Weed seed distribution in the soil profile in extensive and intensive vineyards

Abstract

Determination of weed seed bank is of great importance for the study of weed population dynamics and planned weed control. In agroecosystems knowledge of weed seed bank in a particular area provides better choice of cultural practices, as well as more rational herbicide use. Extensive growth of vine grape implies application of all cultural practices without herbicide use. Soil samples for determination of weed seed bank were taken at the beginning and at the end of vegetation period. Soil samples were taken from each plot in ten replications. The samples were taken from depths of 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm, separately. The aim of the study was to establish the composition of weed seed bank in extensive and intensive vineyards. In extensive vineyard 24 weed species were determined, and in intensive 20 ones and these were: Portulaca oleracea L., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Stellaria media (L.) Vill., Chenopodium album L., Euphorbia helioscopia L., Galium verum L., Polygonum persicaria L., Datura stramonium L., Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv., Solanum nigrum L., Stachys annua L., Geranium dissectum L., Veronica arvensis L., Euphorbia ciparissias L., Convolvulus arvensis L., Sinapis arvensis L., Viola tricolor L., Capsella bursa-pastoris L., Lamium purpureum L., Polygonum aviculare L., Papaver rhoeas L., Ambrosia artemissifolia L., Agropyrum repens (L.) Beauv., and Sorghum halepense L. In addition to the great variety of weed species, whose seeds were determined from the studied samples, only the following few species proved to be dominant with a greater number of seeds: Amaranthus retroflexus L., Portulaca oleracea L., Capsella bursa-pastoris L., Chenopodium album L., Stellaria media (L.) Vill., Solanum nigrum L., and Lamium purpureum L.