scholarly journals The diversity of weed species occurring in living mulch in an apple orchard

2014 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Licznar-Małańczuk

<p>In a study conducted at the Research Station of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, weed occurrence in living mulches maintained in apple tree rows of ‘Pinova’ cv. was assessed during the first seven years after sowing. The trees were planted in spring 2004 (3.5 × 1.2 m). In the same year, living mulches: colonial bent grass, white clover and French marigold, were sown into 1 m wide tree rows. Blue fescue, the only perennial cover crop with herbicide application against dicot weeds once in the second year after sowing, was introduced in the second year after planting the trees to replace dwarf nasturtium which was sown in the year of orchard establishment. In the inter-row spaces, perennial grass was maintained.</p><p>During the first seven years, variation in weeds was observed depending on living mulch. Multi-species weed infestation persisted throughout the study period only in the case of annually resown French marigold. Perennial living mulches were significantly suppressed the annual weeds. Significant suppression of <em>Taraxacum officinale</em> Web. was found where the soil surface was covered by perennial grass sod in more than ¾. The maintenance of blue fescue resulted in significantly lower average soil coverage by <em>Elymus repens</em> (L.) Gould; the growth of this weed significantly contributed to the reduction of white clover sod and French marigold plants.</p>

2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Licznar-Małańczuk

The living mulch permanence along with the succession of their weed infestation in an apple orchard were evaluated at the Research Station, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences. The perennial cover crops: white clover and colonial bent grass, as well as the annual dwarf nasturtium, were sown as living mulches in apple tree rows, in the year of establishing the orchard. Blue fescue was sown one year later to replace the dwarf nasturtium. The percent of covers and temporal dominance dynamics of weeds were estimated during the first 13 years of the orchard maintenance. The occurrence of annual weeds, which had been abundant in all the living mulches in the year of their sowing, decreased in the following years of orchard maintenance. Conversely, the dominance of several perennial weed species increased as the orchard reached the full cropping period. White clover exhibited the lowest permanence. Dynamic spreading of <em>Elymus repens </em>(L.) Gould and other species from the Poaceae family was the direct cause of this cover crop disappearance. The presence of perennial dicotyledonous weeds, primarily <em>Taraxacum officinale </em>Web. and <em>Convolvulus arvensis </em>L., also contributed to the diminished sod of all the living mulches. Blue fescue maintained satisfactory dominance relative to colonial bent grass for nearly the entire first decade of the research. Nevertheless, both grass living mulches were present on less than half of the tree row soil surface area, in the thirteenth year after planting of the apple trees.


2016 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Licznar-Małańczuk ◽  
Iwona Sygutowska

<p>The weed composition and the dominance of individual species occurring in an orchard were assessed at the Research Station of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland, during the first 10 years after orchard establishment. ‘Ligol’ apple trees were planted in the spring of 2004 (3.5 × 1.2 m). Foliar herbicides were applied in 1 m wide tree rows twice or three times per each vegetation period. In the inter-row spaces, perennial grass was maintained.</p><p>Ten years of maintenance of herbicide fallow contributed to a change in the weed composition in the orchard. It changed as a result of different responses of the most important weed species to the foliar herbicides. Total suppression of <em>Elymus repens</em> was observed in the first year after planting the trees. <em>Convolvulus arvensis</em>, <em>Cirsium arvense</em>, and other perennial weeds, completely disappeared in the succeeding periods. The maintenance of herbicide fallow did not affect the abundance of <em>Taraxacum officinale</em>. The percentage of the soil surface covered by <em>Trifolium repens</em> and <em>Epilobium adenocaulon</em>, perennial weeds with considerable tolerance to post-emergence herbicides, increased during the fruit-bearing period of the trees. The abundance of these weeds was significantly reduced only in the rows with the stronger growing trees on the semi-dwarf P 2 rootstock. <em>Stellaria media</em> was the dominant annual weed. <em>Senecio vulgaris</em>, <em>Poa annua</em>, <em>Capsella bursa-pastoris</em>, and <em>Lamium</em> spp. were also frequently observed. A significant increase in the abundance of annual and perennial weeds was found in the tree rows as a result of improved water availability after a period of high precipitation.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Licznar-Małańczuk ◽  
Liudmyla Slobodianyk

