Environmental Correlates with Germinable Weed Seedbanks on Organic Farms across Northern New England

Weed Science ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard G. Smith ◽  
Sonja K. Birthisel ◽  
Sidney C. Bosworth ◽  
Bryan Brown ◽  
Thomas M. Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Large Degree ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Weed Communities ◽  
Multivariate Procedures ◽  
Agricultural Weed ◽  
Northern New England ◽  
Edaphic Variables

The northern New England region includes the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine and encompasses a large degree of climate and edaphic variation across a relatively small spatial area, making it ideal for studying climate change impacts on agricultural weed communities. We sampled weed seedbanks and measured soil physical and chemical characteristics on 77 organic farms across the region and analyzed the relationships between weed community parameters and select geographic, climatic, and edaphic variables using multivariate procedures. Temperature-related variables (latitude, longitude, mean maximum and minimum temperature) were the strongest and most consistent correlates with weed seedbank composition. Edaphic variables were, for the most part, relatively weaker and inconsistent correlates with weed seedbanks. Our analyses also indicate that a number of agriculturally important weed species are associated with specific U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones, implying that future changes in climate factors that result in geographic shifts in these zones will likely be accompanied by changes in the composition of weed communities and therefore new management challenges for farmers.

Composted manure and straw amendments in wheat of a rice–wheat rotation system alter weed richness and abundance

Weed Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 318-326
Author(s):  
Haiyan Zhang ◽  
Yicheng Sun ◽  
Yong Li ◽  
Guojun Sun ◽  
Fang Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Chemical Fertilizer ◽  
Pig Manure ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Weed Density ◽  
Rotation System ◽  
Weed Communities ◽  
Agricultural Weed ◽  
Straw Return ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIn a rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) rotation system, a study was conducted to determine the effects of different fertilization regimens (no fertilization, replacement of a portion of chemical fertilizer with composted pig manure, chemical fertilizer only, and straw return combined with chemical fertilizer) on the weed communities and wheat yields after 4 and 5 yr. The impact of the long-term recurrent fertilization regimen initiated in 2010 on the composition and diversity of weed communities and the impact of the components and total amount of fertilizer on wheat yields were assessed in 2014 and 2015. Totals of 19 and 16 weed species were identified in experimental wheat fields in 2014 and 2015, respectively, but the occurrence of weed species varied according to the fertilization regimen. American sloughgrass [Beckmannia syzigachne(Steud.) Fernald], water starwort [Myosoton aquaticum(L.) Moench], and lyrate hemistepta (Hemistepta lyrataBunge.) were adapted to all fertilization treatments and were the dominant weed species in the experimental wheat fields. The greatest number of weed species were observed under the no-fertilization treatment, in which 40% of the weed community was composed of broadleaf weeds and the lowest wheat yields were obtained. With fertilizer application, the number of weed species was reduced, the height of weeds increased significantly, the density of broadleaf weeds was significantly reduced, the biodiversity indices of weed communities decreased significantly, and higher wheat yields were obtained. Only the chemical fertilizer plus composted pig manure treatment and the chemical fertilizer–only treatment increased the density of grassy weeds and the total weed community density. The treatment with chemical fertilizer only also resulted in the highest density ofB. syzigachne. Rice straw return combined with chemical fertilizer yielded the lowest total weed density, which suggests that it inhibited occurrence of weeds. The different fertilizer regimens not only affected the weed species composition, distribution, and diversity, but also the weed density. Our study provides new information from a rice–wheat rotation system on the relationship between soil amendments and agricultural weed infestation.

scholarly journals The Effect of Different Soil Tillage Systems and Crop Residues on the Composition of Weed Communities

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1276
Author(s):  
Vaida Steponavičienė ◽  
Aušra Marcinkevičienė ◽  
Lina Marija Butkevičienė ◽  
Lina Skinulienė ◽  
Vaclovas Bogužas
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Plant Residues ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Agricultural Crops ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Weed Communities

