Weeding Frequency Research Articles

Herbage mass, height and frequency of botanical components in forage canopy of multispecies pastures

Multispecies pastures are an alternative to increase sustainability of pasture systems, but evaluating their botanical components is a challenge. The objective of this study was to estimate the presence of botanical components in pastures with different canopy heights through measurement of forage mass, height and frequency. The species were Aruana guineagrass (Megathyrsus maximus cv. Aruana) and three legumes: Macrotyloma axillare cv. Java; Calopogonium mucunoides; and Stylosanthes macrocephala + S. capitata, managed under continuous stocking and variable stocking with sheep. The treatments corresponded to four canopy height targets (CHTs), of 15, 30, 45, and 60 cm, in a randomized block design with four replications, totaling 16 experimental units (paddocks). The herbage mass and botanical and morphological components were measured with monthly cuts in three areas at ground level and separated into Aruana guineagrass, Legumes, Dead Material and Weeds. The canopy height was measured with a sward stick and the botanical components touched by the stick were used to calculate frequency. The herbage mass was greater in taller pastures, while the proportions of Aruana, Legumes and Weeds were similar among CHTs. The frequency of Aruana and Legumes did not differ among CHTs, and Weed frequency was highest in 15 cm pastures. The correlation between the proportion and frequency of Legumes was not significant (P=0.2809). The components’ proportions in the herbage mass, botanical components' height and frequency can be used to estimate their presence in multispecies pastures.

Weed management strategies for grain legumes in different regions of Morocco

This study examines weed management in legume crops in Morocco. Faced with the challenges of climate change, financial profitability, and herbicide resistance, farmers are adopting a range of strategies, from plowing to herbicide use to agroecological practices. A survey of 244 farmers was conducted in different regions of Morocco. The results show that crop rotation is the most common weed management practice (81.15%), followed by herbicide use (59.43%) and manual weeding (35.25%). Major challenges include weed diversity (81.16%) and weed control budget constraints (84.84%). Farmers’ observations suggest that larger plots are associated with higher weed frequency, underlining the importance of adjusting herbicide application according to field size. In summary, Moroccan farmers are adopting an integrated approach, combining plowing, crop rotations, and herbicides for effective weed management, while facing complex challenges. It is essential to promote innovative and sustainable farming practices, guided by the results of this study, with an emphasis on developing weed-resistant legume varieties. In addition, raising farmers’ awareness of best practices, including the judicious use of herbicides, is crucial for sustainable agriculture in Morocco.

Effect of Weeding Frequency for the Control of Flea Beetle (Podagrica spp) on the Production and Yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) in Zaria, Kaduna State

Field trials were carried out at Samaru, Zaria in the 2022 and 2023 cropping seasons to study the effect of weeding frequencies for the management of flea beetles (Podagrica spp.) on the production and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench). A randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated four times was used to evaluate the four weeding frequencies: no weeding, one weeding, two weeding, three weeding, and four weeding. Data were collected on the number of beetle populations, the number of flowers produced, number of damaged fruits, number of leaves damaged and the weight of the fruits. The results of the present findings demonstrated that, in comparison to other weeding frequency, fruit yield were higher in plots that were weeded four times, while the populations of flea beetles (Podagrica spp.), number of flowers and leaves damaged were significantly (P<0.05) higher in one, two and four weeding compared with no and three weeding frequencies. Fruit damaged weight was considerably (P≤0.05) decreased in two and three weeding. Thus, as part of integrated pest management (IPM) techniques to optimize flea beetle control, this study highlighted the significance of two and three weeding frequencies

