scholarly journals Integrating Insect, Resistance, and Floral Resource Management in Weed Control Decision-Making

Weed Science ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 743-756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio DiTommaso ◽  
Kristine M. Averill ◽  
Michael P. Hoffmann ◽  
Jeffrey R. Fuchsberg ◽  
John E. Losey
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
European Corn Borer ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Optimal Decision ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Transgenic Crop ◽  
Corn Borer

Managing agricultural pests with an incomplete understanding of the impacts that tactics have on crops, pests, and other organisms poses risks for loss of short-term profits and longer-term negative impacts, such as evolved resistance and nontarget effects. This is especially relevant for the management of weeds that are viewed almost exclusively as major impediments to crop production. Seldom considered in weed management are the benefits weeds provide in agroecosystems, which should be considered for optimal decision-making. Integration of weed costs and benefits will become increasingly important as management for pests transitions away from nearly complete reliance on herbicides and transgenic crop traits as the predominant approach for control. Here, we introduce a weed-management decision framework that accounts for weed benefits and exemplify how in-crop weed occurrence can increase crop yields in which a highly damaging insect also occurs. We highlight a case study showing how management decision-making for common milkweed, which is currently controlled primarily with glyphosate in herbicide-tolerant corn, can be improved by integrating management of the European corn borer (ECB), which is currently controlled primarily by the transgenic toxin Cry1 inBacillus thuringiensiscorn. Our data reveal that milkweed plants harboring aphids provide a food source (honeydew) for parasitoid wasps, which attack ECB eggs. Especially at high ECB population densities (> 1 egg mass leaf–1), maintaining low milkweed densities (< 1 stem m–2), effectively helps to minimize yield losses from ECB and to increase the economic injury level of this aggressive perennial weed. In addition, milkweed is the host for the monarch butterfly, so breeding-ground occurrences of the plant, including crop fields, may help sustain populations of this iconic insect. Using a more-holistic approach to integrate the management of multiple crop pests has the capacity to improve decision-making at the field scale, which can improve outcomes at the landscape scale.

Risk-Efficiency Criteria for Evaluating Economics of Herbicide-Based Weed Management Systems in Corn

2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 687-697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Hoverstad ◽  
Jeffrey L. Gunsolus ◽  
Gregg A. Johnson ◽  
Robert P. King
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Weed Control ◽  
Stochastic Dominance ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Pass System ◽  
Application Systems ◽  
Mean Variance

Evaluation of economic outcome associated with a given weed management system is an important component in the decision-making process within crop production systems. The objective of this research was to investigate how risk-efficiency criteria could be used to improve herbicide-based weed management decision making, assuming different risk preferences among growers. Data were obtained from existing weed management trials in corn conducted at the University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center at Waseca. Weed control treatments represented a range of practices including one-pass soil-applied, one-pass postemergence, and sequential combinations of soil and postemergence herbicide application systems. Analysis of risk efficiency across 23 herbicide-based weed control treatments was determined with the mean variance and stochastic dominance techniques. We show how these techniques can result in different outcomes for the decision maker, depending on risk attitudes. For example, mean variance and stochastic dominance techniques are used to evaluate risk associated with one- vs. two-pass herbicide treatments with and without cultivation. Based on these analyses, it appears that a one-pass system is preferred by a risk-averse grower. However, we argue that this may not be the best option considering potential changes in weed emergence patterns, application timing concerns, etc. The techniques for economic analysis of weed control data outlined in this article will help growers match herbicide-based weed management systems to their own production philosophies based on economic risk.

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.

scholarly journals Weeds and Their Effect on the Performance of Maize and Finger Millet in Mid-Hills of Nepal

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tika Bahadur Karki ◽  
Shrawan K. Sah ◽  
Resam B. Thapa ◽  
Andrew J. McDonald ◽  
Adam S. Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Finger Millet ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Ageratum Conyzoides ◽  
Alternative Crop ◽  
Weed Infestation

Relay cropping of maize with fingermillet (maize/fingermillet) is the predominant cropping system for sustaining food security situation in the hilly regions of Nepal. In this region weed pressure severely reduces crop yields. Basic information on weed species composition, biomass production and their effect on crop yields and economics are lacking for this region. This information will be necessary to develop effective weed management strategies for the future. In light of this an empirical study was carried out in two representatives mid hill districts of Parbat and Baglung during summer season of 2010/2011 in Nepal. A total of 10 major weed species with densities of 172 in Parbat and 311 per 0.25m2 area in Baglung were observed. The highest percentage of both relative and absolute densities were recorded for Ageratum conyzoides in Parbat and Polygonum chinensis in Baglung. Weed infestation under farmers practice of crop management reduced the grain yield of maize by 1.985 Mt ha-1 (117%) in Baglung and 1.760 Mt ha-1 (108%) in Parbat. Similarly, in finger millet it was 0.489 Mt ha-1 (63%) in Baglung and 0.403 Mt ha-1 in Parbat. Similarly, the combined yield of both the crops was also significantly reduced by 79.3% and 61.7% in Baglung and Parbat respectively. Hence, weeds are directly affecting the crop performance in the region. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an alternative crop production system in the hills. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v2i3.10790Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol. 2(3): 275-278  