Abstract In this study, conducted at the Research Station of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland, we sought to determine the communities of weed species and their temporal occurrence in a young apple orchard mulched with spent mushroom compost or Miscanthus straw applied to tree rows. A herbicide fallow treatment was used as a control. During the first year of application, both organic mulches protected against the germination of weed seeds stored within the soil. In subsequent years, however, annual weeds occurred in the mulched tree rows, the most aggressive of which was Chenopodium album L. Annual increases in population densities were noted over the 4 subsequent years of research, particularly in the rows receiving spent mushroom compost. Perennial species in the family Poaceae and genus Malva were present in soil receiving both organic mulches. Trifolium repens L. was the perennial weed most often noted in the Miscanthus mulch, whereas Taraxacum officinale Web. was more characteristic of the spent mushroom compost. Commencing from the spring of the third year following apple tree planting, weed infestation associated with the spent mushroom compost was similar to that observed in the herbicide fallow, thus necessitating three annual applications of herbicide to further maintain the orchard. The insufficient weed suppression obtained with this mulch precludes its recommendation as an effective weed management system. Although Miscanthus straw provided extended tree row protection from weed infestation, herbicide intervention was also required. Notably, however, despite the fact that Miscanthus straw provided conditions more favorable to tree growth, apple tree yields and fruit quality tended to be similar under the three investigated orchard soil management systems.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Nicholas T. Basinger ◽  
Nicholas S. Hill

Abstract With the increasing focus on herbicide-resistant weeds and the lack of introduction of new modes of action, many producers have turned to annual cover crops as a tool for reducing weed populations. Recent studies have suggested that perennial cover crops such as white clover could be used as living mulch. However, white clover is slow to establish and is susceptible to competition from winter weeds. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine clover tolerance and weed control in established stands of white clover to several herbicides. Studies were conducted in the fall and winter of 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020 at the J. Phil Campbell Research and Education Center in Watkinsville, GA, and the Southeast Georgia Research and Education Center in Midville, GA. POST applications of imazethapyr, bentazon, or flumetsulam at low and high rates, or in combination with 2,4-D and 2,4-DB, were applied when clover reached 2 to 3 trifoliate stage. Six weeks after the initial POST application, a sequential application of bentazon and flumetsulam individually, and combinations of 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, and flumetsulam were applied over designated plots. Clover biomass was similar across all treatments except where it was reduced by sequential applications of 2,4-D + 2,4-DB + flumetsulam in the 2019 to 2020 season indicating that most treatments were safe for use on establishing living mulch clover. A single application of flumetsulam at the low rate or a single application of 2,4-D + 2,4-DB provided the greatest control of all weed species while minimizing clover injury when compared to the non-treated check. These herbicide options allow for control of problematic winter weeds during clover establishment, maximizing clover biomass and limiting canopy gaps that would allow for summer weed emergence.


HortScience ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 257E-257
Author(s):  
Francis X. Mangan ◽  
Mary Jane Else ◽  
Stephen J. Herbert

Field research was conducted in Deerfield, Mass. to study the effects of different cover crop species seeded between plastic mulch on weed pressure and pepper yield. A complete fertilizer was applied before plastic was laid on Sept. 13, 1991. Two cover crop treatments were seeded Sept. 13, 1991: white clover (Trifolium repens) alone and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) in combination with winter rye (Secale cereale). On May 27, 1992 the vetch and rye were mow-killed with the biomass left on the soil surface. Annual rye (Lolium multiflorum) was then seeded on the same day as the third cover crop treatment. The remaining two treatments were a weedy check and a hand-weeded check. Peppers were transplanted into the plastic on May 31. Both the annual rye and clover were mowed three times over the course of the experiment with the biomass left between the plastic mulch. The white clover and annual rye were much more competitive with weed species than the dead mulch of vetch and rye. The three cover crop treatments had pepper yields that were severely depressed compared to the hand-weeded treatment. Among the three cover crop treatments, only the annual rye yielded more peppers than the weedy check.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-225
Author(s):  
Muhamamd Arif

