Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-4hhp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-03T06:19:26.843Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Green manure and phosphorus fertilization affect weed community composition and crop/weed competition in organic maize

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 April 2019

Stefano Carlesi*
Affiliation:
Group of Agroecology, Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà 33 −56127Pisa, Italy
Federica Bigongiali
Affiliation:
Group of Agroecology, Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà 33 −56127Pisa, Italy
Daniele Antichi
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124Pisa, Italy
Corrado Ciaccia
Affiliation:
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria. Centro di ricerca Agricoltura e Ambiente (CREA - AA), Via della Navicella 2, 00184Roma, Italy
Fabio Tittarelli
Affiliation:
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria. Centro di ricerca Agricoltura e Ambiente (CREA - AA), Via della Navicella 2, 00184Roma, Italy
Stefano Canali
Affiliation:
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria. Centro di ricerca Agricoltura e Ambiente (CREA - AA), Via della Navicella 2, 00184Roma, Italy
Paolo Bàrberi
Affiliation:
Group of Agroecology, Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà 33 −56127Pisa, Italy
*
Author for correspondence: Stefano Carlesi, E-mail: s.carlesi@santannapisa.it

Abstract

Green manure and compost-enriched in phosphorus can promote the sustainability of cropping systems by increasing soil fertility over the long term. They can also be used to manage crop/weed interactions, a key element in guaranteeing an appropriate level of satisfactory crop yields. We studied how green manuring with hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) and the application of different types of phosphorous-enriched compost affect weed/maize (Zea mays L.) interactions in an organic stockless Mediterranean agroecosystem for two consecutive dry years. Green manure stimulated the expression of maize traits related to a higher competitive ability against weeds, such as early growth, height and leaf area index, while the effect of compost was less clear. Regarding crop/weed competition, both green manuring and a phosphorus-enriched compost application gave a significant advantage to maize. Neither green manure nor compost increased total weed density and biomass compared to the control. Green manuring significantly affected the weed community composition. The relative density of ruderal and competitive-ruderal species (according to Grime's classification) was higher in plots where the green manure was applied. The use of green manure, together with novel composting techniques, significantly affected crop/weed competitive interactions, favoring maize, but also creating favorable conditions for unwanted weed species such as competitive-ruderals. Increasing nitrogen availability in the early growth stages of maize through green manuring can increase crop competitive ability. However, this may not suffice to preserve the system from future weed problems, should potentially detrimental species be selected. Dedicated strategies for the control of emerging weed species may thus be needed.

