Thesis (doctoral)--Humboldt-Univ. zu Berlin, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 120-137).

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2005. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Bruce D. Maxwell. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-130).

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M.Sc. (Botany) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Several models exist for investigating the effects of plant competition within and among species, i.e. intra- and inter-specific competition. The models for interspecific competition are based upon additive and replacement (de Wit) series experiments. Each approach has previously been used almost exclusively to study the effects of binary mixtures, and each has been used to derive various indices of competitiveness among species. Studies were undertaken in 1980 and 1981 to compare and evaluate the different models, and to investigate the relative performance of species in ternary combinations. Monoculture (density), additive and replacement series experiments involving binary mixtures of barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusgalli), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus ) and green foxtail (Setaria viridis) were undertaken in both years; monoculture (density) and replacement series involving binary and ternary mixtures of rapeseed (Brassica napus) with pigweed and foxtail were also investigated in both years; in 1981, the rapeseed-pigweed-foxtail experiments also included additive series mixtures, the experimental design for which permitted the investigation of binary replacement series at different total densities. Monoculture experiments showed that yield of all four species was related to the density according to de Wit's spacing formula. Additive series experiments involving barnyard grass or rapeseed with the other two species showed that the yield of the indicator species followed the Dew's relationship between yield and the square root of the density of the associated species. The present studies have shown that the yield of the latter (in the presence of the indicator species) can also be described by the spacing formula. In binary replacement series experiments, de Wit's relative crowding coefficients (k) were calculated. Estimates of yield obtained from the k-values were usually found to agree well with observed yields. Dew's Index of Competition (CI) was calculated from additive series data for each combination of species tested. Relative crowding coefficients (k), Willey and Rao's Competition Ratio (CR) and McGilchrist's Aggressivity (A) were calculated from binary replacement series data. Both k- and CR- values contain components which relate to intra- and inter-specific competition. The actual relative contributions of intraspecific and interspecific competition were calculated by comparing the effect on a given species of adding equal densities of its own kind or of a second species, to the same total density; the ratio of the former to the latter is a new parameter, termed the Interference Ratio (IR), and is related to the relative crowding coefficient. Intercomparisons of the various measures of competitiveness showed that in both years k-values were highly correlated with A and CR, and in 1980 were also correlated with CI. However, there was only a weak correlation between k and IR. In general, CR-, k- and A-values suggested that barnyard grass and rapeseed were the most competitive species. However, IR-values indicated that the greatest competitiveness was exhibited by pigweed against foxtail. Pigweed was much more sensitive to its own kind than to foxtail. Estimates of k-values for untested combinations based upon either the use of de Wit's spacing formula or upon k-values determined for binary mixtures involving each of the untested pair with a common third species were found to be unreliable. In several mixtures, k was found to be density dependent. In ternary mixtures, the effects on the yield of a given species could not be predicted from its behaviour in the presence of either of its competitors in binary combinations. For example, pigweed and foxtail behaved synergistically against high density rapeseed, but tended to act antagonistically at low rapeseed densities. Although foxtail was consistently the weakest competitor in any binary mixture, it had the greatest effect of any species in determining the competitive interaction between the other species. In order to estimate yield losses, e.g. in crop-weed systems, only additive series data are shown to be of general applicability. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

