Includes bibliographical references (leaves 168-198) The horehound plume moth (Wheeleria spilodactylus Curits), an agent introduced to control the invasive weed horehound (Murrubium vulgare L.), was used as a model system to investigate factors believed to influence the successful establishment of an introduced natural enemy. Retrospectively tests the use of generic population viability analysis and decision making tools for determining optimal release strategies for the horehound plume moth in South Australia and to compare outcomes with the emprical data collected during the course of this project

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 168-198) / xiv, 204 leaves ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / The horehound plume moth (Wheeleria spilodactylus Curits), an agent introduced to control the invasive weed horehound (Murrubium vulgare L.), was used as a model system to investigate factors believed to influence the successful establishment of an introduced natural enemy. Retrospectively tests the use of generic population viability analysis and decision making tools for determining optimal release strategies for the horehound plume moth in South Australia and to compare outcomes with the emprical data collected during the course of this project / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Applied and Molecular Ecology, 2002

Small broomrape, a holoparasitic weed, is a relatively new weed introduction in the Pacific Northwest that has contaminated a limited number of red clover fields in Oregon. Greenhouse and field studies were conducted to evaluate small broomrape response to common crop and weed species in the Pacific Northwest. Host species in the greenhouse or field study included alfalfa, arrowleaf clover, carrot, celery, common vetch, crimson clover, lettuce, prickly lettuce, red clover, spotted catsear, subterranean clover, white clover, and wild carrot. False-host species included barley, birdsfoot trefoil, creeping bentgrass, cucumber, field corn, fine fescue, flax, Italian ryegrass, nasturtium, oat, orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass, snap bean, sugar pea, sunflower, sweet corn, tall fescue, tomato, and wheat. Non-host species included sugar beet and curly dock. The greenhouse polyethylene bag system provided a rapid and inexpensive screening for plant species host status to small broomrape. Germination and attachment to host roots are initiated by chemical exudates, that may change concentration in response to nutrient availability and microorganisms. Red clover was grown in varying concentrations of ammonium sulfate fertilizer with and without Rhizobium inoculation, and with small broomrape seeds. Neither Rhizobium inoculation nor ammonium concentration influenced the number of small broomrape attachments to red clover roots. A survey was conducted of red clover seed growers with small broomrape-contaminated fields in the Pacific Northwest. Red clover seed from six respondents were cleaned at the same cleaning facility, and the same respondents purchased their seed stock from this cleaning facility. Small broomrape was not identified in red clover fields prior to or during the first clover seed harvest of fall planted red clover in small broomrape-contaminated sites. / Graduation date: 2003

Thesis (M.S.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Inter-row mechanical cultivation was proposed as a supplement to or substitute for conventional weed control methods currently used in snap bean, carrot and lettuce production. Several types of cultivators were assessed and compared. The effect of mechanical cultivation on crop yield and quality was studied by counting, weighing and grading bean pods, carrot roots and lettuce heads. The effect of mechanical cultivation on disease incidence was studied by surveying fields during the season and by determining the number and weight of diseased pods, roots and heads at harvest. The relationship between the level of Cercospora blight on carrots and potential impacts on yield was also investigated by measuring plant characteristics and the amount of force needed to separate carrot foliage from root. The effect of mechanical cultivation on the phenology of snap bean flowering was studied by determining how long it took for a plant to produce 50% of its flowers and counting how many flowers and pods a plant produced. In general, mechanical cultivation did not affect normal crop production and may be used to replace or complement conventional weed control methods. There was little variation among different cultivators within one season, but cultivator effects differed among crops and from one year to the next.

