabgrass.


Weed Science ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward P. Richard ◽  
Joe E. Street

A 3-yr study was conducted to compare the performance of several herbicides applied alone and in mixtures under three flooding conditions in dry-seeded rice (Oryza sativaL. ‘Labelle’). When the soil remained moist during the 2-week unflooded periods (1979 and 1981), weed emergence was slowed and no advantage with respect to enhanced weed control and increased rice yields could be demonstrated over that of the standard sequential propanil (3′,4′-dichloropropionanilide) application. However, in 1980 when drought stress may have reduced initial postemergence activity and weeds emerged during the 14-day unflooded periods, differences in weed control between herbicides were obtained. Results of this study also indicate that yield losses from weed competition resulted primarily from early season competition, and that the principal advantage of the residual herbicides in dry-seeded rice may be to eliminate the need for retreatment with propanil when flooding is delayed or fields are drained.


Weed Science ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 359-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore M. Webster ◽  
Wilson H. Faircloth ◽  
J. Timothy Flanders ◽  
Eric P. Prostko ◽  
Timothy L. Grey

Bengal dayflower (also known as tropical spiderwort) is one of the most troublesome weeds in peanut in Georgia, United States. Field studies conducted in 2004 and 2005 evaluated the relationship between the duration of Bengal dayflower interference and peanut yield in an effort to optimize the timing of weed control. In 2004, the critical period of weed control (CPWC) necessary to avoid greater than 5% peanut yield loss was between 316 and 607 growing degree days (GDD), which corresponded to an interval between June 8 and July 2. In 2005, the CPWC ranged from 185 to 547 GDD, an interval between May 30 and July 3. Maximum yield loss in 2005 from season-long interference of Bengal dayflower was 51%. In 2004, production of peanut pods was eliminated by interference with Bengal dayflower for the initial 6 wk (495 GDD) of the growing season. Robust Bengal dayflower growth in 2004 shaded the peanut crop, likely intercepting fungicide applications and causing a reduction in peanut yield. Therefore, the competitive effects of Bengal dayflower are likely complicated with the activity of plant pathogens. In spite of higher Bengal dayflower population densities, greater Bengal dayflower growth, and greater peanut yield losses in 2004 than in 2005, the CPWC was a relatively similar 4-wk period that ended during the first week of July, for peanut that was planted in the first week of May.


2000 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 269-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.K. James ◽  
A. Rahman ◽  
J. Mellsop

The effect of early weed competition was determined for a maize (Zea mays) crop grown in Waikato Maize was established in three different environments viz weedy (no herbicide) grass weeds (preemergence atrazine) and broadleaf weeds (preemergence metolachlor) Surviving weeds were controlled with postemergence nicosulfuron (60 g/ha) after different periods of competition and the plots kept weed free for the remainder of the trial Weeds left completely uncontrolled for 4 weeks after emergence significantly reduced crop yields When a preemergence herbicide was used surviving weeds began to reduce maize yields after about 6 weeks with grasses having greater effect than broadleaf weeds The actual period before the weeds started affecting crop growth and yield appeared to be related to the time taken by the weeds to achieve complete ground cover


Author(s):  
Ravindra Singh ◽  
Sharda Choudhary ◽  
R.S. Mehta ◽  
O.P. Aishwath ◽  
G. Lal

Background: Weed populations reduce crop yields by influencing the pattern of crop growth and development throughout the season and by directly competing with the crop for limiting precious resources, like light, water or nutrients. A number of the factors that influence magnitude of crop yield losses from weed interference include the timing of weed emergence relative to the crop, weed density, pattern of weed growth and development. Weed management is one among the foremost critical factors influencing crop yield. By providing a window of weed-free growth early within the season, the size advantage that crop seedlings have over weeds can be utilized to reduce the intensity of direct competition for resources at the stages of crop development when yield is being determined. Weeds are identified as a significance drawback since they create biotic stress in realizing the genetic yield potential of this valuable crop.Methods: A field experiment was carried out during the rabi season of 2010-11 to 2014-15 at ICAR- National Research Centre on Seed Spices, Ajmer, Rajasthan to estimate the yield losses because of weed infestation and to work out the critical period for weed control (CPWC) in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.). There were 14 treatments comprising of initial weedy periods of 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 days after sowing (DAS) and weed free period upto 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 DAS along with weedy till harvest (un-weeded check) and weed free till harvest (weed free check). The treatments were replicated three times in a randomized block design.Result: Maximum pod length (cm), number of pods/plant, number of seed/pod, test weight (g), seed yield (kg/ha), straw yield (kg/ha) and harvesting index (%) to the tune of 9.47, 41.2, 16.67, 12.60, 2297, 4954 and 31.73 were recorded at weed free throughout growth period. Weed infestation up to 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 DAS and weedy throughout growth period reduced the seed yield significantly to the magnitude of 567.3, 801.7, 913.3, 1253.3, 1393.7 and 1736.3 kg/ha. Yield losses in fenugreek increase from 2.95 kg/ha/day at 15 days weed infestation to 12.31 kg/ha/day at 135 days weed infestation. Maximum gross return (`104248/ha), net return (`67018/ha) were obtained at weed free throughout growth period with the B:C ratio 2.80 among the weed free treatments. The employment of response curves with weed free or weed competition period showed that seed yield of fenugreek were the highest with the field free from weeds throughout the growth period and the critical period of weed/fenugreek competition was 32 days after sowing and lies between 30-45 days after sowing. In regression approach for fenugreek seed yield and weed free or weed competition period the quadratic function was fitted to estimate the expected yields which had the high significant with the data recorded and have the highest values of R2. If we predict the seed yield losses based on the quadratic model for weed free period model, it declined from 42.04 at 0 DAS to 0.0% at 135 days. Similarly, weed infestation period model predicted the seed yield losses increased from 0.00 at 0 days weed infestation to 73.42% at 135 days. Critical period for weed competition in fenugreek was found to be 32 days after sowing. The CPWC is helpful for making decisions on the necessity for and timing of weed control.