Distribution, frequency, and impact of herbicide-resistant weeds in Saskatchewan

Herbicide-resistant weeds threaten contemporary agriculture by reducing crop yields and quality. Monitoring of herbicide-resistant weeds is essential to the development of informed integrated weed management (IWM) strategies. In 2019 and 2020, a randomized-stratified preharvest survey of 419 fields in Saskatchewan, Canada, was conducted to determine the distribution, frequency of occurrence, and impact of herbicide-resistant weeds. Mature seeds were collected from uncontrolled weeds in each field. The samples were tested for resistance to acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) and/or acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides using whole-plant bioassays under a controlled-environment. In 2019/2020, herbicide-resistant weeds occupied 72% of the surveyed fields, corresponding to an estimated 6.2 million ha of annual cropland and a total field area of 11.4 million ha. Herbicide-resistant weeds cost Saskatchewan farmers an estimated $343 million CAD annually in reduced crop yields and quality, and increased weed control expenditures. Wild oat ( Avena fatua L.) had the greatest impact among grass weeds, with ACCase inhibitor resistance documented in 77% and ALS inhibitor resistance in 30% of fields where the weed seeds were collected and tested (47% and 18% of all fields surveyed, respectively). Multiple herbicide (ACCase and ALS inhibitor)-resistant wild oat were documented in 26% of the tested fields. Kochia ( Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott) had the greatest impact among broadleaf weeds, where 100% of the samples tested were ALS inhibitor-resistant (39% of all fields surveyed). The growing prevalence of herbicide-resistant weeds in Saskatchewan warrants further adoption of IWM where non-chemical tactics play an important role in stewardship of the remaining effective herbicides.

Population Dynamics of Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Maize Fields in Uganda.

Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), commonly known as fall armyworm, was first detected in Uganda in 2016 and has spread to all the maize-growing districts. Different methods have been deployed to control this pest. However, there is a limited understanding of the role of the environment and farmers' practices on the abundance of and damage by S. frugiperda in Uganda. This study, therefore, assessed the abundance of S. frugiperda and leaf damage levels in three different districts and explored the association between agronomic practices, crop phenology, and weather parameters on S. frugiperda damage and abundance in smallholder farmers' maize fields using a longitudinal monitoring survey in 69 farmers' fields of Kole, Kiryandongo, and Nakaseke for three seasons. The numbers of egg masses and adults were generally low. The highest numbers of adults were trapped in Kiryandongo, followed by Nakaseke, and the lowest numbers were trapped in Kole. Leaf damage and incidence of damaged plants differed significantly between districts and seasons. Leaf damage and abundance of larvae varied significantly in the districts and at different growth stages. Conservation tillage, reduced weeding frequency, increased rainfall and high maximum temperatures were associated with reduced S. frugiperda damage. No significant relationship was observed between pesticide or cropping systems with S. frugiperda leaf damage. However, the influence of fertilizer use on leaf damage was contradictory across seasons and districts. Timely and vigilant scouting, proper timing of control measures, and minimum tillage practices should be included in an IPM strategy for S. frugiperda.

Examine the Effects of Inter Row Spacing, Weeding Frequency and Weed Infestation on Agro Morphological Traits and Yield of Durum Wheat (Triticuma Durum Desf.) Variety in Bedesa, Oromia, Ethiopia

According to study, durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.), is an important food crop in the world, with an estimated annual production of 36 million tons. Randomized complete block design was employed. With a relative density 74.6%, broadleaved weed species were the most dominant followed by grasses with relative density of 24.3%. Number of tillers per plant, plant height, Grains per spike, aboveground biomass yield, and grain yield were affected by the interaction of weeding frequency and spacing. Spacing and Weeding frequency were significantly affected days to heading, spike length, thousand grain weight and harvest index. Wider spacing, four wedding and control weeding frequencies had significantly yield components of durum wheat. Highest dry biomass weight was achieved by treatments with 10 cm row spacing for both grass and wide weed species. As study sowing durum wheat with 30 cm row spacing and keeping it completely weed free resulted in optimum growth and grain yield.