The composition of weed communities in agricultural crops is dependent on soil properties and the applied agronomic practices. The current study determined the effect of different tillage systems and crop residue on the soil weed community composition. The research programme encompassed 2013–2015 in a long-term field experiment located in the Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania. The soil type in the experimental field was qualified as Endocalcaric Stagnosol (Aric, Drainic, Ruptic, Amphisiltic). Weeds were categorised into communities according to soil pH, nitrogen and moisture indicators. The results of investigations were grouped using cluster analysis. Agricultural crops were dominated by different weed species depending on the soil pH and moisture. Weed species were relatively more frequent indicating nitrogen-rich and very nitrogen-rich soils. In the reduced tillage and no-tillage systems, an increase in the abundance of weed species indicating moderate acidity and low acidity, moderately wet and wet, nitrogen-rich and very nitrogen-rich soils was observed. The application of plant residues decreased the weed species abundance. In the reduced tillage and no-tillage systems, the quantitative distribution of weed was often uneven. By evaluating the association of weed communities with groups of different tillage systems with or without plant residues, their control can be optimised.

Cyprinid distributions in Northeast U.S.A. lakes: evidence of regional-scale minnow biodiversity losses

1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 1593-1607 ◽  
Author(s):  
T R Whittier ◽  
D B Halliwell ◽  
S G Paulsen
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
New England ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Southern New England ◽  
Sample Data ◽  
Golden Shiner ◽  
Northern New England

Fish assemblages were sampled in 195 randomly selected lakes in the northeastern United States during the summers of 1991-1994. Most lakes in northern Maine had three to seven minnow species, constituting 40-80% of species in each lake. Lakes in New Jersey, southern New York, and southern New England rarely had minnows, other than golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas). Lakes in the Adirondacks and the remainder of northern New England had intermediate numbers. We examined minnow native ranges and autecology and evaluated species richness related to littoral predators and human disturbance. Sample data suggested alteration in the minnow assemblages over much of the region. The most consistent factor related to minnow species richness was the presence of littoral predators. Median number of minnow species was two in lakes lacking predators and zero in lakes with predators. Non-native predators, especially Micropterus spp., have been introduced throughout the Northeast; 69% of the sampled lakes had non-native predators. In the absence of predators, minnow species declined with increased human activity in the watershed and along lake shorelines. Only in northern Maine did lake minnow assemblages seem relatively intact.

scholarly journals The effectiveness of weed regulation methods in spring wheat cultivated in integrated, conventional and organic crop production systems

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 486-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beata Feledyn-Szewczyk
Keyword(s):  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Integrated Systems ◽  
Conventional System ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Organic System ◽  
Weed Communities

Abstract The research was conducted from 2008 to 2010, and compared the influence of different weed control methods used in spring wheat on the structure of the weed communities and the crop yield. The study was carried out at the Experimental Station of the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute in Osiny as part of a long-term trial where these crop production systems had been compared since 1994. In the conventional and integrated systems, spring wheat was grown in a pure stand, whereas in the organic system, the wheat was grown with undersown clover and grasses. In the conventional system, herbicides were applied two times in a growing season, but in the integrated system - only once. The effectiveness of weed management was lower in the organic system than in other systems, but the dry matter of weeds did not exceed 60 g/m2. In the integrated system, the average dry matter of weeds in spring wheat was 4 times lower, and in the conventional system 10 times lower than in the organic system. Weed diversity was the largest in spring wheat cultivated in the organic system. In the conventional and integrated systems, compensation of some weed species was observed (Viola arvensis, Fallopia convolvulus, Equisetum arvense). The comparison of weed communities using Sorenson’s indices revealed more of a similarity between systems in terms of number of weed species than in the number of individuals. Such results imply that qualitative changes are slower than quantitative ones. The yield of grain was the biggest in the integrated system (5.5 t/ha of average). It was 35% higher than in the organic system, and 20% higher than in conventional ones.

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