scholarly journals Modelling the Economics of Controlling Nodding Broomrape (Orobanche cernua) in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Weed Science ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 591-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. García-Torres ◽  
M. Castejón-Muñoz ◽  
M. Jurado-Expósito ◽  
F. López-Granados

Field studies were conducted at nine locations in southern Spain during 2 yr to develop models of nodding broomrape competition with sunflower and to establish economic thresholds. At each location, 30 to 35 small plots, each consisting of three sunflower plants, were chosen at random. The infection severity (BIS, no. of emerged broomrapes per sunflower plant) varied from 0 to 35. Plots were harvested at maturity to assess several sunflower and broomrape population variables. The percent sunflower yield reduction averaged over locations due to broomrape was estimated by the equation: % SYR = 1.7 x BIS (r2= 0.92). Crop yield loss per BIS unit increased with the expected yield and was estimated to be about 25, 50, and 75 kg ha−1for yields of 1000, 2000, and 3000 kg ha−1, respectively. A consistent relationship could be established between broomrape-infected sunflower yield, crop and broomrape biomass, and BIS parameters: SSYI= 0.2259 x PoBio/(1 + 0.0687 x BIS) (r2= 0.7820). The BIS economic threshold was about 1.5 and 3.5 for control treatment cost of $ 40 ha−1and potential yields of 2000 and 1000 kg ha−1, respectively.

1998 ◽  
Vol 130 (6) ◽  
pp. 825-836 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.L. Wise ◽  
R.J. Lamb

AbstractPlant bugs in the genus Lygus infest canola (Brassica napus L. and Brassica rapa L.) when the crop is producing buds, flowers, and pods. Field studies in cages and open plots show that plant bugs can reduce yield by 20% or more, but have little effect on seed size. A single application of a foliar insecticide when the crop has finished flowering and is beginning to produce pods will prevent most or all of the yield loss. The yield loss of canola that can be prevented by control is 0.007 t/ha per plant bug per 10 sweeps sampled at the end of flowering or the beginning of pod formation. The yield loss that can be prevented by a later application drops to 0.005 t/ha. When precipitation is greater than 100 mm from the onset of bud formation to the end of flowering, the crop may partially compensate for plant bug damage. The economic threshold for control of plant bugs in canola at the end of flowering or at the beginning of pod formation is 15 plant bugs per 10 sweeps, based on crop prices and control costs from 1989 to 1992. If plant bugs are present but control is not warranted when most flowering is complete, plant bug densities should be assessed again 5–7 days later as pods develop, but at this stage the threshold is 20 plant bugs per 10 sweeps. The use of economic thresholds for chemical control of plant bugs will maximize seed yield and minimize unnecessary or ineffectively timed insecticide applications.


Weed Science ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Cardina ◽  
Emilie Regnier ◽  
Denise Sparrow

Studies were conducted in conventional and no-tillage corn in 1990, 1991, and 1992 at Wooster, OH, to measure corn yield and velvetleaf seed production in response to density of early and late emerging velvetleaf, and to estimate economic thresholds. The percent reduction in corn yield fit a hyperbolic function over velvetleaf densities from 1 to 30 plants m2. The percent yield loss and velvetleaf seed production were higher in a warm, wet year (1990) than in a dry (1991) or cold, wet year (1992). The percent corn yield reduction was generally greater in no-tillage than in conventional tillage and from early rather than late emerging velvetleaf. Maximum velvetleaf seed production ranged from about 18,000 seeds m2for early emerging weeds in no-tillage in 1990 to 100 seeds m2for late emerging weeds in no-tillage in 1992. The single year economic threshold for early emerging velvetleaf ranged from 0.40 to 14.0 velvetleaf m2in conventional tillage and 0.13 to 3.13 in no-tillage. Economic thresholds that were predicted using yield goal information deviated from actual thresholds (using actual yields) for a given year by −43 to 30%. Single year economic thresholds were similar in both tillage treatments, but their value for management decisions is questionable due to variation among growing seasons and weed seed production from subthreshold populations.


1995 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.L. Wise ◽  
R.J. Lamb ◽  
E.O. Kenaschuk

AbstractThe potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), infests oilseed flax, Linum usitatissimum L., when the crop is flowering and developing seeds. Field studies in cages, open plots, and commercial fields showed that the aphid can cause yield losses of 20% or more, but reduces the weight of individual seeds only slightly and has no effect on oil quality. A single application of a foliar insecticide at full bloom or the green boll stage will control the potato aphid until harvest. The yield loss of flax is 0.021 t/ha per aphid per plant for crops sampled at full bloom and 0.008 t/ha per aphid per plant for crops sampled at the green boll stage. The economic threshold for the potato aphid in flax is three aphids per plant at full bloom and eight aphids per plant at the green boll stage, based on crop prices and control costs from 1990 to 1992. Aphids should be controlled as soon as the economic threshold is exceeded. If control is not warranted at full bloom, aphid densities should be assessed again at the green boll stage. The effective use of growth-stage-specific sampling and economic thresholds will maximize the benefits of insecticide use for producers and minimize unnecessary or ineffectively timed applications.


