The majority of South Africa’s fresh water (lotic and lentic), is eutrophic and this has resulted in water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (C.Mart.) Solms. (Pontederiaceae) becoming South Africa’s most damaging aquatic macrophyte. Recently however, concerns have also been voiced over the presence of highly invasive submerged macrophyte species, such as Eurasian water-milfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum L. (Haloragaceae) in the Vaal River. Interaction studies between floating and submerged macrophytes have shown that floating macrophyte dominance restricts light penetration into the water column shading out submerged macrophytes while submerged macrophyte dominance reduces nutrient availability in the water column limiting floating macrophyte growth. This cycle ensures that these species cannot coexist in the same habitat for extended periods of time. The aims of this thesis were to: 1. Investigate changes in the historical and current macrophyte dominance in the Vaal River 2. Determine whether these changes could be attributed to stochastic events, such as floods and herbicide control measures. 3. The physio-chemical conditions of the water column, and whether pressure from herbivory by macroinvertebrates had possibly influenced Eurasian water-milfoil’s ability to dominate. Spatial and temporal analysis of satellite imagery revealed that water hyacinth and submerged macrophyte species dominated different regions of the study area over different periods of time from 2006 to 2010. This was significantly correlated with nitrate concentrations of the water column. One of the lower Vaal River Water Management Areas (WMA) had changed from a water hyacinth dominated state in 2006 to an alternative submerged macrophyte dominated stable state in 2008. It was concluded that this change could be attributed to: a stochastic flooding event in 2006; perturbation from integrated control measures implemented against water hyacinth; and low nitrate concentrations of the WMA. The lack of any substantial macroinvertebrate herbivory pressure or control measures implemented against Eurasian water-milfoil, compared to similar surveys conducted in the U.S.A. and its native range in Eurasia was shown to contribute to its dominance. Future successful integrated control programmes, including biological control against Eurasian water-milfoil, could provide the perturbation required to restore the ecosystem. However, without the reduction in nitrate concentration levels, water hyacinth will remain the dominant stable state of the rest of the Vaal River.

CAPES / A presença de plantas daninhas afeta o desenvolvimento e o rendimento de plantas cultivadas, depreciando a qualidade final do produto. Dentre as alternativas práticas que se destacam para a redução da perda de rendimento, estão o incremento da habilidade competitiva da cultura e o manejo químico das plantas daninhas em meio a estas. Um programa de pesquisas foi desenvolvido no curso de Agronomia da Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Câmpus Pato Branco - PR, durante os anos de 2015/16, com os objetivos de: avaliar se o uso de inibidores da síntese de giberelina incrementam a habilidade competitiva de plantas de feijão, tornandoas insensíveis aos efeitos do inicialismo, ampliando o período anterior a interferência. Avaliar a tolerância de plantas de feijão comum ao herbicida ethoxysulfuron e, verificar se ocorre relação entre a massa da parte aérea seca da cultura com o nível de tolerância das plantas ao herbicida. Avaliar o efeito de doses crescentes de ethoxysulfuron sobre características morfológicas e nos componentes do rendimento de grãos das cultivares de feijão IPR Tangará e IPR Andorinha. Avaliar o efeito de crescentes doses de ethoxysulfuron sobre o desenvolvimento da cultivar IAC Imperador e sobre a comunidade de infestantes presentes na área. Elucidar o mecanismo que confere a tolerância de plantas de feijão ao herbicida ethoxysulfuron. Inibidores de giberelina não foram eficientes em incrementar os períodos de convivência entre plantas daninhas e o feijoeiro. Trinexapac-ethyl incrementou 20% no rendimento de grãos das plantas de feijão. Foi observada grande variabilidade de resposta das cultivares de feijão ao herbicida ethoxysulfuron, contudo, apesar de doses elevadas (200 g ha-1) não foi constatada a morte de plantas. Em campo, os resultados indicam que quando a dose de ethoxysulfuron é de 83,2 g ha-1, a redução no rendimento de grãos pode chegar a 40% para plantas da cultivar IPR Tangará e a 30% da cultivar IPR Andorinha. Contudo, para cada cultivar citada, ethoxysulfuron nas doses de 17 e 12 g ha-1, reduzem 10% do rendimento de grãos. Avaliando o controle de plantas daninhas na cultura do feijão cultivar IAC Imperador com o herbicida ethoxysulfuron, foi observado que doses próximas