0000000000065212
AUTHOR
Frank Forcella
The role of light in the emergence of weeds: using Camelina microcarpa as an example
When modelling the emergence of weeds, two main factors are considered that condition this process: temperature and soil moisture. Optimum temperature is necessary for metabolic processes that generate energy for growth, while turgor pressure is necessary for root and shoot elongation which eventually leads to seedling emergence from the soil. Most emergence models do not usually consider light as a residual factor, but it could have an important role as it can alter directly or indirectly the dormancy and germination of seeds. In this paper, inclusion of light as an additional factor to photoperiod and radiation in emergence models is explored and compared with the classical hydrothermal t…
Evaluating field-scale sampling methods for the estimation of mean plant densities of weeds
The weed flora (comprising seven species) of a field continuously grown with soyabean was simulated for 4 years, using semivariograms established from previous field observations. Various sampling methods were applied and compared for accurately estimating mean plant densities, for differing weed species and years. The tested methods were based on (a) random selection wherein samples were chosen either entirely randomly, randomly with at least 10 or 20 m between samples, or randomly after stratifying the field; (b) systematic selection where samples were placed along diagonals or along zig-zagged lines across the field; (c) predicted Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beaux seedling maps which were us…
Germination and emergence of Neslia paniculata (L.) Desv.
Abstract Seed characteristics, either in size or in structure, can affect germination, hence the emergence of a plant species. In the present work germination and emergence of Neslia paniculata, a Brassicaceae species that produces fruits containing one seed covered by a hard fruit coat, was studied. Germination experiments of seed with and without the fruit coat were performed at constant temperatures from 5 to 23 °C under controlled conditions and germination was measured daily. Additionally, seeds were sown in the field and emergence was periodically followed in three sites: Almenar (Spain), Morris (USA) and Riga (Latvia). Both germination and emergence were modelled with Boltzmann and W…
Spatial and temporal stability of weed populations over five years
Abstract The size, location, and variation in time of weed patches within an arable field were analyzed with the ultimate goal of simplifying weed mapping. Annual and perennial weeds were sampled yearly from 1993 to 1997 at 410 permanent grid points in a 1.3-ha no-till field sown to row crops each year. Geostatistical techniques were used to examine the data as follows: (1) spatial structure within years; (2) relationships of spatial structure to literature-derived population parameters, such as seed production and seed longevity; and (3) stability of weed patches across years. Within years, densities were more variable across crop rows and patches were elongated along rows. Aggregation of …