Abstract
A field experiment was conducted in the period 2006-2008 on incomplete podzolic soil. The present study investigated the effect of different doses of the herbicides Mustang 306 SE and Attribut 70 WG as well as of the foliar fertilizers Insol 3 and FoliCare 18:18:18 on the biodiversity of weeds in a winter triticale crop, 'Todan'. The segetal flora was assessed 6 weeks after the application of the herbicides and before the harvest of the triticale crop. The herbicides were applied together at labelled doses as well as at doses reduced to 75% and by half. Spraying with the foliar fertilizers was done twice during the growing period. Plots in which no herbicides or foliar fertilizers were used were the control treatment. <i>Matricaria maritima</i> and <i>Viola arvensis</i> from the dicotyledonous class were predominant in the winter triticale crop, whereas <i>Apera spica-venti</i> was the dominant species among the monocotyledons. The weed control efficacy of the reduced herbicide doses was weaker compared to the labelled rates by, respectively, from 6% to 9% at the first time of weed infestation assessment and from 4% to 8% at the second assessment time. Simultaneously, air-dry weight of weeds in the herbicide-treated plots did not differ significantly. This indicates that it is possible to reduce herbicide doses in a winter triticale crop without a risk of increased weed infestation .
Highlights
The currently observed biodiversity of segetal communities has been shaped under the influence of long-term human activity, in particular weed management methods (R o l a et al 1999)
A winter triticale crop meets the essential conditions for good competitiveness against weeds thanks to relatively wide leaf blades of this plant, high crop density, and good tillering ability
The character of this agrophytocenosis was formed by two dominant species, i.e. Matricaria maritima subsp. inodora and Viola arvensis, which accounted respectively for 30.2% and 26.0% of the total number of weeds
Summary
The currently observed biodiversity of segetal communities has been shaped under the influence of long-term human activity, in particular weed management methods (R o l a et al 1999). Taking into account yields obtained, it is possible to reduce weed infestation to a level that does not pose any threat to crop plants (Dobrzański and Adamczewski , 2009). This changed perception of weed management entails the application of reduced herbicide doses (Blackshaw et al 2006). Numerous studies show that reducing herbicide doses clearly decreases the occurrence of weeds and effectively weakens their form. This does not cause any significant decrease in yields of crop plants and is beneficial from the point of view of environmental protection, and for economic reasons (Davies and Whiting , 1989; Romek and Dzienia , 2000; Zhang et al 2000; Domaradzki and Sadowski , 2002; Kraska et al 2009)
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