Effects of Weeding Frequency on the Yield and Quality of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch in an Arid and Semi-Arid Area of Northwest China

Weeds interfere with agricultural production activities worldwide and have a very serious impact on agriculture and animal husbandry. Identifying a safe and reliable weed control strategy may increase the yield and production net income, and improve crop quality. Licorice is one of the most popular traditional Chinese herbal medicines and has been used for over 2000 years in China. Liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid are crucial active ingredients. A field experiment was carried out to explore the effects of weeding frequency on the yield and quality of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch in an arid and semi-arid area of northwest China. The experiment consisted of seven treatments: (1) no weeding, marked as WF0, and (2)–(7) artificial weeding using a hoe once every 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks after emergence, marked as WF1, WF2, WF4, WF6, WF8 and WF10, respectively. We found that a higher weeding frequency resulted in greater plant height, photosynthesis, yield and quality. The highest yield was obtained when the WF1 treatment was applied, while the cost of weeding was high among all treatments. The concentrations of liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid were increased by 53.24% and 36.57%, with the highest nitrogen metabolism enzymatic activities and quality observed when the WF4 treatment was applied. The WF4 treatment resulted in the largest increase in the net income among all treatments in both growing seasons, with respective increases of up to 71.39% and 78.81%. These findings suggest that weeding once every four weeks could be an effective and sustainable measure to control weeds in an arid and semi-arid area.

Effect of Hand Frequency Weeding on Crop Growth Parameters and Yield

An effort made to reveal the literatures review about hand weeding frequency attributed on crop yield and crops growth parameters. This review paper has been literature reviewed necessary material that help assesses effect of hand hoeing on crop growth and weed management. Various weed controls methods practiced by small scale farmers of different agro ecology zones in order to compact the injurious effect of weeds on crop yields and growth parameters. Among available farmers practice I used for controlling weeds is hand-hoeing weed control system. Farmer practice of hand- weeding is very time consuming, physically demanding, and not cost efficient for a farmer especially where labour is scarce than other methods While, an advantage of manual control is that it minimizes soil disturbance, and decreases the likelihood of erosion and seed germination. A few farmers have started using herbicides to control weeds. However, herbicides have been found to be less effective than hand-weeding, as they require specific conditions which may be more limiting than other control method. This paper intended to reflect the current state to investigate the effect hand hoeing weeding frequencies on yield and growth parameters is still by far the most widely practiced cultural weed control technique in field crop production throughout the traditional agricultural sector, because of the prohibitive costs of herbicides and fear of toxic residue coupled with the lack of knowledge about their use.

Influence of different population densities of Bambara groundnut intercrop and weeding frequency on maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) performance

Effective weed management is essential for enhanced productivity of maize. A two-year field experiment was carried out at the Department of Crop Science Demonstration Farm, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria (4.5-5.20 N, 8.0-8.30 E), in the 2019 and 2020 early planting seasons, to evaluate the influence of three population densities of Bambara groundnut [166,666 plants per hectare(B1), 100,000 plants per hectare (B2), 71,428 plants per hectare (B3)] and four hand weeding frequencies [weedy check (WC), one hand weeding (1HW), two hand weedings (2HW) and a weed free check (WFC)] on the performance of maize. The experiment consisted of three replications fitted into a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Data gathered on maize vegetative and yield characteristics were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedures for RCBD (GenStat® statistical package, version 8.1). Significantly different means were compared at 5 % probability level using the Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT). From the results, maize growth and yield performance were significantly (P<0.05) affected by Bambara groundnut populations and the frequency of weeding. Leaving weeds unchecked all through the cultivation season hampered the vegetative and yield performance of maize, resulting in 47.54 % reduction in maize grain yield, compared with the weeded plots. Conclusively, intercropping maize with Bambara groundnut at 71,428 plants per hectare integrated with two hand weedings at 4 and 8 weeks after sowing (WAS), which optimized maize grain yield (3.87 t/ha on the two-year average) is recommended for farmers in the Calabar humid area and its environs.

Effect of in-row spacing on weed suppression and yield of ‘Covington’ and ‘Monaco’ sweetpotato