Frequent utilization of herbicides has caused ecological and health complications for human beings as well as for animals. Moreover, its unwise application also developed resistance in some weed species against the herbicides. Therefore, a field investigation was planned to assess the effect of multi-approached weed suppression in wheat at Reclamation Research Station, 7/3-L Ahmad Pur Sial District Jhang during Rabi 2019-20. Experimental treatment was comprised of two wheat cultivars i.e. Ujala 2016 and Faisalabad 2008 and seven weeds control approaches i.e. hand weeding, organic mulching, eucalyptus extract, neem extract, clodinafop, bromoxynil + MCPA and clodinafop + bromoxynil + MCPA including control. Results of the experiment showed that hand weedings, combined application of clodinafop + bromoxynil + MCPA and mulching significantly reduced the weeds density, fresh and dry weight of weeds. However, covering the soil surface with the organic mulch may have a great impact on the growth and yield-contributing attributes, hence produced maximum grain yield.


Weed Science ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 567-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virender Kumar ◽  
Daniel C. Brainard ◽  
Robin R. Bellinder ◽  
Russell R. Hahn

Field and pot studies were conducted in Central New York to determine the potential weed-management benefits of a buckwheat cover crop grown before winter wheat. Specific objectives were to determine buckwheat residue effects on (1) emergence and growth of winter annual weeds; (2) wheat establishment and yield; and (3) emergence of summer annual weeds in the spring following overwinter seed burial. In a field study, buckwheat was sown at two timings (July or August), mowed, and either incorporated or left on the soil surface. Winter wheat was drilled into buckwheat residue in September and weed and crop growth were monitored. In a complementary pot study, four winter annual weeds were sown in soil removed from buckwheat and bare-soil plots at 0 or 15 d after incorporation and monitored for emergence and early growth. To assess buckwheat residue effects on spring emergence from overwintering seeds, seeds of three weed species were buried in buckwheat residue and bare-soil plots in the fall, exhumed in April, and evaluated for emergence. To investigate the mechanism for possible effects of buckwheat residue on overwintering seeds, two levels each of seed treatment (none or fungicide) and fertilization (none or 170 kg ha−1) were applied before burial. Buckwheat residue had no negative effect on wheat yields but suppressed emergence (22 to 72%) and growth (0 to 95%) of winter annual weeds, although effects were often small and inconsistent. Buckwheat residue had no effect on the emergence of buried weed seeds in spring. However, fungicide treatment enhanced the emergence of Powell amaranth seeds by 12.5 to 25.5% and of barnyardgrass seeds by 0 to 12%. Our results suggest that buckwheat residue can contribute to weed management in wheat cropping systems, but that further studies investigating the mechanistic basis for the inconsistent selective effects of buckwheat residue on weeds are needed before buckwheat use can be optimized.


2012 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Kwiecińska-Poppe ◽  
Piotr Kraska ◽  
Edward Pałys

This paper presents the results of a study carried out in the years 2005-2007 in the Bezek Experimental Farm near the city of Chełm, Poland, on heavy mixed rendzina soil. The effect of intercropping, using red clover (cv. Dajana) and white clover (cv. Astra), on weed infestation of a spring barley crop was studied. The species composition of weeds in the spring barley crop changed to a small extent under the influence of the application of clover intercropping, whereas the population size of particular species showed large fluctuations. In the spring barley crop with the red clover intercrop, <i>Sonchus arvensis</i> occurred in greatest numbers among dicotyledonous weed species. In the barley crop with white clover and without intercrop, <i>Viola arvensis</i> and <i>Sonchus arvensis</i> were the dominant dicotyledonous species. <i>Setaria pumila</i> was the dominant monocotyledonous species in all the treatments. Intercropping using red and white clover clearly limited the growth and development of weeds. The red clover intercrop in the spring barley crop better reduced the infestation with dicotyledonous weeds and also significantly reduced the number of monocotyledonous weeds and the total number of weeds, whereas the white clover intercrop limited only the number of monocotyledonous weeds. The application of the herbicide Chwastox Extra 300 SL significantly reduced the fresh weight of weeds found in the spring barley crop. The presence of the intercrop resulted in different total numbers of weeds in particular treatments. Intercropping distinctly limited the occurrence of the following weed species: <i>Sonchus arvensis</i>, <i>Fallopia convolvulus</i>, <i>Melandrium album</i>, <i>Amaranthus retroflexus</i>, <i>Veronica arvensis</i> and <i>Medicago lupulina</i>. The investigated intercrop species also reduced the biomass of weeds. The application of the herbicide did not differentiate the number of monocotyledonous weeds, which resulted from the application of Chwastox Extra 300 SL that controls only dicotyledonous species.


