The effects of soil conditions and crop types on diversity of weed communities

Maria Ługowska,Zbigniew Pawlonka,Janina Skrzyczyńska

doi:10.5586/aa.1687

Abstract

The paper presents the diversity of weed communities growing in different crops (winter cereals, spring cereals, and tuber plants) and in diverse soil conditions. To determine weed diversity, phytosociological relevés were made. Simpson’s index of dominance and the Shannon index of biodiversity for weed communities in different crops growing in different soil conditions were calculated and compared. The highest values of the Shannon index and the lowest values of Simspon’s index of dominance were obtained for weed communities noted on compacted and semi-compacted soil with the following granulometric composition: silty loam with underlying sand at a depth of 100 cm, heavy silty sandy loam, silt with underlying sand at a depth of 50 cm, and silt with underlying sand at a depth of 100 cm. The highest index of dominance and low species diversity were determined for weed communities in light soils. The Shannon index of biodiversity was moderately positively correlated with soil pH and granulometric composition. Simpson’s index of dominance was moderately negatively correlated with granulometric composition and was weakly correlated with soil pH.

Highlights

Human activity has contributed to the development of weed communities in agricultural crops
The value of H' index was higher for winter cereals than for spring cereal crops, with the exception of the most compact soils where it was higher for spring cereal crops than for winter cereals
The least biodiversity was noted in weed communities growing on the following light soils: Bw pl with tuber crops (H' = 1.084), F ps:pl with winter cereals (H' = 1.113), and Bw pl with spring cereals (H' = 1.132) (Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

Human activity has contributed to the development of weed communities in agricultural crops. The growing demand for agricultural products induces permanent and continuous changes and increases anthropogenic pressure [1]. The knowledge of transformation in weed communities makes it possible to select appropriate methods of weed control. Appropriate weed control can reduce production costs and improve yield quantity and quality. The harmful effect of weeds on the crop plant is usually due to one or two species, which form dense populations. Weed species with lower density are less dangerous [2,3,4]. Intensive farming leads to habitat destruction and impacts negatively weed biodiversity in crops [5,6]

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Conclusion