Weed Species Trait Selection as Shaped by Region and Crop Diversity in Organically Managed Spring Cereals

Agriculture

MerelA. J. Hofmeijer¹  Bärbel Gerowitt¹  Livija Zarina²  Bo Melander³  Anneli Lundkvist⁴  Jukka Salonen⁵ 

[1] Crop Health Group, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Satower Strasse 48, 18051 Rostock, Germany;Crop Management Department, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Zinatnes 2, LV-4130 Priekuli, Latvia;Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, DK-4200 Slagelse, Denmark;Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Ulls väg 16, 75651 Uppsala, Sweden;Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Tietotie 4, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland;

关键词: undersowing;    winter catch crops;    crop mixtures;    arable flora;    community assembly;    Baltic area;   

DOI  :  10.3390/agriculture11050433

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Weeds remain a challenge in organic arable farming, as well as supply ecosystem services. The aim is to control weed densities while hosting a diverse and manageable weed community, preventing domination of few deleterious species. Therefore, we want to understand how specific species are stimulated, and which traits are selected for. This study focuses on crop diversity hypothesizing that (1) regions and (2) crop diversity function as filters for specific weed species traits. We conducted a weed monitoring in spring cereals over 2 years on organic farms in five northern European regions. Management and weed trait variables collected for the occurring species allowed an RLQ fourth-corner analysis. The weed communities were regionally specific, but trait selection was not observed, except in Latvia. Hence, the regional species pool provided different species with similar traits. Crop diversity within the management of spring cereals, such as undersowing and cereal frequency in the rotation, affected weed traits. The number of years under organic production selected no traits, although species numbers are known to increase. Hence, general weed species diversity increased, irrespective of traits. We conclude that organic management may support the agility within the weed community against selection of species and act as a buffer rather than as filter.

【 授权许可】

Unknown