a 20 g ha-1 são suficientes para controlar plantas de soja e Ipomoea spp., contudo, devido ao nível de fitotoxidade o incremento de rendimento de grãos não foi suficiente para alcançar o da testemunha livre de infestantes e sem herbicida. Os ensaios avaliando o mecanismo de tolerância das plantas de feijão ao ethoxysulfuron sugerem que este ocorre devido a degradação da molécula do herbicida. / The presence of weeds decreases the crop yield. Among the alternatives to reduce the crop yield loss, it can be included to increase the competitive ability of the crop and the chemical control of the weeds. A research program was developed in the course of Agronomy at Federal Technological University at Paraná, Campus Pato Branco - PR, during the years 2015/16, with the objectives evaluating if gibberellin inhibitors increase the competitive ability of bean plants, making them insensitive to the initialism, extending the period prior to weed-crop interference. Evaluate the tolerance of common bean plants to the herbicide ethoxysulfuron and investigate the existence of relationship between the plant mass and the level of tolerance of the plants to the herbicide. Evaluate the effect of increasing doses of ethoxysulfuron on morphological characteristics, yield components and grain yield of the bean cultivars IPR Tangará and IPR Andorinha. Evaluate the effect of increasing doses of ethoxysulfuron on the development of IAC Imperador and the community of weeds present in the area. Elucidate the mechanism that confers tolerance to bean plants to the herbicide ethoxysulfuron. The results indicate that gibberellin inhibitors were not effective in increasing periods of weed-crop coexistence. Trinexapac-ethyl increased 20% the grain yield of bean plants. It was observed high variability as the response of bean cultivars to the herbicide ethoxysulfuron, however, despite high doses (200 g ha-1), it was not observed death of the plants. The field results indicate that when the ethoxysulfuron dose is 83.2 g ha-1, the reduction in grain yield can reach 40% with the cultivar IPR Tangará and 30% in the cultivar IPR Andorinha. However, respectively for each cultivar cited, ethoxysulfuron at 17 and 12 g ha-1 are enough to reduce 10% of grain yield. Evaluating the control of weeds within the bean crop cultivar IAC Imperador with the herbicide ethoxysulfuron, it was observed that doses at 20 g ha-1 are enough to control soybean and Ipomoea spp. plants. But, due to the level of plant injury, the crop grain yield increase was not sufficient to match the one observed on the weed-free untreated control. The mechanism of tolerance of bean plants to ethoxysulfuron appears to be the herbicide degradation.

CAPES / O uso de coberturas vegetais é uma estratégia fundamental para o manejo de plantas daninhas na região Sul do Brasil. Em áreas com elevadas infestações de plantas daninhas, é crescente a utilização de herbicidas, que aumentam os custos de produção das lavouras e a contaminação ambiental. A aveia preta e a mucuna possuem características contrastantes quanto à velocidade de decomposição dos resíduos e capacidade de mobilização do nitrogênio do solo, proporcionando resultados distintos de supressão de plantas daninhas ao longo do tempo e, portanto, demandando estratégias distintas de manejo antes, durante e após a implantação da cultura do milho. O objetivo geral do experimento foi avaliar a dinâmica ambiental do herbicida atrazina, os resultados sobre o rendimento de grãos do milho e eficiência de controle de plantas daninhas, considerando áreas com distintos históricos de utilização de cobertura morta, distintos níveis de palha e do herbicida. Para isso foram realizadas duas etapas de experimentos: na primeira etapa, foram implantados dois experimentos com a cultura do milho, um com utilização de aveia preta e outro com mucuna preta como espécies de cobertura de solo. O delineamento utilizado em ambos os experimentos a campo foi o de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. O fator A foi constituído de quatro níveis de palha (0, 0,75x, 1,5x e 3x) e o fator B foi constituído por quatro doses do herbicida atrazina (0, 2100, 4200 e 8400 g i.a. ha-1). Amostras de solo foram coletadas para realização de bioensaios em casa de vegetação para avaliação da persistência. A avaliação de lixiviação de atrazina foi efetuada por cromatografia, por meio de amostras coletadas ao longo do perfil do solo.No experimento a campo, avaliou-se a densidade de plantas daninhas, massa da parte aérea verde, massa da parte aérea seca e o rendimento de grãos de milho. Nos bioensaios, as principais variáveis avaliadas foram estatura efitotoxicidade. Na segunda etapa, foram coletados solos com diferentes históricos de cultivo de cultura de cobertura e os estudos de mineralização e sorção, ambos com com 14C-atrazina, foram conduzidos