Effect of a Living Mulch on Weed Seed Banks in Tomato

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin D. Gibson ◽  
John Mcmillan ◽  
Stephen G. Hallett ◽  
Thomas Jordan ◽  
Stephen C. Weller
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Critical Period ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Weed Seed ◽  
Fresh Market ◽  
Living Mulch ◽  
Seed Rate

Weeds that emerge between rows in fresh market tomatoes after the critical period of competition are not suppressed by the crop and can produce large quantities of seed. A living mulch planted between rows might limit weed seed production. Buckwheat was seeded between tomato rows after the critical period in 2007 and 2008 in field studies near Lafayette, IN. Weeds were allowed to emerge after the critical period (CP), controlled throughout the growing season (no seed threshold [NST]), or mowed to limit seed production (MOW). Buckwheat and MOW plots were mowed twice after the critical period in 2007 and once in 2008. Seed banks were sampled after the critical period and in the following spring. Tomato yields were not reduced by growing buckwheat between rows. Seed bank densities for common purslane and carpetweed, which escaped mowing due to their prostrate habits, increased in all treatments. Germinable seed bank densities were 306 seeds m−2or less in the NST and buckwheat treatments but 755 seeds m−2or more in the CP treatments for species with erect habits in both years. Seed bank densities were lower in the MOW treatment than in the CP treatments in 2007 but not in 2008. In a parallel experiment conducted in adjacent plots, buckwheat was seeded at five rates (0, 56, 112, 168, and 224 kg seed ha−1). Plots were mowed and emergent weeds sampled as described for the intercrop experiment. Weed densities before mowing decreased linearly with buckwheat seed rate. After mowing, no relationship was detected between seed rate and weed densities. This study supports the hypothesis that a living mulch planted after the critical period can be used to limit seed bank growth without reducing tomato yields, but additional research is needed to better understand the effect of mowing on living mulch growth and weed suppression.

Teaching Seed Bank Ecology in an Undergraduate Laboratory Exercise

1995 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilie E. Regnier
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Weed Seed ◽  
Laboratory Exercise

The study of weed life cycles, reproductive strategies, and the soil seed bank is emphasized in the undergraduate weed science course at Ohio State University as central to an understanding of the survival of weeds in the environment. A laboratory exercise was conducted every spring and fall academic quarter from 1991 to 1993 to demonstrate the effects of long-term cropping and soil disturbance histories on weed seed banks and aboveground weed communities. Five sites with diverse histories of culture were sampled; these included a field cultivated in vegetables under continuous conventional tillage for 59 yr, a field cultivated in field corn under continuous no-tillage for 11 yr, a 24 yr-old turfgrass research farm, a 70 yr-old forest, and a section of the forest border. Students conducted a survey of the weeds growing at the sites and separated and identified seeds from soil samples over a 3-wk period in weekly 2-h laboratory periods. Students wrote reports interpreting the data based on their knowledge of the site histories, weed life cycles, and weed seed production and longevity characteristics. The data were consistent over academic quarters as well as with published research, indicating that the survey and soil sampling techniques provided a reasonably accurate representation of the weed flora and soil seed populations. Weeds found growing at the sites were primarily summer annuals at the vegetable site, and a mix of summer and winter annuals, biennials, and perennials at the remaining sites. Annual weeds dominated the seed banks of all sites with common lambsquarters, pigweed spp., and common purslane being the most commonly found seeds. The presence of most seeds in the soil could be explained by a combination of species seed production and seed longevity characteristics and species abundance in the standing community. Interpretation of the data required students to integrate and apply lecture material and provided an excellent thinking exercise.