Abstract Organic sweetpotato growers have limited effective weed management options, and most rely on in-season between-row cultivation and hand weeding, which are time consuming, are costly, and deteriorate soil quality. Studies were conducted at the Samuel G. Meigs Horticulture Research Farm, Lafayette, IN, and at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, Vincennes, IN, in 2022 and 2023 to determine the effects of in-row plant spacing and cultivar selection on weed suppression and organic sweetpotato yield. The experiment was a split-split plot design, with in-row spacings of 20, 30, and 40 cm as the main plot factor, weeding frequency (critical weed-free period and weed-free) as the subplot factor, and sweetpotato cultivar (‘Covington’ and ‘Monaco’) as the sub-subplot factor. However, in 2022, we evaluated only in-row spacing and weeding frequency because of the poor establishment of ‘Monaco’. In 2023, sweetpotato canopy at 5 wk after transplanting (WAP) decreased as in-row spacing increased from 20 to 40 cm, and sweetpotato canopy cover of ‘Monaco’ (62%) was greater than that of ‘Covington’ (44%). In-row spacing did not affect weed density at 4, 5, and 6 WAP. As in-row spacing increased from 20 to 40 cm, total sweetpotato yield pooled across both locations in 2023 decreased from 30,223 to 21,209 kg ha−1 for ‘Covington’ and from 24,370 to 20,848 kg ha−1 for ‘Monaco’; however, jumbo yield increased for both cultivars. Findings from this study suggest that an in-row spacing of 20 cm may provide greater yield than the standard spacing of 30 cm for both ‘Monaco’ and ‘Covington’.

Shifting cultivation in decline: An analysis of soil fertility and weed pressure in intensified cropping systems in Eastern Amazon

Reconciling forest preservation and agricultural production is a major challenge. In Brazil, environmental laws have been introduced to reduce forest degradation associated with the expansion of agriculture. However, these laws are constraining small-scale family farmers who rely on cassava produced in shifting cultivation. Faced by scarcity of land, farmers are reducing the fallow periods on their farms. In this study, our hypothesis was that the reduction of the fallow period in shifting cultivation systems leads to a depletion of soil fertility and an increase in weed pressure. In the Brazilian Eastern Amazon region, soil fertility and weed infestation indicators were assessed in 36 cassava fields under shifting cultivation with different land-use histories. The frequency of cultivation of the fields in the past 10 years ranged from 1 to 7 and averaged 3.7 ± 2.3. The results show that the most frequently cultivated fields had lower soil fertility, indicated by lower soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and exchangeable potassium and pH. In addition, labor input for weeding and weeding frequency increased with the frequency of cultivation of the fields, indicating that weed pressure increased with intensified crop cultivation and shorter fallow periods. The findings of this study make clear that the current trend of reducing the fallow period in the Eastern Amazon is a threat to the sustainability and productivity of the local shifting cultivation systems. There is an urgent need for alternative production systems that allow for a better weed control and that contribute to restoring and maintaining soil fertility.

Assessment of weed species composition and diversity in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) farms in Ethiopia

Background: Weeds compete for vital nutrients and water with the tomato plants and serve as an alternative host for other pests. Although there is limited information on the weed species composition in major tomato-growing areas in Ethiopia, this study was conducted to identify the economically important weed species in tomato fields in the East Wollega, Shewa, West Shewa, Arsi, and Sidama zones. Methods: The weed flora assessment was conducted in major tomato growing zones of the country, such as East Shewa, Wollega, West Shewa, Arsi, and Sidama zones, in the 2018–2019 cropping season during the off-season. In each tomato field a 1 m x 1 m quadrat was thrown following an inverted X pattern, and weed species were recorded. Weed species composition was calculated using standard formulas. Results: The results revealed that 63 weed species under 23 families were identified at the surveyed locations. Portulaca oleracea was the most abundant and dominant, with 50% of the dominance value. Weed frequency values ranged from 0.06 to 72% in the studied areas. The weed similarity index was also different among the surveyed locations. The results of farmers perceptions on weed management in tomato fields showed that 61% of respondents practiced hoeing followed by hand weeding, and Tuta absoluta was the most significant constraint to tomato production in the surveyed areas. Conclusions: This assessment showed that there are differences in the composition and distribution of weed species in tomato fields in Ethiopia, which aid in predicting the population dynamics of weed flora. Farmers perceptions of weed management practices in tomato fields were also different. Therefore, different environmentally friendly weed management options such as good crop husbandry, biological control, and integrated management should be designed to increase tomato production and productivity.