em laboratório. O delineamento utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. Os resultados obtidos a partir do experimento a campo, indicam que o uso de elevados níveis de palha sobre o solo, de forma isolada, não são eficientes para controlar as espécies daninhas e queelevados níveis de palha de mucuna preta sobre o solo reduzem o potencial produtivo do milho. Os bioensaios demonstraram que quantidades elevadas de palha de aveia preta impedem a passagem da atrazina até o solo, sendoa influência do nível de palha sobre a disponibilidade do herbicida detectada até 12 dias após a aplicação. A meia-vida da atrazina aplicada sobre a palha de aveia variou de 7 a 14 dias após a aplicação, enquanto que a meia-vida da atrazina aplicada sobre a palha de mucuna varia de 5 a 14 dias após a aplicação. Níveis crescentes de palha de aveia preta sobre o solo apresentam capacidade de redução da lixiviação de atrazina no perfil, porém esse efeito não foi comprovado com a utilização de palha de mucuna preta, porque o herbicida não foi detectado no perfil do solo, aos 21 dias após a aplicação.As análises cromatográficas indicam que a atrazina se concentra mais próximo à superfície do solo independentemente do volume de palha, não sendo detectada em profundidade superior a 8 cm. A mineralização acumulada da 14C-atrazina aplicada a solos com V. sativa é superior se comparada a solos com S. cereale ou solos com ausência de cultura de cobertura. O coeficiente de sorção da atrazina é superior quando o herbicida é aplicado à palha do que ao solo. / The use of cover crops is a fundamental strategy to the weed management in Southern Brazil. In highly infested areas, the herbicides use is increasing, which increases the costs of the crops production as well as the environmental contamination. Oat and velvet bean plants havecontrasting characteristics regarding to residues decomposition speed and the capacity to immobilize Nitrogen in the soil, providing distinct results of weeds suppression throughout the time, and therefore, requiring distinct management strategies before, during, and after the corn crop establishment. The general objective of the experiment was to evaluate the environmental dynamics of the herbicide atrazine, the corn grain yield, and the efficiency of the weed control, considering areas with distinct history regarding the use of mulching, levels of straw and rates of atrazine. For this, the experiment was carried out in two parts: in the first part, two trials with the corn crop were established, one using oat and the other using velvet bean as cover crops. The experimental design used for both field trials was randomized complete blocks arrangement with four replications. The factor A was constituted by four levels of straw (0; 0.75x; 1.5x; 3x) and the factor B was constituted by four rates of the herbicide atrazine (0; 2100; 4200; 8400 g a i. ha-1). Soil samples were collected for greenhouse trialsto determine the persistence. Atrazine leaching evaluation was performed by chromatography using samples collected over the soil profile.In the field, the weed density, the fresh and dry weight and the yield of the corn were evaluated. In the greenhouse trials, the main variables evaluated were plant height and injury caused by the herbicide toxicity. In the second part, soils with distinct covering history were sampled, and the mineralization and sorption studies, both with 14C-atrazine, were conducted in the laboratory. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks arrangement with four replications. The results from the field experiment show that the high levels of straw above ground, isolated, were not efficient to control completely the weeds, and that high levels of velvet bean`s straw decreased the corn potential yield. The greenhouse trials showed that high levels of oat straw prevent the scape of atrazine to soil, this effect of oat straw upon the herbicide availability on soil was detected up to 12 days after spraying. The half-life of atrazine sprayed over oat straw varied from 7 to 14 days after spraying, while the half-life of atrazine sprayed over velvet bean varied from 5 to 14 days after spraying. Increasing oat straw levels presents the capacity to reduce the lixiviation of atrazine in the soil profile, however, this effect was not verified when using velvet bean straw, because the herbicide was not detected in the soil profile, at 21 days after spraying. The chromatographic analysis indicate thatthe atrazine concentrates closer to the soil surface regardless of amount of straw, not being detected deeper than 8 cm in the soil. The accumulated mineralization of 14C-arazine sprayed over V. sativa is superior if compared to soils with S. cereale or non-covered soils. The sorption coefficient of atrazine is superior when sprayed over straw than over the soil.