Effects of different weed control practices on soil quality in mediterranean crops This research approaches the question of weed control sustainability, from the point of view of soil quality maintenance and enhancing. A big choice of practices and products for weed control are available nowadays, but the actual definition of "sustainable practice" not always considers soil fertility. Soil processes timescale is wider than the productive, commercial and legislative ones. Also the definition of survey protocols is a process slower than the evolution of weed control methods. The faster reaction in the soil ecosystem after an external pressure is given by the organisms living in it, and the microbial community is finally the most effective agent in nutrient recycling processes. In this investigation, the same soil analysis protocol was applied on soil samples exposed to different weed management and control methods. Using soil quality indexes and bioindicators, soil properties variations after the different weed control treatments were compared. In particular soil carbon pool and how microbial community recycles was surveyed. A standard protocol to both find variations in long-term soil quality and survey the short-term impact of weed control practices on soil biological processes was defined. Weed management practices can interact with the nutrients recycling processes performed by the microorganisms living in the soil. These processes have a central role in maintaining soil fertility, one of the most important resources for agriculture. Three weed management practices were compared: the use of synthetic (oxyfluorfen) or natural (essential oils and aqueous extracts) herbicides and two mechanical methods (tillage and mulching). Soil fertility was monitored measuring soil physical-chemical values and elaborating soil quality indexes and bioindicators. / Efectos de diferentes prácticas de control de arvenses sobre la calidad del suelo en cultivos mediterráneos Esta investigación aborda la cuestión de la sostenibilidad del control de las plantas arvenses, desde el punto de vista del mantenimiento y mejora de la calidad del suelo. Una gran variedad de prácticas y productos para el control de las arvenses están disponibles hoy en día, pero la definición real de "práctica sostenible" no siempre considera la fertilidad del suelo. La escala de tiempo de los procesos del suelo es más amplia que los procesos productivos, comerciales y legislativos. También la definición de protocolos para la investigación es un proceso más lento que la evolución comercial de los métodos de control de malas hierbas. La reacción más rápida en el ecosistema del suelo después de una presión externa es dada por los organismos que viven en ella, y la comunidad microbiana es el agente más eficaz en los procesos de reciclaje de nutrientes. En esta investigación se aplicó el mismo protocolo de análisis de suelo en muestras de suelo expuestas a diferentes métodos de manejo y control de arvenses. Utilizando índices de calidad del suelo y bioindicadores, se compararon las variaciones de propiedades del suelo después de los diferentes tratamientos de control de arvenses. En particular se estudiaron la reserva de carbono en el suelo y la forma en que la comunidad microbiana recicla. Se definió un protocolo estándar para encontrar variaciones en la calidad del suelo a largo plazo y para analizar el impacto a corto plazo de las prácticas de control de arvenses en los procesos biológicos del suelo. Las prácticas de manejo de malas hierbas pueden interactuar con los procesos de reciclaje de nutrientes realizados por los microorganismos que viven en el suelo. Estos procesos tienen un papel central en el mantenimiento de la fertilidad del suelo, uno de los recursos más importantes para la agricultura. Se compararon las prácticas de manejo de arvenses de frutales: el uso de herbicidas sintéticos (oxyfluorfen) o naturales (aceites esenciales y extractos acuosos) y dos métodos mecánicos (labranza y mulching). Se monitoreó la fertilidad del suelo midiendo los valores físico-químicos del suelo y elaborando índices de calidad del suelo y bioindicadores. / Efectes de diferents pràctiques de control d'arvenses sobre la qualitat del sòl en cultures mediterrànies Aquesta investigació aborda la qüestió de la sostenibilitat del control de les plantes arvenses, des del punt de vista del manteniment i millora de la qualitat del sòl. Una gran varietat de pràctiques i productes per al control de les arvenses estan disponibles avui en dia, però la definició real de "pràctica sostenible" no sempre considera la fertilitat del sòl. L'escala de temps dels processos del sòl és més àmplia que els processos productius, comercials i legislatius. També la definició de protocols per a la investigació és un procés més lent que l'evolució comercial dels mètodes de control de males herbes. La reacció més ràpida en l'ecosistema del sòl després d'una pressió externa és donada pels organismes que hi viuen, i la comunitat microbiana és l'agent més eficaç en els processos de reciclatge de nutrients. En aquesta investigació es va aplicar el mateix protocol d'anàlisi de sòl en mostres de sòl exposades a diferents mètodes de maneig i control d'arvenses. Utilitzant índexs de qualitat del sòl i bioindicadors, es van comparar les variacions de propietats del sòl després dels diferents tractaments de control d'arvenses. En particular es van estudiar la reserva de carboni en el sòl i la forma en què la comunitat microbiana el recicla. Es va definir un protocol estàndard per trobar variacions en la qualitat del sòl a llarg termini i per analitzar l'impacte a curt termini de les pràctiques de control d'arvenses en els processos biològics del sòl. Les pràctiques de maneig de males herbes poden interactuar amb els processos de reciclatge de nutrients realitzats pels microorganismes que viuen a terra. Aquests processos tenen un paper central en el manteniment de la fertilitat del sòl, un dels recursos més importants per a l'agricultura. Es van comparar les pràctiques de maneig d'arvenses de fruiters: l'ús d'herbicides sintètics (oxyfluorfè) o naturals (olis essencials i extractes aquosos) i dos mètodes mecànics (conreu i mulching). Es va monitorejar la fertilitat del sòl mesurant els valors fisicoquímics del sòl i elaborant índexs de qualitat del sòl i bioindicadors. / Oddo, M. (2017). Effects of different weed control practices on soil quality in Mediterranean crops [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/90655 / TESIS