Impact of pesticide outsourcing services on farmers’ low-carbon production behavior

Introduction: Promoting low-carbon development in agriculture is crucial for achieving agricultural modernization. One practical issue worth studying is whether outsourcing services can encourage farmers to adopt low-carbon production practices. This study analyzes the impact of pesticide outsourcing services on the low-carbon production behavior of farmers to provide China with practical recommendations.Methods: This empirical study investigates the impact of pesticide outsourcing services on farmers’ low-carbon production behavior using survey data from 450 rice growers in the Ningxia and Shaanxi provinces by endogenous switching regressions (ESR) model.Results and Discussion: Results showed that 1) outsourcing services have a significant negative impact on farmers’ manual weeding behavior, leading to a reduction in the frequency of manual weeding; 2) outsourcing services have a significant positive impact on farmers’ herbicide application behavior. In other words, participation in outsourcing leads to excessive pesticide application; 3) outsourcing services do not support a green and low-carbon production model where manual weeding replaces herbicide application. Due to the imperfect development of the outsourcing market in China, especially in the northwest region, the construction of outsourcing service system is lagging, and it is difficult for non-professional outsourcing services to play a driving role in green and low-carbon production for farmers, who will often choose the lower-cost mechanical application for maximum profit. The policy implication of this study is the need for a comprehensive and objective understanding of the impact and role of pesticide outsourcing services on farmers’ low-carbon production behavior. This understanding can help improve the market, policy, and other external environments for farmers to participate in outsourcing, ultimately promoting the sustainable development of green and low-carbon agriculture. This paper adds to the discussion of pesticide outsourcing services and farmers’ low-carbon production by drawing different conclusions from previous studies, providing a fresh foundation for policy-making.

Early Sowing on Some Soybean Genotypes under Organic Farming Conditions.

The demand for soybeans in Europe motivates breeders, researchers, and growers to find suitable cultivars to adapt and extend the soybean crop to improper climate areas. Weed control is a crucial aspect of crop technology in organic agriculture, but particularly for soybean crops. In laboratory conditions, the cumulative stress index for seedlings was determined to identify the susceptible cultivars. A field experiment with 14 soybean accessions and 2 sowing dates was conducted under organic farming conditions over the course of three years, from 2020 to 2022. Plant population density was found to be significantly (p < 0.01 and p < 0.1) negatively correlated to the degree of resistance to low temperature as well as infestation degree with weeds (for p < 0.05 and p < 0.1), with the exception of early sowing in 2021. Yield was significantly (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.1) correlated with plant population density, with the exception of optimal sowing in 2022. Early sowing variants emerged with vigor in the first two years, breeding lines and registered varieties showed low input, and organic agriculture systems showed low yields in the drought years of 2020 and 2022. Although early sowing even in the first two years proved to be a practice that increased the cultivars' performance, in 2022, due to the long period of chilling stress in the field, this option had negative effects on yield due to the high weed frequency. Therefore, the early sowing strategy for the soybean crop in this particular case of non-irrigated conditions in a temperate continental area proved to be a risky practice.

Adoption of improved rice technologies in major rice producing areas of Ethiopia: a multivariate probit approach

BackgroundThe need for adopting improved rice technologies and practices has become more important in Ethiopia as the national self-sufficiency gap has increased. This article examines the adoption level and factors governing the adoption of improved rice technology packages and practices using data collected from 594 rice-producing household heads in Ethiopia. A multivariate probit (MVP) model involving a system of five equations was used to assess the determinant for the decision to adopt improved rice technologies and practices.ResultsThe results showed that the adoption levels of improved rice varieties, row planting, recommended rate of urea fertilizer, recommended rate of DAP/NPS fertilizer, and recommended weeding frequency was 24.4%, 23.4%, 40.9%, 38.6%, and 52.4%, respectively. The model results attested that improved rice production technology packages are complementary. This finding implies that farm-level policies that affect the use of one improved agricultural technology can have a positive effect on the other technologies. The various demographic, socioeconomic, and institutional variables were found to influence the decisions to adopt different technologies of improved rice technology packages with different signs.ConclusionsTherefore, the government should devise ways to ease the accessibility of improved seeds and fertilizers along with the introduction of labor-saving technologies to promote row planting and achieve wider adoption of the technologies. Policies and interventions that are informed about such factors are required to accelerate the adoption of improved rice technology packages in Ethiopia to realize green revolution and secure self-sufficiency of rice sustainably.