CAPES / Saflufenacil é um novo herbicida que está sendo introduzido comercialmente no Brasil. Muitos fatores são necessários para que um herbicida tenha sucesso comercial, dentre eles destaca-se a seletividade para culturas de interesse, eficácia sobre espécies daninhas e segurança no ambiente. Dois experimentos foram conduzidos a campo e quatro em casa-de-vegetação. No primeiro estudo foram testados sete períodos de semeadura de feijão após a aplicação do herbicida (0, 5, 10, 15, 25, 35 e 50 DAA), na ausência e presença de herbicida saflufenacil (0 e 29,4 g i.a. ha-1). No segundo estudo, duas concentrações de saflufenacil (0; 14,7 e 29,4 g i.a. ha-1) foram testadas em dez cultivares de feijão. Para ambos os testes, foram avaliados o estande, estatura de plantas e componentes de rendimento. O primeiro bioensaio foi realizado em esquema triifatorial 8 x 5 x 4 , sendo o primeiro fator as concentrações de saflufenacil (0; 2,45; 4,9; 9,8; 14,7; 19,6; 24,5 e 29,4 g i.a. ha-1), o segundo as espécies bioindicadoras pepino, melancia, cabotiá, abobrinha e beterraba. Realizaram-se avaliações de estande e estatura de planta, massas das partes aéreas verde (MPAV) e seca (MPAS) e o terceiro fator períodos de avaliação (5, 10, 15 e 20 DAS). O segundo e terceiro bioensaios foram realizados simultaneamente, sendo os tratamentos constituídos pelas épocas de coleta do solo após a aplicação de saflufenacil (29,4 g i.a. ha-1) (0, 5, 10, 15, 25, 35, 50 e 100 dias após aplicação). Em um deles foi utilizado o pepino e no outro a beterraba como bioindicadores da presença de saflufenacil no solo. Foram determinadas as mesmas variáveis do primeiro bioensaio. Os tratamentos foram saflufenacil (0; 0,35; 0,7; 1,4; 2,1 e 2,8 g i.a. ha-1) aplicado de forma isolada ou associada ao paraquat (0, 1 e 3 g ha-1), metribuzin (0; 38,4 e 105,6 g i.a. ha-1) e clomazone (0, 288 e 504 g i.a. ha-1). Foram realizadas determinações de controle visual, MPAV e MPAS. A aplicação de saflufenacil em pré-emergência requer intervalo entre 10 e 25 dias após sua aplicação para ser realizada a semeadura da cultivar de feijão IPR-Tiziu. A cultivar Talismã apresentou maior tolerância a saflufenacil, enquanto a cultivar Jalo Precoce apresentou maior sensibilidade ao herbicida. As espécies que apresentaram maior sensibilidade ao saflufenacil foram o pepino e a beterraba. A persistência do saflufenacil em Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico, determinada por bioensaio com pepino e beterraba, situou-se entre 25 e 35 dias após a aplicação do herbicida. Para a variável controle de A. tenella, houve sinergismo para as associações das maiores doses de saflufenacil com paraquat e metribuzin, mas não com clomazone. Para a MPAS, todas as associações foram sinérgicas, indepententemente do herbicida ou da dose empregada. / Saflufenacil is a new herbicide which is being deployed commercially in Brazil. Many factors are necessary toward successful of commercially herbicide, among them stands out the selectivity for interests crops, the effectiveness under weed species and the environment safety. In the first one were experienced seven periods of sowing bean after saflufenacil application (0, 5, 10, 15, 25, 35 e 50 AHA) in the absence and presence of saflufenacil herbicide (0 e 29,4 g a.i. ha-1). In the second one two saflufenacil concentrations (0; 14,7 e 29,4 g a.i. ha-1) were tested into ten bean cultivars. For both tests were determined the stand, plant high, yield and yield components. The first bioassay was carried out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications in a factorial design 8 x 5 x 4, where the first factor is saflufenacil concentrations (0, 2.45, 4.9, 9.8, 14.7, 19.6, 24, 5 and 29.4 g ai ha-1), the second the bioindicators cucumber, watermelon, cabotiá, summer squash and beets the third factor periods (5, 10, 15 and 20 DAS). Evaluations were performed booth and plant height, mass of fresh (MPAV) and dry (MPAS) shoots. The second and third bioassays were conducted simultaneously, and the treatments consisted of soil sampling times after saflufenacil spraying (29.4 g ai ha-1) (0, 5, 10, 15, 25, 35 , 50 and 100 days). In one bioassay we used cucumber and in the second we used beet as biomarkers for the presence of saflufenacil the soil. The same variables were determined from the first bioassay. Treatments were saflufenacil (0, 0.35, 0.7, 1.4, 2.1 and 2.8 g ai ha-1) applied alone or combined with paraquat (0, 1 and 3 g ai ha-1 ), metribuzin (0, 38.4 and 105.6 g ai ha-1) and clomazone (0, 288 and 504 g ai ha-1). The