Žemės dirbimas yra vienas iš daugiausia darbo, energetinių bei laiko sąnaudų reikalaujančių technologinių darbų auginant augalus. Todėl įvairaus intensyvumo žemės dirbimo sistemų nustatymas, kurios nemažindamos žemės ūkio augalų derliaus neblogintų dirvožemio agrocheminių savybių, yra svarbus ir ekonomine, ir aplinkosaugine prasme. Pasikliaujama ribotu paviršiaus purenimu, ražienine sėja. Taip sutaupomos lėšos, mažiau gaištama laiko dirvai ruošti. Dėl gilaus ir pastovaus žemės dirbimo gali mažėti humuso kiekis, o tai sąlygoja mažesnį žemės ūkio augalų derlių. Tyrimų tikslas – įvertinti tiesioginės sėjos į neįdirbtą dirvą, supaprastinto žemės dirbimo ir šiaudų bei kitų augalinių liekanų įtaką dirvožemio agrocheminėms savybėms. Stacionarus bandymas įrengtas 1999 m. Aleksandro Stulginskio universiteto Bandymų stotyje. Lauko bandymas dviejų veiksnių: A veiksnys – šiaudų įterpimas: šiaudai pašalinti (-Š); šiaudai susmulkinti ir paskleisti (+Š). B veiksnys – žemės dirbimo sistemos: įprastinis gilus arimas 23–25 cm gyliu rudenį (GA); seklus arimas 10–12 cm gyliu rudenį (SA); seklus purenimas kultivatoriumi plokščiapjūviais noragėliais ir lėkštiniais padargais 8–10 cm gyliu rudenį (KL); seklus purenimas rotoriniu kultivatoriumi 5–6 cm gyliu prieš sėją (RK); seklus žaliosios trąšos įterpimas rotoriniu kultivatoriumi 5–6 cm gyliu prieš sėją (ŽTRK); neįdirbta dirva, tiesioginė sėja (ND). Pastovus šiaudų panaudojimas didina dirvožemio pH, humuso ir azoto kiekius. Humusą ir azotą... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Cultivation is one of energy and time-consuming activities of cropping. Establishment of various intensity tillage systems that does not influence the agrochemical soil properties and yield loss is important for both economical and environmental sense. Ploughing is being replaced by reduced topsoil loosening or cultication. It helps to save time and money for soil preparation. Deep and constant tillage can cause the decrease of humus substances that can lead to lower crop yield. Objective of the experiment – to assess how direct sowing into ploughless soil, reduced tillage and straw incorporation influence agrochemical soil properties. Stationary two factor field experiment was established in Experimental Station of Aleksandras Stulginskis University in 1999. Treatments: Factor A – straw incorporation: without straw (-Š); with straw (+Š). Factor B– soil tillage systems: deep ploughing at 23–25 cm depth in autumn (GA); shallow ploughing at 10–12 cm depth in autumn (SA); shallow loosening at 8–10 cm depth in autumn (KL); shallow loosening with rotary cultivator at 5–6 cm depth before sowing (RK); shallow incorporation of green manure with rotary cultivator at 5–6 cm depth before sowing (ŽTRK); no tillage, direct sowing (ND). Constant use of straw increases the amount of soil pH, humus and nitrogen. The amount of humus and nitrogen is mostly increased by shallow loosening with rotary cultivator (RK), shallow implementation of green manure by this cultivator in spring (ŽTRK) and... [to full text]

The intercropping of corn with legumes is an alternative cropping strategy to corn monocropping which may help reduce inputs into the production of silage for livestock feed. The reduction of inputs will decrease costs to producers and potential damage to the environment. Two experiments were carried out at each of two sites in 1993 and 1994. The first experiment investigated the effects on silage yield and weed control of seeding soybean or lupin alone or in combination with one of three forages (annual ryegrass, Lolium multiflorum Lam.; perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L.; and red clover, Trifolium pratense L.). The second experiment examined the effects on silage yield and weed control of seeding date (simultaneous with corn or three weeks later) and number of rows of large-seeded legumes (one or two) seeded between the corn rows. For both experiments intercropped plots received 90 kg ha$ sp{-1}$ less nitrogen fertilizer than monocropped plots (which received 180 kg ha$ sp{-1})$. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

[Truncated abstract] Weeds are a major limitation to agricultural and horticultural production and the main method of control is the use of herbicides. In addition to the resulting chemical pollution of the environment, the wide spread and continues use of herbicides have resulted in many weeds developing resistance to commonly used herbicides. This study investigated the potential of using green manures as a cultural method of control of weed invasion in agricultural fields. To understand the general mechanisms involved in the suppression of seed germination in green manure amended soils, seeds of crop species with little or no dormancy requirements were used in certain studies. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and cress (Lepidium sativum) seeds were sown to a sandy soil amended with green manures of lupin (Lupinus angustifolius), Brassica juncea, or oats (Avena sativa) to determine if the amendments affected seed germination and/or decay. It was hypothesised that the addition of plant material would increase the microbial activity of the soil thereby increasing seed decay, under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Initial experiments used lettuce, cress and lupin seeds. Lettuce and cress are commonly used as standard test species for seed viability studies. Subsequent experiments used seeds of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum), silver grass (Vulpia bromoides), wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) and wild oat (Avena fatua) as these weed species are commonly found throughout agricultural regions in Western Australia. Amending the soil with lupin or Brassica green manure was established as treatments capable of developing environments suppressive to seed germination. Lupin residues as green manure showed the strongest inhibition of seed germination and seed decay. The decay of certain seeds was enhanced with changes to soil microbial activity, dissolved organic carbon and carbon and nitrogen amounts in lupin amended soil. Seeds of weed species were decayed in lupin amended soil, but showed varied degree of decay. Annual ryegrass and silver grass were severely decayed and wild oat and wild radish were less decayed, in lupin amended soil.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, School of Biological Sciences. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 161-203.