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Weed Seedbank and Weed Biomass Dynamics in a Long-Term Organic Vegetable Cropping Systems Experiment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 September 2018

Charles L. Mohler ,
Brian A. Caldwell ,
Caroline A. Marschner ,
Stephane Cordeau Open the ORCID record for Stephane Cordeau [Opens in a new window] ,
Qaiser Maqsood ,
Matthew R. Ryan  and
Antonio DiTommaso Open the ORCID record for Antonio DiTommaso [Opens in a new window]
Charles L. Mohler*
Affiliation:
Senior Research Associate, Section of Soil and Crop Sciences, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
Brian A. Caldwell
Affiliation:
Research Support Specialist, Section of Soil and Crop Sciences, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
Caroline A. Marschner
Affiliation:
Research Support Specialist, Section of Soil and Crop Sciences, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
Stephane Cordeau
Affiliation:
Research Weed Scientist, Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, INRA, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21000 Dijon, France
Qaiser Maqsood
Affiliation:
Visiting Scientist, Section of Soil and Crop Sciences, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
Matthew R. Ryan
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor, Section of Soil and Crop Sciences, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
Antonio DiTommaso
Affiliation:
Professor, Section of Soil and Crop Sciences, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca NY, USA
*
*Author for correspondence: Charles L. Mohler, Section of Soil and Crop Sciences, School of Integrative Plant Science, 907 Bradfield Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. (Email: clm11@cornell.edu)
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Abstract

Most previous research on changes in weed abundance and community composition in cropping systems has focused on field crops. The study presented here examined changes in the weed seedbank and aboveground biomass in four organic vegetable cropping systems over a 10-yr period. The systems included an Intensive system with six crops per 4-yr rotation, an Intermediate system with one cash crop per year, a Bio-extensive system with alternating cash crop and tilled fallow years plus prevention of seed rain, and a Ridge-tillage system with one cash crop per year. Systems also differed in the types and number of cover crops between cash crops. During the course of the experiment, the weed community shifted from one dominated by summer annual broadleaf species that reproduce at the end of their lives to a community dominated by summer and winter annuals that mature rapidly. This shift in community composition can be attributed to the change in land use from conventionally managed corn (Zea mays L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to organic vegetable production. In particular, crop rotations with diverse preplantings and postharvest tillage dates interrupted the life cycle of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) and pigweed species (Amaranthus spp.: mostly Powell amaranth [Amaranthus powellii S. Watson], with small numbers of redroot pigweed [Amaranthus retroflexus L.] and smooth pigweed [Amaranthus hybridus L.]), while favoring a diverse assemblage of quickly maturing species. The study thus demonstrates that an appropriate crop rotation can control the seedbank of weeds like C. album that potentially persist well in the soil. The Ridge-tillage system greatly reduced the frequency and depth of tillage relative to other systems while effectively suppressing perennial weeds. The early-reproducing annuals, however, became more abundant in the Ridge-tillage system than in the other systems, primarily due to escapes along the edge of the scraped ridges. The tilled fallow periods coupled with prevention of seed rain in the Bio-extensive system substantially reduced weed abundance through time and relative to the other systems.

Keywords

Adam Davis, USDA–ARSCrop rotationseed persistencetiming of tillageweed community.
Type
Weed Biology and Ecology
Information
Weed Science , Volume 66 , Issue 5 , September 2018 , pp. 611 - 626
Copyright
© Weed Science Society of America, 2018 

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