Type
Research Paper
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anugroho, F, Kitou, M, Nagumo, F, Kinjo, K and Tokashiki, Y (2009) Growth, nitrogen fixation, and nutrient uptake of hairy vetch as a cover crop in a subtropical region. Weed Biology and Management 9, 6371.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bàrberi, P (2002) Weed management in organic agriculture: are we addressing the right issues? Weed Research 42, 177193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bàrberi, P and Mazzoncini, M (2006) The MASCOT (Mediterranean arable systems comparison trial) long-term experiment (Pisa, Italy). long-term field experiments in organic farming. ISOFAR Science Series 1, 115.Google Scholar
Bates, D, Maechler, M, Bolker, B and Walker, S (2015) Fitting linear mixed-effects models using lme4. Journal of Statistical Software 67, 148.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bittencourt, HVH, Lovato, PE, Comin, JJ, Lana, MA, Altieri, MA, Costa, MD and Gomes, JC (2013) Effect of winter cover crop biomass on summer weed emergence and biomass production. Journal of Plant Protection Research 53, 248252.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blackshaw, RE and Brandt, RN (2008) Nitrogen fertilizer rate effects on weed competitiveness is species dependent. Weed Science 56, 743747.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blackshaw, RE and Brandt, RN (2009) Phosphorus fertilizer effects on the competition between wheat and several weed species. Weed Biology and Management 9, 4653.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blackshaw, RE and Molnar, LJ (2009) Phosphorus fertilizer application method affects weed growth and competition with wheat. Weed Science 57, 311318.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blackshaw, RE, Brandt, RN, Henry Janzen, H and Entz, T (2004) Weed species response to phosphorus fertilization. Weed Science 52, 406412.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blum, U, King, LD, Gerig, TM, Lehman, ME and Worsham, AD (1997) Effects of clover and small grain cover crops and tillage techniques on seedling emergence of some dicotyledonous weed species. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 12, 146161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brandsæter, LO, Heggen, H, Riley, H, Stubhaug, E and Henriksen, TM (2008) Winter survival, biomass accumulation and N mineralization of winter annual and biennial legumes sown at various times of year in Northern temperate regions. European Journal of Agronomy 28, 437448.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brill, RV (2005) Basic statistics and data analysis. Technometrics 47, 99100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bustamante, MA, Ceglie, FG, Aly, A, Mihreteab, HT, Ciaccia, C and Tittarelli, F (2016) Phosphorus availability from rock phosphate: combined effect of green waste composting and sulfur addition. Journal of Environmental Management 182, 557563.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Campiglia, E, Radicetti, E, Brunetti, P and Mancinelli, R (2014) Do cover crop species and residue management play a leading role in pepper productivity? Scientia Horticulturae 166, 97104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ciaccia, C (2014) Effetto combinato del sovescio e del compost sulla dinamica di azoto e fosforo in sistemi colturali arativi biologici senza zootecnia (stockless). PhD Thesis, Retrieved from ETD database number: 07232014–143443, University of Pisa.Google Scholar
Ciaccia, C, Montemurro, F, Campanelli, G, Diacono, M, Fiore, A and Canali, S (2015) Legume cover crop management and organic amendments application: effects on organic zucchini performance and weed competition. Scientia Horticulturae 185, 4858.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ciaccia, C, Ceglie, F, Tittarelli, F, Antichi, D, Carlesi, S, Testani, E and Canali, S (2017) Green manure and compost effects on NP dynamics in Mediterranean organic stockless systems. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 17, 751769.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Conover, WJ (1980) Practical Nonparametric Statistics. 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York, USA.Google Scholar
Davis, SA and Liebman, M (2001) Nitrogen source influence wild mustard growth and competitive effect on sweet corn. Weed Science 49, 558566.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Di Tomaso, JM (1995) Approaches for improving crop competitiveness through the manipulation of fertilization strategies. Weed Science 43, 491497.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Faraway, JJ (2005) Extending the Linear Model with R: Generalized Linear, Mixed Effects and Nonparametric Regression Models. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC press.Google Scholar
Ferrero, A, Scanzio, M and Acutis, M (1996) Critical Period of Weed Interference in Maize. Proceedings of the Second International Weed Control Congress. Copenhagen, Denmark: Department of Weed Control and Pesticide Ecology, pp. 171176.Google Scholar
Gołębiowska, H and Kieloch, R (2016) The competitive ability of Chenopodium album and Echinochloa crus-galli in maize crops depending on the time of their occurrence or removal. Acta Agrobotanica 69, 1688.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gomez, KA and Gomez, AA (1984) Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research. New York, USA: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Grime, JP (1979) Plant Strategies and Vegetation Processes. Chichester, New York, Brisbane, Toronto: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Grant, CA, Flaten, DN, Tomasiewicz, DJ and Sheppard, SC (2001) The importance of early season phosphorus nutrition. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 81, 211224.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, MR, Swanton, CJ and Anderson, GW (1992) The critical period of weed control in grain corn (Zea mays). Weed Science 40, 441447.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartwig, NL and Ammon, HU (2002) Cover crops and living mulches. Weed Science 50, 688699.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hawes, C, Squire, GR, Hallett, PD, Watson, CA and Young, M (2010) Arable plant communities as indicators of farming practice. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 138, 1726.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoveland, CS, Buchanan, GA and Harris, MC (1976) Response of weeds to soil phosphorus and potassium. Weed Science 24, 194201.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Karasawa, T and Takahashi, S (2015) Introduction of various cover crop species to improve soil biological P parameters and P uptake of the following crops. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 103, 1528.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lancashire, PD, Bleiholder, H, Boom, TVD, Langelüddeke, P, Stauss, R, Weber, E and Witzenberger, A (1991) A uniform decimal code for growth stages of crops and weeds. Annals of Applied Biology 119, 561601.