Seed production and seedling emergence of Giant Parramatta grass on the north coast of New South Wales

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
TS Andrews ◽  
RDB Whalley ◽  
CE Jones
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
North Coast ◽  
The North ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Seed Fall ◽  
The Impact

Inputs and losses from Giant Parramatta grass [GPG, Sporobolus indicus (L.) R. Br. var. major (Buse) Baaijens] soil seed banks were quantified on the North Coast of New South Wales. Monthly potential seed production and actual seed fall was estimated at Valla during 1991-92. Total potential production was >668 000 seeds/m2 for the season, while seed fall was >146000 seeds/m2. Seed fall >10000 seeds/m2.month was recorded from January until May, with further seed falls recorded in June and July. The impact of seed production on seed banks was assessed by estimating seed banks in the seed production quadrats before and after seed fall. Seed banks in 4 of the 6 sites decreased in year 2, although seed numbers at 1 damp site increased markedly. Defoliation from mid-December until February, April or June prevented seed production, reducing seed banks by 34% over 7 months. Seed banks in undefoliated plots increased by 3300 seeds/m2, although seed fall was estimated at >114 000 seeds/m2. Emergence of GPG seedlings from artificially established and naturally occurring, persistent seed banks was recorded for 3 years from bare and vegetated treatment plots. Sown seeds showed high levels of innate dormancy and only 4% of seeds emerged when sown immediately after collection. Longer storage of seeds after collection resulted in more seedlings emerging. Estimates of persistent seed banks ranged from 1650 to about 21260 seeds/m2. Most seedlings emerged in spring or autumn and this was correlated with rainfall but not with ambient temperatures. Rates of seed bank decline in both bare and vegetated treatment plots was estimated by fitting exponential decay curves to seed bank estimates. Assuming no further seed inputs, it was estimated that it would take about 3 and 5 years, respectively, for seed banks to decline to 150 seeds/m2 in bare and vegetated treatments.

scholarly journals Responses of weed community, soil nutrients, and microbes to different weed management practices in a fallow field in Northern China

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xian Gu ◽  
Yu Cen ◽  
Liyue Guo ◽  
Caihong Li ◽  
Han Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Soil Nutrients ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Weed Seed ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
Deep Tillage ◽  
Positive Effects

The long-term use of herbicides to remove weeds in fallow croplands can impair soil biodiversity, affect the quality of agricultural products, and threaten human health. Consequently, the identification of methods that can effectively limit the weed seed bank and maintain fallow soil fertility without causing soil pollution for the next planting is a critical task. In this study, four weeding treatments were established based on different degrees of disturbance to the topsoil: natural fallow (N), physical clearance (C), deep tillage (D), and sprayed herbicide (H). The changes in the soil weed seed banks, soil nutrients, and soil microbial biomass were carefully investigated. During the fallow period, the C treatment decreased the annual and biennial weed seed bank by 34% against pretreatment, whereas the H treatment did not effectively reduce the weed seed bank. The D treatment had positive effects on the soil fertility, increasing the available nitrogen 108% over that found in the N soil. In addition, a pre-winter deep tillage interfered with the rhizome propagation of perennial weeds. The total biomass of soil bacterial, fungal, and actinomycete in H treatment was the lowest among the four treatments. The biomass of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the N treatment was respectively 42%, 35%, and 91%, higher than that in the C, D, and H treatments. An ecological weeding strategy was proposed based on our findings, which called for exhausting seed banks, blocking seed transmission, and taking advantage of natural opportunities to prevent weed growth for fallow lands. This study could provide a theoretical basis for weed management in fallow fields and organic farming systems.

The role of seedbanks in invasions by Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf in Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinod K. Chejara ◽  
Paul Kristiansen ◽  
R. D. B. (Wal) Whalley ◽  
Brian M. Sindel ◽  
Christopher Nadolny
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Seed Production ◽  
Seed Dormancy ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Invasive Weed ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Poor Seed

Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf (also known as Coolatai grass, South African bluestem or thatching grass) has become a serious invasive weed in Australia. Within its native range, it is generally regarded as a useful grass particularly for thatching, and seed production is low with a low soil seed bank of from 2 to 200seedsm–2. Several hundred accessions of H. hirta were deliberately introduced into Australia up until the 1980s and nearly all were discarded because of poor seed production. However, at least one introduction in the 1890s in northern New South Wales (NSW), Australia, has possibly contributed to the present serious weed problem. Annual seed production from roadside stands in northern NSW ranged from 7000 to 92000seedsm–2 in 2015. The soil seed bank under dense H. hirta infestations in the same region in 2006 and 2007, was found to be ~30000seedsm–2 mostly confined to the top 2cm, with few dormant seeds and a large reduction of these numbers over the next 12 months when further seed input was prevented. Similar studies of other perennial grass weeds have found seed banks of similar sizes, but dormancy mechanisms ensure that their seed banks last for at least 10 years without further seed input. These results suggest that the present weedy populations of H. hirta have dramatically increased fecundity enabling a large seed bank to develop beneath dense stands. The development of seed dormancy and consequently a long-lived seed bank would make this weed even more difficult to control. Until seed dormancy develops, control of H. hirta in northern NSW can be effective provided further input into the seed bank can be prevented.

The paradox of berry production in temperate species of Vaccinium

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. Vander Kloet ◽  
N. M. Hill
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Seed Production ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Column ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Soil Cores ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Buried Seeds ◽  
Avalon Peninsula

Vegetative cover, fruiting phenology, and seed production was estimated from six Vaccinia heathlands on the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland so that the efficacy of the Vaccinium seed bank could be ascertained. Out of the six species of Vaccinium present in this vegetation, only V. angustifolium and V. boreale were recovered from 120 soil cores taken; V. uliginosum and V. vitis-idaea, two of the most common species on these heaths, were not represented in the seed bank at all, yet experimentally buried seeds from both these taxa will successfully germinate when exhumed after 6 years of burial. Indeed, 81% of the germinants were from taxa with dry fruits such as Kalmia, Luzula, Juncus, and Agrostis. Paucity of Vaccinium seed in the soil column may be due in part to fungal rot and avian predation. Key words: Vaccinium, seed production, seed banks, heaths.

Crop Seeding Level: Implications for Weed Management in Sweet Corn

Weed Science ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin M. Williams ◽  
Rick A. Boydston
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Sweet Corn ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Proso Millet ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Variable Population ◽  
A Minor

Sweet corn is seeded under a wide range of population densities; however, the extent to which variable population density influences weed suppression is unknown. Therefore, field studies were undertaken to quantify the influence of sweet corn seeding level on growth, seed production, and post-harvest seed germination of wild-proso millet, one of the most problematic weeds in the crop. As crop seeding level increased, path analysis results indicated the crop canopy became taller and thicker, resulting in less wild-proso millet biomass, seed production, and germinability. However, at the level of individual fields, reductions in wild-proso millet growth and seed production were modest, at best, between a crop population currently used by growers and a higher crop population known to optimize yield of certain hybrids. These results indicate near-future increases in sweet corn seeding levels may play a minor role in improving weed management in individual sweet corn fields. Nonetheless, a reduction in crop populations, via weather- or management-driven phenomenon, increases risk of greater wild-proso millet seed production.

scholarly journals REVIEW OF THE INFLUENCE OF CROP ROTATION AND PRIMARY TILLAGE OPERATIONS ON WEED SEED BANK

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 407-421
Author(s):  
Nawal Al-Hajaj
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Weed Seed ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Primary Tillage ◽  
Weed Emergence

In this study, we reviewed weed seed bank dynamic and main agriculture operations to come up with the weed seed management modeling designed to increase crop productivity by removing weed competition. Weed contributing with 10% loss of total global grain production. Weed seed bank regulate by five demographic processes seedling recruitment and survival, seed production, dispersal and seed survival in soil. The main agriculture operations that interference with weed seed bank are crop rotation and primary tillage. Tillage systems affect weed emergence, management, and seed production; therefore, changing tillage practices changes the composition, vertical distribution, and density of weed seed bank in agricultural soils. Weed species vary in their response to various crop rotations, due to the variability of weed-crop competition in their relative capacity to capture growth–limiting resources. Crop rotations affect weed emergence, management, composition, and density of weed seed bank. Finally, the study suggests elevating crop competitiveness against weeds, through a combination of crop rotation and reduce_ zero tillage, has strong potential to reduce weed-induced yield losses in crop.