CORD ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (01) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
S.H.S. Senarathne

Pennisetum polystachion is a major problematic monocotyledonous weed species and a perennial problem in intermediate zone of coconut plantations in Sri Lanka. This study was carried out to evaluate the impacts of different management systems on P. polystachion seedling emergence patterns.The tested treatments were application of glyphosate (T1), cover cropping with Pueraria phaseoloides (T2), tractor harrowing (T3), tractor slashing (T4) and tractor ploughing (T5). All the treatments were applied twice a year except T2. As T2 cover crop at the initiation of the experiment and over grown conditions were managed by harrowing once a year. Based on the reduction in weed biomass, cover cropping (T2) was the best to reduce the P. polystachion population and to reduce P. polystachion seedling emergence density in the field. Chemical weeding was the second-best method to control the P. polystachion population in the field. The effectiveness of slashing in reducing weed seedling emergence density was lower than cover cropping and chemical weeding methods. The weed seedling emergence densities were almost similar in ploughed and harrowed plots. The seed depth of emerged seedling was very high in harrowed and ploughed treatments when compared to other treatments. Results given by T3 and T5 indicates that loosening the soil creates more favorable environment for the germination of weed seeds buried in soil. Therefore, it can be argued that the elimination of weed seeds in the top 2cm or 4cm in the soil seed bank by any means is likely to reduce the level of weed infestation by about 60% to 95%. Results also indicated that burying rhizomes in ploughing and harrowing treatment plots at the depths below 30 - 40 cm is effective in controlling germination of this weed species. This experiment also suggested that keeping rhizomes on the soil surface without burying for durations of 5 – 15 days would produce weak plants with poor development.


2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 377 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lodge

Seedlings of 3 perennial grasses, Danthonia linkii Kunthcv. Bunderra, D. richardsonii Cashmore cv. Taranna(wallaby grasses), and Phalaris aquatica L. cv. Sirosa,were each grown in replacement series mixtures with seedlings ofTrifolium repens L. (white clover),Trifolium subterraneum L. var. brachycalycinum (Katzn.et Morley) Zorahy & Heller cv. Clare (subterraneanclover), and Lolium rigidum L. (annual ryegrass). Plantswere sown 5 cm apart in boxes (45 by 29 by 20 cm) at a density of 307plants/m2. Maximum likelihood estimates were usedto derive parameters of a non-linear competition model using the dry matterweights of perennial grasses and competitors at 3 harvests, approximately 168,216, and 271 days after sowing. Intra-plant competition was examined inmonocultures of each species, grown at plant spacings of 2, 5, and 8 cm apartwith plants harvested at the above times.Competition occurred in all perennial grass–competitor mixtures, exceptin those of each perennial grass with white clover and thephalaris–subterranean clover mixture (Harvest 1) and those withD. richardsonii and phalaris grown with white clover(Harvest 2). For D. richardsonii (Harvests 1 and 2) andD. linkii (Harvest 1 only) grown with white clover andthe phalaris–subterranean clover (Harvest 1), the two species in themixture were not competing. In the phalaris–white clover mixture, eachspecies was equally competitive (Harvests 1 and 2). These differences incompetition and aggressiveness reflected differences in individual plantweights in monocultures where there was an effect (P < 0.05) of species ondry matter weight per box, but no significant effect of plant spacing.These data indicated that for successful establishment,D. richardsonii and D. linkiishould not be sown in swards with either subterranean clover or white clover,or where populations of annual ryegrass seedlings are likely to be high.Phalaris was more compatible with both white clover and subterranean clover,but aggressively competed with by annual ryegrass.


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