Weed Science ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Green-Tracewicz ◽  
Eric R. Page ◽  
Clarence J. Swanton

The critical period for weed control (CPWC) is an integral component of integrated weed management strategies. Several studies have defined the CPWC in soybean under varying agronomic conditions, yet none have described the mechanisms involved in crop yield losses caused by weed competition. We hypothesized that under nonresource-limiting conditions, morphological changes resulting from the expression of shade avoidance could be used to define a period of developmental sensitivity to low red-to-far-red ratio (R : FR) that would overlap with the defined CPWC in soybean. Two experiments (a sequential harvest and a weed addition/removal series) were conducted in 2008 and 2009 under controlled environmental conditions to address this hypothesis. Two light-quality treatments were used: (1) high R : FR ratio (i.e., weed-free), and (2) low R : FR ratio (i.e., weedy). The low R : FR ratio treatment induced shade avoidance responses in soybean, which included increases in height, internode length, and the shoot : root ratio, as well as a reduction in biomass accumulation and leaf number. Using the morphological changes in biomass and leaf number observed in the weed addition/removal series, a period of developmental sensitivity to low R : FR was defined between the first trifoliate (V1) and third trifoliate (V3) stages of soybean development. This period was found to be very similar to the CPWC previously defined by field studies of soybean–weed competition.


2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffroy Gantoli ◽  
Victor Rueda Ayala ◽  
Roland Gerhards

Field experiments were conducted in western Atakora, Benin, to determine the critical time period of weed competition in hand-weeded corn. Weeds were removed until different crop growth stages and then allowed to reemerge. Other treatments began weed control at different growth stages (four-, eight-, and ten-leaf stages and flowering) and were maintained until harvest. One treatment was permanently kept weed-free and one treatment was uncontrolled until harvest. Yields without weed competition ranged from 2.8 to 3.4 t ha−1. As expected, yield loss increased with duration of weed infestation and ranged from 38 to 65% compared to permanent weed-free plots. In three out of four site-years, the critical period for weed control started at the four- to six-leaf stage and continued until ten-leaf stage or flowering of corn. Approximately four hand-weeding applications were required in this critical period of weed control.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abel Chemura ◽  
Amsalu Woldie Yalew ◽  
Christoph Gornott

Agroforestry is a promising adaptation measure for climate change, especially for low external inputs smallholder maize farming systems. However, due to its long-term nature and heterogeneity across farms and landscapes, it is difficult to quantitatively evaluate its contribution in building the resilience of farming systems to climate change over large areas. In this study, we developed an approach to simulate and emulate the shading, micro-climate regulation and biomass effects of multi-purpose trees agroforestry system on maize yields using APSIM, taking Ethiopia as a case study. Applying the model to simulate climate change impacts showed that at national level, maize yield will increase by 7.5 and 3.1 % by 2050 under RCP2.6 and RCP8.5, respectively. This projected increase in national-level maize yield is driven by maize yield increases in six administrative zones whereas yield losses are expected in other five zones (mean of −6.8% for RCP2.6 and −11.7% for RCP8.5), with yields in the other four zones remaining stable overtime. Applying the emulated agroforestry leads to increase in maize yield under current and future climatic conditions compared to maize monocultures, particularly in regions for which yield losses under climate change are expected. A 10% agroforestry shade will reduce maize yield losses by 6.9% (RCP2.6) and 4.2 % (RCP8.5) while 20% shade will reduce maize yield losses by 11.5% (RCP2.6) and 11% (RCP8.5) for projected loss zones. Overall, our results show quantitatively that agroforestry buffers yield losses for areas projected to have yield losses under climate change in Ethiopia, and therefore should be part of building climate-resilient agricultural systems.


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