Canada thistle is a clone forming perennial weed that spreads aggressively and is difficult to control. One approach to managing invasive weeds is integrating numerous tactics instead of relying on a single tactic. Therefore, the objectives of this research were: 1) assess impacts of Hadroplontus litura, common sunflower competition, and soil nutrients on Canada thistle, and 2) investigate head capsule morphometrics and model H. litura developmental timing. Common sunflower competition, low soil nutrients, and H. litura herbivory negatively impacted aspects of Canada thistle growth and reproduction, but effects varied. Additionally, H. litura effects on thistle morphology were mild whereas the effects of soil nutrition and competition were persistent throughout the experiment. Histogram analysis and verification via Dyar’s rule produced adequate larvae categorization by instar number. Logistic thermal time models developed to predict mean developmental time were most accurate for first instar larvae and least accurate for egg stage.

Among the vast diversity of plants in the mid-South to which grazing livestock are exposed, there is a need to address certain species that are potentially harmful to livestock health and production. Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted on endophyte-infected tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort = Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.], a cool-season perennial forage, and perilla mint, (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton) an herbaceous annual, to determine management techniques and control measures for healthier pasture and livestock systems. When seedheads reached maturity, spring and autumn glyphosate applications at 1.68 kg ae ha-1, coupled with autumn tillage and summer and winter cover crops effectively reduced tall fescue coverage to < 27% by 10 months after initial treatment (MAT) following a single year of management. If seedhead maturity is inhibited prior to first glyphosate application, tall fescue was reduced to <1% coverage 10 MAT. Despite seedhead suppression, at least 78% increase in coverage occurred in 24 months from remnant populations suggesting two years of renovation is required. Forage soybeans proved to be a valuable cover crop that maintained nutritive quality and mean dry matter yields of 5487 kg ha-1 across two years. Tall fescue seedheads were suppressed below 14% coverage (> 68% visual control) by nicosulfuron + metsulfuron (20 + 5 and 40 +11 g ai ha-1), imazapic (26 and 53 g ai ha-1), and sulfosulfuron (53 g ai ha-1) at 90 DAT. Reduction in forage heights may be expected, but was not consistently reduced when compared to untreated plots across locations. To control perilla mint, postemergence applications of aminocyclopyrachlor blends, glyphosate, picloram + 2,4-D, aminopyralid + 2,4-D, and 2,4-D alone provided superior control when applied prior to the plant’s reproductive growth stage. Picloram + 2,4-D also provided inield soil residual activity and the most effective preemergence control, followed by aminocyclopyrachlor + chlorsulfuron, pendimethalin, and aminopyralid + 2,4-D for at least 141 DAT. Seed from weedy populations in north Mississippi tend to germinate in a range of night/day soil temperatures from 10/15 C to 25/30 C. Therefore, effective preemergence treatments should be applied by mid- to late- February in this region.

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