evaluated variables were visual control, and MPAV MPAS. The application of pre-emergence saflufenacil requires between 10 and 25 days after application to be performed seeding bean cultivar IPR-Tiziu. The BRS Talismã cultivar showed higher tolerance to saflufenacil, while the cultivar Jalo Precoce showed greater sensitivity to the herbicide. The species with the highest sensitivity to saflufenacil were cucumber and beet. The persistence of saflufenacil in Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico determined by bioassay with cucumber and beets, was between 25 and 35 days after herbicide application. For the A. tenella control, there was synergism for combinations saflufenacil with higher doses of paraquat and metribuzin, but not with clomazone. For MPAV and MPAS, all associations were synergistic, independently of herbicide or dose that was used.

Over the past thirty years, price relativities and technological development have motivated an increase in the area of land allocated to cropping, as opposed to pasture production, throughout the central wheat belt of Western Australia. Nevertheless, reducing the proportion of pasture in these rotations has challenged the future productivity of farming systems in this area. First, the frequent application of selective herbicides for weed control in extended cropping rotations has promoted the development of herbicide resistance in a number of major agricultural weeds. Second, the primary use of annual plants has promoted the development of soil salinisation by allowing a significant proportion of rainfall to recharge saline water tables. The inclusion of perennial pasture phases between extended periods of cropping may mitigate or delay these constraints to production through (a) allowing the use of costeffective forms of non-selective weed control, and (b) through creating a buffer of dry soil that absorbs leakage occurring beneath subsequent crops. This study consequently explores the value of including perennial pasture phases in dryland agricultural systems in the eastern-central wheat belt of Western Australia, accounting for benefits related to herbicide resistance and water table management. A novel computational algorithm for the solution of multiple-phase optimal control problems is developed and used to conduct a conceptual analysis of the value of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) pasture for managing annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudin), the primary weed in wheat belt cropping systems. The competitiveness and fecundity of annual ryegrass provide strong economic incentives to maintain a low weed population, irrespective of herbicide-resistance status. Consequently, the ineffectiveness of selective herbicides primarily reduces the profitability of cropping by motivating the adoption of more costly non-selective forms of weed control. The inclusion of lucerne in land-use rotations is only optimal in the presence of severe herbicide resistance given (a) the low efficiency of alternative weed-management practices available during the pasture phase, relative to selective-herbicide application; (b) the significant cost of establishing this perennial pasture; and (c) the high relative profitability of cereal production in the absence of resistance. The value of lucerne, relative to annual pastures, for weed management is explored in greater detail through the use of compressed annealing to optimise a sophisticated simulation model. The profitability of candidate rotations is also manipulated to account for the long-term production losses accruing to the recharge of saline groundwaters that occurs beneath them. Sequences incorporating lucerne are only more profitable than those that include annual pasture at the standard set of parameter values if (a) annual ryegrass is resistant to all selective herbicides, (b) the water table is so shallow (approximately less than 3.5 m deep) that frequent rotation with perennials is required to avert soil salinisation, or (c) sheep production is highly profitable. The value of perennial pasture is sufficient under these circumstances to overcome its high establishment cost. Consistent with intuition, these benefits are reinforced by lower discount rates and higher rates of leakage occurring beneath annual-based systems. Formulation of an effective communication strategy to report these results to producers is justified given the complexity involved in determining the true magnitude of these intertemporal benefits through alternative means, such as field trials.