Weed Seed Banks in Established Strawberry Fields

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 459f-460
Author(s):  
Faye Propsom ◽  
Emily Hoover
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Weed Control ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Twin Cities ◽  
Weed Seed ◽  
Metro Area

Weed control in strawberries, either in a new planting or one that is established, is a major source of problems for growers in Minnesota. To control weeds, growers need to know which weeds are a problem, which weeds are deleterious, and which weeds have the potential to become a problem. Weeds present, soil type, and weed seed bank information are needed in order to predict potential weed problems. With different weed control practices applied between and within the rows, we assumed weed seed bank populations would vary. In addition, we were interested in seeing if the seed banks differed between soil types and individual farmer's cultural practices. Soil samples were collected from 13 commercial strawberry fields located around the Twin Cities metro area. In 1996, samples were taken after renovation and before mulch was applied. In 1997, they were taken after mulch was removed and prior to renovation. The soil samples for each date, treatment, and farm were dried, and organic matter was separated from inorganic. The weed seeds were removed from the remaining organic matter, identified and counted. Soil types and cultural practices were used to compare the differences among the farms.

Weed Seed Banks Are More Dynamic in a Sod-Based, Than in a Conventional, Peanut–Cotton Rotation

Weed Science ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 877-887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramon G. Leon ◽  
David L. Wright ◽  
James J. Marois
Keyword(s):  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Community Diversity ◽  
Weed Seed ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Perennial Crop ◽  
Seed Bank Dynamics ◽  
Weed Seeds ◽  
Grass Weed

Crop rotation promotes productivity, nutrient cycling, and effective pest management. However, in row-crop systems, rotation is frequently limited to two crops. Adding a third crop, especially a perennial crop, might increase crop-rotation benefits, but concerns about disruption of agricultural and ecological processes preclude grower adoption of a three-crop rotation. The objective of the present research was to determine whether weed seed banks differ between a sod-based rotation (bahiagrass–bahiagrass–peanut–cotton) and a conventional peanut–cotton rotation (peanut–cotton–cotton) and the importance of crop phase in weed seed-bank dynamics in a long-term experiment initiated in 1999 in Florida. Extractable (ESB) and germinable (GSB) seed banks were evaluated at the end of each crop phase in 2012 and 2013, and total weed seed or seedling number, Shannon-Weiner's diversity (H′), richness, and evenness were determined. ESB increased in H′ (36%), richness (29%), and total number of weed seeds (40%) for sod-based compared with conventional rotation, whereas GSB increased 32% in H′, 27% in richness, and 177% in total number of weed seedlings. Crop phase was a determinant factor in the differences between crop rotations. The first year of bahiagrass (B1) exhibited increases in weed seed and seedling number, H′, and richness and had the highest values observed in the sod-based rotation. These increases were transient, and in the second year of bahiagrass (B2), weed numbers and H′ decreased and reached levels equivalent to those in the conventional peanut–cotton rotation. The B1 phase increased the germinable fraction of the seed bank, compared with the other crop phases, but not the total number of weed seeds as determined by ESB. The increases in H′ and richness in bahiagrass phases were mainly due to grass weed species. However, these grass weed species were not associated with peanut and cotton phases of the sod-based rotation. The results of the present study demonstrated that including bahiagrass as a third crop in a peanut–cotton rotation could increase weed community diversity, mainly by favoring increases in richness and diversity, but the structure and characteristics of the rotation would prevent continuous increases in the weed seed bank that could affect the peanut and cotton phases.

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