Determination of Density and Frequency of Weeds in Commercial Crops of Hamur District of Ağrı, Türkiye

Weeds not only cause yield and quality losses in cultivated plants but also hinder harvesting. To effectively reduce these negative effects, it's crucial to identify the weed species and choose the most appropriate control method. Conducting regular surveys in areas where crops are grown is essential for this purpose. This study was carried out to determine the weed types, densities, and frequency of occurrence in barley, wheat, alfalfa, sainfoin, and vetch cultivation areas, which are widely cultivated in the Hamur district of Ağrı province in 2022. In addition, face-to-face surveys were conducted with 100 different producers who cultivate these cultivated plants. During the surveys, 63 different weed species belonging to 19 families were determined throughout the district. At the level of cultivated plants, the highest number of weed species were found to be 42 species belonging to 17 families in sainfoin, 31 species belonging to 14 families in wheat, 27 species belonging to 13 families in barley, 25 species belonging to 16 families in alfalfa, and 18 weed species belonging to 12 families in vetch. Weeds with a higher incidence compared to cultivated plants were Convolvulus arvensis L. in the wheat, Cardaria draba L. (65%) in the barley, Convolvulus arvensis L. (55%) in the sainfoin, Tragopogon pratensis L. (45%) in the alfalfa, and Tragopogon pratensis L. (60%) in the vetch cultivation areas. In the face-to-face surveys conducted within the scope of the study, 65% of the farmers stated that weeds are the most important plant protection problem in agricultural production areas. The majority of the producers reported that they preferred the mechanical control method against these weeds.

Effects of intra-row spacing and weeding frequency on leaf caterpillar (Hymenia recurvalis F.) infestation on amaranth (Amaranthus sp.) in Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria

Plant spacing and weeding are among the key factors determining leafy vegetable growth and yield through maximum utilization of space, nutrients, water and sunlight. Amaranthus species is a popular and very important leafy vegetable crop that is infested and damaged by the arthropod pests in Nigeria. Therefore, this study identified the optimum spacing and proper weeding regime required for the control of leafy caterpillars (Hymenia recurvalis F.) and ensuring the potential yield of amaranths. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of plant spacing and weeding frequency in the control of leafy caterpillar infestation and damage on amaranths (Amaranthus sp.). Four intra-row plant spacing (10 x 10 cm; 20 x 20 cm, 30 x 30 cm and 40 x 40 cm) and four weeding frequencies (0, 1, 2 and 3) were assessed using split-plot laid in randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times. Results showed that 40 x 40 cm intra-row plant spacing and three weeding were found to be effective in reducing the infestation of H. recurvalis on Amaranthus sp. Results further showed that these combined management practices improved the growth and yield of the crop by 35% during the 2020 and 2021 cropping seasons in the study area. The study showed that combining appropriate plant spacing with three weedings is recommended for the control of amaranths leaf caterpillar (H. recurvalis) to poor resource farmers in the study area. Keywords: Intra-row, frequency, amaranth, Hymenia recurvalis, weeding, plant spacing.

Determination of flora, frequency and densities of weeds spreading in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) production areas in Kırşehir province