Rate of European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Egg-mass Detrition in Field Corn

1986 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 817-820
Author(s):  
D. D. Calvin ◽  
M. C. Knapp ◽  
Kuang Xingquan ◽  
F. L. Poston ◽  
S. M. Welch
Keyword(s):  
European Corn Borer ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Corn Borer ◽  
Field Corn ◽  
Lepidoptera Pyralidae

PHENOLOGY AND INFESTATION LEVEL OF THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER, OSTRINIA NUBILALIS (HÜBNER) (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE), IN SOUTHERN MANITOBA

1990 ◽  
Vol 122 (6) ◽  
pp. 1211-1220 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Palaniswamy ◽  
B. Galka ◽  
B. Timlick
Keyword(s):  
Ostrinia Nubilalis ◽  
European Corn Borer ◽  
Mass Density ◽  
Damage Threshold ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Flight Period ◽  
Pheromone Traps ◽  
Trap Catch ◽  
Corn Borer ◽  
Egg Masses

AbstractStudies were conducted from 1985 to 1988 in commercial corn fields distributed throughout the main corn growing areas of Manitoba to determine the distribution, phenology, and the level of infestation of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner). Pheromone and blacklight traps were used to monitor the flight activity of European corn borer throughout the flight period. The level of European corn borer infestation was determined by sampling for egg masses, hatched egg masses, plants with egg masses, plants with shot holes, larvae, and stalk breakage. Results indicated that the European corn borer infestation occurred throughout the corn growing areas of Manitoba and that the population has declined from 1985 through 1988. Significant positive correlations existed among the number of egg masses, plants with egg masses, plants with shot holes, larvae per plant, and plants with broken stalks. Peak capture of moths in pheromone traps occurred well after peak oviposition, and 10–14 days after the peak blacklight trap capture. Blacklight trap catch, but not the pheromone trap catch, was positively correlated with egg mass density. Both blacklight and pheromone traps were equally efficient in determining the onset and the duration of European corn borer flight, although for initiating surveys of egg masses and shot hole damage, pheromone traps are recommended. In Manitoba, corn growers apply pesticides well before the recommended damage threshold is reached.

scholarly journals Simulation Models on the Ecology and Management of Arable Weeds: Structure, Quantitative Insights, and Applications

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1611
Author(s):  
Muthukumar V. Bagavathiannan ◽  
Hugh J. Beckie ◽  
Guillermo R. Chantre ◽  
Jose L. Gonzalez-Andujar ◽  
Ramon G. Leon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Weed Science ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Arable Weeds

In weed science and management, models are important and can be used to better understand what has occurred in management scenarios, to predict what will happen and to evaluate the outcomes of control methods. To-date, perspectives on and the understanding of weed models have been disjointed, especially in terms of how they have been applied to advance weed science and management. This paper presents a general overview of the nature and application of a full range of simulation models on the ecology, biology, and management of arable weeds, and how they have been used to provide insights and directions for decision making when long-term weed population trajectories are impractical to be determined using field experimentation. While research on weed biology and ecology has gained momentum over the past four decades, especially for species with high risk for herbicide resistance evolution, knowledge gaps still exist for several life cycle parameters for many agriculturally important weed species. More research efforts should be invested in filling these knowledge gaps, which will lead to better models and ultimately better inform weed management decision making.

scholarly journals Weed Management Strategies in Organic Rice Production System- A Review

2020 ◽  
pp. 519-528
Author(s):  
Abhinandan Singh ◽  
S. Pazhanisamy ◽  
Rodda Chandana Devi ◽  
Amit Kumar Singh ◽  
Chandra Mohan Mehta
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Rice Production ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Organic System ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Organic Rice ◽  
Environment And Health

Farmers view weeds as the number one barrier to organic rice production. Also, organic rice-growing farmers feel weed management is their number one priority, so they need more research about weed management under organic conditions from the researchers. Weeds can be considered a significant problem because they have a tendency to decrease crop yields by increasing competition for moisture, sunlight and nutrients also serving as host plants for pests and diseases. Since the development of herbicides, farmers have been used these chemicals to eradicate weeds from their fields. Using herbicides not only increased crop yields as well as reduced the labour required to remove weeds. Today, some farmers have a renewed interest in organic methods of managing weeds since the widespread use of agrochemicals has affected the environment and health. It has also been found that in some cases herbicides use can cause some weed species to dominate fields because the weeds develop resistance to herbicides. Moreover, some herbicides are destroying weeds that are harmless to crops, resulting in a potential decrease biodiversity. It is important to understand that under an organic system of seed control, weeds will never be eliminated but only managed. Consistent methods of weed management can reduce the costs and contribute to economical crop production without endangers the environment.

Evaluation of a Sequential Egg Mass Sampling System for Predicting Second-Generation Damage by European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Field Corn in North Carolina

1995 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 1316-1323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clyde E. Sorenson ◽  
John W. Van Duyn ◽  
George G. Kennedy ◽  
J. R. Bradley ◽  
Craig S. Eckel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
European Corn Borer ◽  
Second Generation ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Sampling System ◽  
Corn Borer ◽  
Field Corn ◽  
Lepidoptera Pyralidae
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