Aphthona spp. flea beetles were released in the Little Missouri National Grasslands (LMNG) in western North Dakota in 1999 to control leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.). The changes in soil seed bank composition and leafy spurge density were evaluated on two ecological sites five (2004) and ten years (2009) after Aphthona spp. release to monitor the effectiveness of the insects on weed control and associated change in plant communities. In 2009, leafy spurge stem density averaged 2 and 9 stems m-2 in the loamy overflow and loamy sites, respectively, compared to 110 and 78 stems m-2, respectively, in 1999 and 7 and 10 stems m-2, respectively, in 2004. Leafy spurge constituted nearly 67% of the loamy overflow seed bank in 1999 compared to 17% in 2004 and 2% in 2009. In the loamy seedbank, the weed represented nearly 70% in 1999 compared to approximately 11% in 2004 and 15% in 2009. As leafy spurge was reduced, native species diversity and seed count increased ten years following Aphthona spp. release. High-seral species represented 17% of the loamy overflow seedbank in 2009, an increase from 5% in 1999. However, Kentucky bluegrass, a non-target weedy species, increased over 250% in the loamy overflow seedbank from 2004 to 2009. The reestablishment of native plant species has often been slow in areas where leafy spurge was controlled using Aphthona spp. A bioassay was completed to evaluate native grass establishment when grown in soil from Aphthona spp. release and non-release sites throughout North Dakota. Native grass production was not affected when grown in soil collected from established Aphthona spp. sites (1.5 g per pot) compared to soil without insects (1.6 g per pot). The cause of reduced native grass production in sites with Aphthono spp. previously observed is unknown but may have been due to a chemical inhibition caused by the insects within the soil that no longer exists. The native warm-season switchgrass (Ponicum virgotum L.) may be an alternative to corn for efficient biofuel production; however, control of cool-season grassy weeds has been a problem in switchgrass production. Various herbicides were evaluated for smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) and quackgrass [Elymus repens (L.) Gould] control in an established switchgrass stand near Streeter, ND and a weed-infested field in Fargo, ND. Switchgrass yield was higher than the control 14 mo after treatment (MAT) when aminocyclopyrachlor or sulfometuron were applied early in the growing season, but no treatment provided satisfactory long-term grassy weed control. Herbicides were reevaluated at increased rates for smooth bromegrass or quackgrass control in Fargo. Sulfometuron provided 99% smooth bromegrass control when applied at 280 g ha-1 in the fall but injured other grass and forb species as well. Sulfometuron would likely be injurious to switchgrass and could not be used for biofuel production. Aminocyclopyrachlor did not injure other grass species but only reduced smooth bromegrass control by 76% when applied at 280 g ha-1 in the fall. No treatment provided satisfactory long-term quackgrass control.