İnsanların yaşamında temel besin maddelerinden biri olan şekerin, üretim kaynaklarından birisi de önemli bir endüstri bitkisi olan şeker pancarı (Beta vulgaris L.)’dır. Şeker pancarı, Kırşehir ilinde üretim miktarı en fazla olan bitkisel üründür. Çalışmada Kırşehir ili Merkez, Akpınar, Boztepe, Kaman ve Mucur ilçeleri şeker pancarı üretim alanlarında sorun olan yabancı otlar ve bunların yaygınlıkları ile yoğunluklarının belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Sürvey çalışmaları; 2021 yılı Haziran-Eylül aylarında Kırşehir şeker pancarı üretim alanlarını temsil edebilecek şekilde rastgele seçilen 39 noktada 60 tarlada gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışma da 1 m2 'lik çerçeve kullanılarak üretim alanının büyüklüğüne göre tarlayı temsil edebilecek sayıda örnek alan değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda, 1 parazit, 6 monokotiledon ve 50 dikotiledon olmak üzere toplam 23 familyaya dahil 57 yabancı ot türü belirlenmiştir. Asteraceae 14 tür ile (%24,6) üretim alanlarında en fazla tür içeren familya olarak kaydedilmiştir. Chenopodium album L. (%78.3), Amaranthus retroflexus L. (%75), Convolvulus arvensis L. (%53.3), Amaranthus albus L. (%46), Chrozophora tinctoria (L.) ve Sinapis arvensis L. (%33) en yaygın belirlenen türler olarak saptanmıştır. Şeker pancarı üretim alanlarında çok yoğun (YSD:A) ve yoğun (YSD:B) düzeyde yabancı ot türü belirlenmemiş, ancak m2’de 2.55 adet ile C. album orta yoğunlukta (YSD:C) olduğu saptanmıştır. Üretim alanlarında Cuscuta türlerinin %11.6 rastlanma oranıyla düşük yaygın, 0.216 adet/m2 yoğunluk değeriyle düşük yoğunlukta (YSD:E) olduğu belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak; Kırşehir şeker pancarı üretim alanlarında sorun olan yabancı ot türleri saptanmış olup bu türlerin yaygınlık ve yoğunlukları da belirlenmiştir.

Determination of Weeds Flora in Apple Orchards of Iğdır Province and Approaches of Farmers to Solve the Problems

This study was conducted to determine the weed species, their frequency, and density of weeds in the apple orchards of Iğdır province, as well as the approaches of the farmers in the region to solve the weed problems and their control methods. Surveys were conducted in 50 apple orchards in 2020. Besides, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 100 farmers engaged in apple growing. A total of 53 weed species belonging to 15 families, including 1 parasite, 2 narrow-leaved, and 12 broad-leaved weeds were identified. The highest number of weeds among these identified families were Asteraceae (12 species), Poaceae (12 species), and Brassicaceae (9 species), respectively. The weeds with the highest frequency were Bromus tectorum (84%), Echinochloa crus-galli (84%), and Trifolium pratense (82%). The weeds with the highest density were determined as T. pratense (76.44 plant/m2), Seteria viridis (74.62 plant/m2), and Alopecurus myosuroides (70.96 plant/m2). In the current study, 96% of the farmers stated that the weeds were very dense in the apple orchards and the weed species with the highest density were A. myosuroides (80%), Poa trivialis (74%), and Hordeum murinum (73%). They stated that none of the farmers engaged in apple cultivation in Iğdır province used chemicals for controlling weeds. In addition, when the opinions of the farmers were taken, they stated that they mow the weeds in the apple orchards and use them to feed their livestock. As a result, it is seen that the farmers do not manage weeds in the apple orchards of Iğdır province and the density of weeds in the apple orchards is very high.

Clean weeding showed positive effects on earthworm communities following six years of minimum tillage in a maize field in northern Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT Earthworms are a major component of soil fauna communities with positive effects on soil chemical, biological and physical processes. A study was carried out to investigate the medium-term effects of cultural practices on earthworm communities in an agricultural field. Data were collected in the 2018/2019 cropping season from a six-year-old experiment with tillage system, fertiliser application rate and weeding intensity as the main, sub- and sub-subplots, respectively. Lumbricus (34.4%) and Diplocardia (38.3%) were the dominant genera, while endogeic earthworms (48.4%) dominated the community structure among other earthworm functional groups. Clean weeded plots under the basin planting system had higher Lumbricus abundance (quadruple), genus richness (76.4%) and Shannon diversity index (56.0%) than all other treatments. Inorganic fertiliser application in the conventional tillage system reduced Eisenia abundance and genus evenness by 100.0% and 73.3%, respectively. These results suggest that in minimum tillage systems, frequent hand weeding confers positive effects on earthworms including increased abundance. In conventional tillage systems, application of high doses of inorganic fertiliser is detrimental to earthworm communities. Further studies need to focus on identifying the most sustainable and cost-effective hand weeding frequency for enhanced earthworm diversity and increased crop productivity.