2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 219-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn M. Hock ◽  
Stevan Z. Knezevic ◽  
William G. Johnson ◽  
Christy Sprague ◽  
Alex R. Martin

The ability to accurately estimate herbicide efficacy is critical for any decision-support system used in weed management. Recent efforts by weed scientists in the North Central United States to adopt WeedSOFT across a broad region have resulted in a number of regional research projects designed to assess and improve the predictive capability of WeedSOFT. Field studies were conducted from 2000 to 2002 in Nebraska, Missouri, and Illinois to evaluate herbicide-efficacy predictions made by WeedSOFT in two corn-row spacings. Following crop and weed emergence, input variables, such as weed densities and heights, were entered into WeedSOFT to generate a list of treatments ranked by predicted crop yields. The five treatments evaluated included those predicting highest crop-yield potential (recommended control treatment 1), a 10% yield reduction, a 20% yield reduction, a 10% yield reduction plus cultivation, and cultivation alone. These treatments were applied to corn grown in 38- and 76-cm rows. Generally, treatments applied in 38-cm rows had more accurate herbicide-efficacy predictions compared with 76-cm rows. WeedSOFT provided better control predictions for broadleaf than grass species. WeedSOFT provided excellent herbicide-efficacy predictions for the highest crop-yield potential, which indicates a good potential for practical use of this software for herbicide recommendations.


Weed Science ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Régis Baziramakenga ◽  
Gilles D. Leroux

Field studies were conducted in 1989 and 1990 at St-Augustin, Quebec, Canada, to determine the economic threshold density of quackgrass in potato. Potato yield losses due to quackgrass interference increased with quackgrass population density. Potato yield ranged from 33 to 73% in 1989, and from 19 to 44% in 1990. The relationship between potato yield losses and quackgrass densities was described by a rectangular hyperbolic function. Dry weight of quackgrass proved to be the best predictor of potato yield loss compared to shoot number. The interference thresholds for 10% potato yield loss amounted to 25 shoots m−2or 20 g total dry biomass m−2. The economic threshold varied between 0.04 and 2 shoots m−2or 0.0165 and 1.5 g total dry biomass m−2, depending on the variables considered.


1994 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Gordon Harvey ◽  
Clark R. Wagner

Herbicide efficacy trials in field corn, sweet corn, and soybean were conducted at three locations in Wisconsin over a 6-yr period. Percent weed pressure (WP) was determined by visually estimating the contribution of all weed species present to the total crop and weed volume in each plot. Crop yields in each plot were measured. Percent crop yield reduction (YLDRED) was calculated by comparing mean yields of individual treatments with those of the highest yielding treatment in each trial. Linear regression analyses of YLDRED and WP data from 1640 field corn and 138 sweet corn treatments were significant. Nonlinear regression analysis of YLDRED and WP data from all 1374 soybean treatments was significant; however, a linear regression of those 1154 soybean treatments with WP ratings of 30 or less produced a more easily interpreted regression equation.


Weed Science ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 224-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip W. Stahlman ◽  
Stephen D. Miller

Densities up to 100 downy brome m2were established in winter wheat in southeastern Wyoming and west-central Kansas to quantify wheat yield loss from downy brome interference and to approximate economic threshold levels. A quadratic equation best described wheat yield loss as a function of weed density when downy brome emerged within 14 days after wheat emergence. Densities of 24, 40, and 65 downy brome m2reduced wheat yield by 10, 15, and 20%, respectively. Wheat yield was not reduced when downy brome emerged 21 or more days later than wheat. Economic thresholds varied with changes in downy brome density, cost of control, wheat price, and potential wheat yield. In a greenhouse experiment, dry weight of 72-day-old wheat plants grown in association with downy brome was not affected by the distance between the weeds and wheat, whereas downy brome plant dry weight increased with increasing distance between the weeds and wheat.


1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (70) ◽  
pp. 656 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Gilbey

The effect of doublegee (Emex australis) density on wheat yield was studied in a field trial. Percentage yield reduction (y) was related to doublegee plants m-2 at 1 week (x1) and 8 weeks (x2) after seeding thus: y = 10.3 + 0.24 x1 r = 0.78*** y = 5.6 + 0.44 x2 r = 0.86*** showing that estimates of doublegee density could be used for forecasting crop yield losses before it is too late to spray. No further yield loss occurred when x1 was greater than 120 plants metre-2. Doublegee seedling mortality that occurred during the seven weeks between plant counts was strongly related to the initial counts (x1) thus: r = 0.88***.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document