Interference of natural environment by invasive plants is a global concern. In South Africa and in particular Gauteng Province, interference of natural land by invasive plants that originated from other countries has been an endemic problem. These invasive plants pose a threat to biodiversity as a result of its wild and wide dispersion rate where it spreads into neighbouring Provinces such as Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and the Free State. Pompom weed is aggressive to control and can spread by means of both wind and water. This research project investigates problems associated with ineffective control of invasive plants in general and pompom weed in particular. State organs, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and farming communities were identified as relevant respondents in this study. Three hundred (300) validated questionnaires were distributed to these stakeholders and 286 were adequately completed and received. These were analysed and the data interpreted. Results obtained showed that lack of coordination and teamwork from all stakeholders are responsible for ineffective control of invasive plants in the country. The use of biological control was recommended for the control and eradication of the invasive plants. / Environmental Sciences / M.A. (Environmental Management)

In Mozambique, establishment of aquatic weeds has been enhanced through the increased enrichment of water bodies by nutrient runoffs from human and agricultural wastes that lead to an increase in nitrate and phosphate in the water. The aquatic weeds, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), red water fern ( Azolla microphylla), water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) and salvinia (Salvinia molesta) were found in most watercourses in Mozambique and are becoming aggressive in some watercourses, especially in the Umbeluzi and Incomati rivers. Farmers and people living along the rivers are aware of the negative impact of the water weeds because the large mats of weeds cause loss of shoreline and navigability along the rivers. Other commonly perceived effects of aquatic invasive plants in Mozambique rivers include: reduced navigable surface area; difficulties for fishermen, which reduces income; increased prevalence of insects and insect-borne disease, and decreased aesthetic value. The methods currently used for the control and management of the aquatic weeds are mechanical and manual control. Both methods are costly, time consuming, and only provide a short-term solution to the problem. The study found that the weevils Neochetina eichhorniae and N. bruchi were effective biological control agents in the study area but their impact is too gradual compared to the aggressive proliferation of water hyacinth. The one year lab-experiment clearly demonstrated that the water lettuce weed had a significant impact on the recruitment of macro-invertebrates to the artificial substrates, and water lettuce contributed to the reduction of oxygen in the water and consequent reduction of macro-invertebrate abundance and diversity. The biodiversity recovered at the same time in the pools containing water lettuce controlled by N. affinis and water lettuce controlled by herbicide, but richness and diversity of macro-invertebrates was higher in the water lettuce controlled by N affinis during the first sampling occasion compared to the water lettuce in pools controlled by herbicide, where macro-invertebrates increased only when DO levels recovered after water lettuce mat decay. The number of taxa recorded in this study is an indication of the significance of macro-invertebrates in an aquatic environment. This therefore emphasizes the need for more research efforts into macrophyte and macro-invertebrate associations in the aquatic system to better understand the implications of habitat modification arising from human activities. It will also enable us to be better equipped with a more appropriate ecological understanding for aquatic resources management.

Interference of natural environment by invasive plants is a global concern. In South Africa and in particular Gauteng Province, interference of natural land by invasive plants that originated from other countries has been an endemic problem. These invasive plants pose a threat to biodiversity as a result of its wild and wide dispersion rate where it spreads into neighbouring Provinces such as Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and the Free State. Pompom weed is aggressive to control and can spread by means of both wind and water. This research project investigates problems associated with ineffective control of invasive plants in general and pompom weed in particular. State organs, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and farming communities were identified as relevant respondents in this study. Three hundred (300) validated questionnaires were distributed to these stakeholders and 286 were adequately completed and received. These were analysed and the data interpreted. Results obtained showed that lack of coordination and teamwork from all stakeholders are responsible for ineffective control of invasive plants in the country. The use of biological control was recommended for the control and eradication of the invasive plants. / Environmental Sciences / M.A. (Environmental Management)

