Abstract
Field studies were conducted from 2012-13 to 2014-15 to investigate the dynamics of germinable soil seedbank, density and community composition of weeds in crop rotations of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) + pea (Pisum sativum L.) and bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Oued Zem, semi-arid Morocco. In September 2012, the initial seedbank in 6 fields was 2354 seeds m-². When herbicide-free barley + pea forage mixture (cut for hay) was followed by bread wheat, seedbank reductions were 35% after the two years. When bread wheat was followed by herbicide-free barley + pea forage mixture, seedbank reductions were only 5% in two years. Prior to wheat harvest, weed densities were 82, 8, and 14 plants m-² in April 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. Prior to haying herbicide-free barley + pea, weed densities were 76, 109 and 34 plants m-² in April 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. Weeds identified in bread wheat fields were 49, 36 and 40 species in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15, respectively. Weeds associated with herbicide-free barley + pea mixture were 68, 51 and 36 species in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15, respectively. The seedbank prior to planting and weed density prior to harvesting were strongly influenced by the most recent crop. Integrated weed management combining glyphosate before no-till planting, post-emergence herbicide use in bread wheat, haying barley + pea mixture, within the crop rotation (barley + pea/bread wheat) reduced weed seedbank by up to 35%, species richness by up to 47%, and weed density prior to wheat harvest or forage haying by up to 83%. Such changes suggest that integrated weed management practices in no-till system must be continued for more than 3 growing seasons to drastically reduce weed seedbanks and weed densities. Key words: Weed, seedbank, wheat, barley + pea, no-till, Morocco.
Highlights
A no-till system has economic, ecological, environmental and social benefits
Integrated weed management combining glyphosate before no-till planting, post-emergence herbicide use in bread wheat, haying barley + pea mixture, within the crop rotation reduced weed seedbank by up to 35%, species richness by up to 47%, and weed density prior to wheat harvest or forage haying by up to 83%
Six farms were selected in September 2012 and 4 ha on each farm were used to conduct no-till trials. 2 ha were no-till planted to bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and two ha were no-till planted to a forage mixture of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) + field pea (Pisum sativum L.)
Summary
A no-till system has economic, ecological, environmental and social benefits. These include soil conservation, water use efficiency, nutrient cycling, time and fossil fuel saving, and less wear and tear on machinery Integrated weed management systems have the potential to provide long-term management of weeds (Blackshaw et al, 2005; Holm et al, 2006; Harker and O’Donovan, 2013; Blackshaw et al, 2015) Agronomic factors such as crop diversification and rotations, combined with herbicides, need to be evaluated for their potential to manage weeds in no-till system in semi-arid Morocco. Field studies were initiated to determine the combined effects of pre-plant glyphosate, herbicide use in bread wheat, and herbicide-free barley + pea mixture for hay on the weed seedbank, and weed density within a bread wheat/barley + pea mixture rotation under a no-till production system in a semi-arid rain-fed environment
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