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lehoczky, É, Gólya, G, Tamás, J and Németh, T (2015) Biodiversity and biomass production of weeds in a long-term fertilization experiment. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 46(suppl. 1), 390398.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liebman, M and Davis, AS (2000) Integration of soil, crop and weed management in low-external-input farming systems. Weed Research 40, 2748.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Magurran, AE (1988) Ecological Diversity and its Measurement. Princeton: Princeton University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mazzoncini, M, Canali, S, Giovannetti, M, Castagnoli, M, Tittarelli, F, Antichi, D, Nannelli, R, Cristani, C and Bàrberi, P (2010) Comparison of organic and conventional stockless arable systems: a multidisciplinary approach to soil quality evaluation. Applied Soil Ecology 44, 124132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mihreteab, HT, Ceglie, FG, Aly, A and Tittarelli, F (2016) Rock phosphate enriched compost as a growth media component for organic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedlings production. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 32, 720.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Minchin, PR (1987) An evaluation of the relative robustness of techniques for ecological ordination. In Theory and Models in Vegetation Science. Netherlands: Springer, pp. 89107.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mohammadi, GR (2007) Growth parameters enhancing the competitive ability of corn (Zea mays L.) against weeds. Weed Biology and Management 7, 232236.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morris, EK, Caruso, T, Buscot, F, Fischer, M, Hancock, C, Maier, TS, Meiners, T, Muller, C, Obermaier, E, Prati, D and Rillig, MC (2014) Choosing and using diversity indices: insights for ecological applications from the German biodiversity exploratories. Ecology and Evolution 4, 35143524.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Njeru, EM, Avio, L, Sbrana, C, Turrini, A, Bocci, G, Bàrberi, P and Giovannetti, M (2014) First evidence for a major cover crop effect on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and organic maize growth. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 34, 841848.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oksanen, J, Kindt, R, Legendre, P, O'Hara, B, Simpson, GL, Solymos, P, Stevens, MHH and Wagner, H (2009) Vegan: Community Ecology Package. R package version 1.15–2. Vienna, Austria: R Foundation for Statistical Computing.Google Scholar
Oliveira, SMD, Almeida, REMD, Ciampitti, IA, Pierozan Junior, C, Lago, BC, Trivelin, PCO and Favarin, JL (2018) Understanding N timing in corn yield and fertilizer N recovery: an insight from an isotopic labeled-N determination. PLOS ONE 13, 114.Google Scholar
Owla, ML, Nepalia, V, Chouhan, GS and Singh, D (2015) Effect of fertility levels, nutrient sources and weed control on weed dynamics and yield of quality protein maize (Zea mays) and relative nitrogen and phosphorus uptake. Indian Journal of Agronomy 60, 267272.Google Scholar
Peet, RK (1974) The measurement of Species diversity. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 5, 285307.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pignatti, S, Menegoni, P and Pietrosanti, S (2005) Bioindicator values of vascular plants of the Flora of Italy. Braun-Blanquetia 39, 395.Google Scholar
Poffenbarger, HJ, Mirsky, SB, Teasdale, JR, Spargo, JT, Cavigelli, MA and Kramer, M (2015) Nitrogen competition between corn and weeds in soils under organic and conventional management. Weed Science 63, 461476.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
R Development Core Team (2014) R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. Vienna, Austria: R Foundation for Statistical Computing. URL http://www.R-project.org/.Google Scholar
Radicetti, E, Mancinelli, R and Campiglia, E (2013) Influence of winter cover crop residue management on weeds and yield in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in a Mediterranean environment. Crop Protection 52, 6471.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rajcan, I and Swanton, CJ (2001) Understanding maize–weed competition: resource competition, light quality and the whole plant. Field Crops Research 71, 139150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raunkiaer, C (1934) The Life Forms of Plants and Statistical Plant Geography; Being the Collected Papers of C. Raunkiaer. Oxford: Clarendon Press.Google Scholar
Reddy, KN and Koger, CH (2004) Live and killed hairy vetch cover crop effects on weeds and yield in glyphosate-resistant corn. Weed Technology 18, 835840.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shapiro, SS and Wilk, MB (1965) An analysis of variance test for normality (complete samples). Biometrika 52, 591611.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sheldon, AL (1969) Equitability indices: dependence on the species count. Ecology 50, 466467.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Snedecor, GW and Cochran, WG (1989) Statistical Methods, 8th Edn. Iowa State University Press, Iowa, USA.Google Scholar
Storkey, J and Neve, P (2018) What good is weed diversity? Weed Research 58, 239243.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sweeney, AE, Renner, KA, Laboski, C and Davis, A (2008) Effect of fertilizer nitrogen on weed emergence and growth. Weed Science 56, 714721.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tang, L, Cheng, C, Wan, K, Li, R, Wang, D, Tao, Y, Pan, J, Xie, J and Chen, F (2014) Impact of fertilizing pattern on the biodiversity of a weed community and wheat growth. Plos One 9, e84370.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomas, PEL and Allison, JCS (1975) Competition between maize and Rottboellia exaltata. The Journal of Agricultural Science 84, 305312.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tollenaar, M, Nissanka, SP, Aguilera, A, Weise, SF and Swanton, CJ (1994) Effect of weed interference and soil nitrogen on four maize hybrids. Agronomy Journal 86, 596601.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wassen, MJ, Venterink, HO, Lapshina, ED and Tanneberger, F (2005) Endangered plants persist under phosphorus limitation. Nature 437, 547550.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Williams, MM, Mortensen, DA and Doran, JW (1998) Assessment of weed and crop fitness in cover crop residues for integrated weed management. Weed Science 46, 595603.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yousefi, AR, Karimmojeni, H, Mashhadi, HR and Amini, R (2015) Maize and Weed Growth under Multispecies Competition. Crop Science 55, 13021310.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zystro, JP, de Leon, N and Tracy, WF (2012) Analysis of traits related to weed competitiveness in sweet corn (Zea mays L.). Sustainability 4, 543560.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Carlesi et al. supplementary material

Carlesi et al. supplementary material 1

Download Carlesi et al. supplementary material(File)
File 422.2 KB