L’objectif de ce travail est d’améliorer la productivité du maïs fourrager (Zea mays L.) dans les sols calcaires tunisiens. En effet dans ces conditions édaphiques la plante se heurte à des problèmes d’ordre nutritionnel limitant l’absorption des 3 éléments essentiels.<p>C’est pourquoi nous voulons mettre au point une nouvelle technologie capable de contourner ces contraintes. En effet la fertilisation par voie foliaire associé à un désherbage de pré émergence serait l’approche la plus logique, capable d’apporter les éléments en fonction des besoins de la plante et de constituer par conséquent une alternative à des apports traditionnels au sol qui présentent un faible coefficient d’efficacité.<p>Pour cela nous voulons :<p>- étudier l’effet de la dose, de la dilution de l’engrais et de son association à un herbicide de post émergence sur la biomasse et l’absorption des éléments nutritifs de la plante et comparer ces effets à ceux d’une application traditionnelle au sol.<p>- Déterminer l’équilibre NPK permettant d’obtenir une croissance optimale de la plante et ceci par le biais d’une expérimentation de type factoriel. <p>- Enfin transposer ce mode de fertilisation en conditions réelles au champ, en intégrant également un désherbage de post émergence. <p>Enfin rechercher et doser, les deux molécules présentes dans l’herbicide, dans deux substrats (le sol et la plante) et étudier leur rétention à court terme :caractérisation des mécanismes d’adsorption et de désorption des deux molécules dans les deux types de sol utilisés. <p>Les résultats obtenus en conditions contrôlées ont mis en évidence le fait que la biomasse de la plante ainsi que la quantité d’éléments exportés par celle-ci sont gouvernées par un effet variétal et un effet dose. De plus certaines associations herbicide-engrais favorisent mieux que d’autres la croissance de la plante ainsi que l’absorption des éléments appliqués. <p>Les résultats de l’expérience de type factoriel ont montré qu’à doses égales, l’effet positif d’un apport foliaire est supérieur à celui de l’engrais apporté au sol. Ces effets positifs sont observés sur les différents paramètres étudiés (biomasse, absorption d’éléments, nutritifs, quantités exportés et coefficients apparents d’utilisation des 3 éléments appliqués).<p>L’utilisation du logiciel SPSS montre que la relation de la biomasse (poids sec) et la quantité d’éléments apportée est de type polynomial. L’équation ainsi obtenue nous a permis de calculer la production de matière sèche et de représenter les différentes surfaces de réponse.<p><p>Les résultats obtenus en conditions réelles, au champ ont montré également que l’engrais apporté sur le feuillage est le mode de fertilisation le plus efficient. Ces résultats ont montré également que pour tous les traitements, la quantité d’azote exporté par la plante, suit une courbe unimodale avec un maximum situé au prélèvement III, effectué 34 jours après le semis. Par contre les quantités de P et les quantités de K exportés augmentent de façon continue, depuis le prélèvement I (26 jours après le semis) jusqu’à la récolte finale (97 jours après le semis). C’est (l’épi +tige) qui exporte la plus grande quantité (pratiquement le double). Un effet pompe dû au traitement foliaire a été également observé. Cet effet stimule l’absorption des éléments nutritifs par les racines et permet une meilleure valorisation des réserves du sol. <p>En plus le désherbage de post émergence associé à l’engrais a montré une plus grande efficacité à l’égard de la flore adventice présente, en comparaison à l’application de l’herbicide seul ou associé à l’engrais appliqué au sol. <p>Le dosage des deux molécules herbicides en HPLC a montré que les teneurs des 2 molécules dans la plante et dans le sol sont inférieures à la limite de détermination.<p>(les limites de détection et de détermination ont été estimées respectivement à de valeurs de 0,02 et de 0,05 mg/kg de sol). Les coefficients de corrélation des droites d’étalonnage obtenues, sont supérieurs à 0,99 et le pourcentage de recouvrement se situe entre 84 et 104% (intervalle de confiance est de plus ou moins 18%). <p>Les isothermes d’adsorption obtenues dans le cas du 2,4-D sont respectivement de type L avec Kf = 0,9 et n inférieur (sol A) et de type C, avec Kf = 0,8 et n voisin de 1 (sol B). Ces résultas montrent qu’en présence d’un pH (alcalin), la molécule entant qu’acide faible est dissociée. Cette forme est peu retenue par les colloïdes du sol ce qui favorise son transfert ainsi que sa dégradation. <p>La normalisation, du coefficient de distribution Kd, à la teneur en matière organique et à la teneur en carbone organique montre que pour des horizons de 0-30, 30 – 60 et 60 -120 cm, les valeurs de KOM et KOC dans le sol A, restent pratiquement identiques dans les 3 horizons. Par contre dans le sol B ces coefficients sont plus faibles dans l’horizon supérieur (0-30 cm).<p>Par contre les isothermes d’adsorption de la carfentrazone ont mis en évidence l’absence de celle-ci et par conséquent la conversion de molécule en ses métabolites. / Doctorat en Sciences agronomiques et ingénierie biologique / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished