Editorial

4 pages, 216 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

The Future of Weed Science: Novel Approaches to Weed Management

by Ilias Travlos, Aurelio Scavo and Panagiotis Kanatas

Agronomy 2023, 13(11), 2787; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13112787 - 09 Nov 2023

Viewed by 982

The European Union takes the sustainability of pesticide use into serious account, and one of the main challenges of the EU Green Deal is the significant reduction in chemical control [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Weed Science—Novel Approaches to Weed Management)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review, Other

13 pages, 2926 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Wheat Response and Weed-Suppressive Ability in the Field Application of a Nanoencapsulated Disulfide (DiS-NH₂) Bioherbicide Mimic

by Aurelio Scavo, Francisco J. R. Mejías, Nuria Chinchilla, José M. G. Molinillo, Stefan Schwaiger, Sara Lombardo, Francisco A. Macías and Giovanni Mauromicale

Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 1132; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041132 - 16 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1328

Abstract

Improving the efficacy of bioherbicides to overcome weed resistance phenomena is one of the main challenges within agriculture. Organic encapsulation is attracting attention as an alternative and eco-friendly tool, mainly in organic farming. In this research, for the first time, across three different [...] Read more.

Improving the efficacy of bioherbicides to overcome weed resistance phenomena is one of the main challenges within agriculture. Organic encapsulation is attracting attention as an alternative and eco-friendly tool, mainly in organic farming. In this research, for the first time, across three different wheat field trials, we tested the weed-suppressive ability (WSA) and crop response of a nanoparticle formulation of DiS-NH₂ (2,2′-disulfanediyldianiline) applied as post-emergence foliar herbicide, both at standard (T1, 0.75 g m⁻²) and double dosages (T2, 1.5 g m⁻²), compared to no weeding (NC) and chemical weed control (PC). Averaged over locations, T2 showed the highest WSA (51.3%), followed by T1 (40.9%) and PC (33.5%). T2 induced also a wheat grain yield and a plant height comparable to PC (3185 kg ha⁻¹ and 67.7 cm vs. 3153 kg ha⁻¹ and 67.7 cm, respectively). Moreover, compared to NC, T2 increased the number of spikes m⁻² (+19%) and the number of kernel spikes⁻¹ (+26%). Similar results were observed for T1, which caused also a significant reduction in non-vitreous kernels (‒40%). These promising results suggest that the nanoencapsulated DiS-NH₂ could be a good candidate as a post-emergence bioherbicide in wheat crop production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Weed Science—Novel Approaches to Weed Management)

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16 pages, 2502 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Potential of a Precision Agriculture (PA) Practice for In Situ Evaluation of Herbicide Efficacy and Selectivity in Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.)

by Panagiotis Kanatas, Ioannis Gazoulis, Nikolaos Antonopoulos, Alexandros Tataridas and Ilias Travlos

Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 732; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030732 - 28 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1184

Abstract

Precision agriculture (PA) practices based on the use of sensors and vegetation indices have great potential for optimizing herbicide use and improving weed management in field crops. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of commercial herbicide products and their [...] Read more.

Precision agriculture (PA) practices based on the use of sensors and vegetation indices have great potential for optimizing herbicide use and improving weed management in field crops. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of commercial herbicide products and their selectivity in durum wheat by measuring the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Field trials were conducted in Velestino and Kozani, Greece (2020–2021 and 2021–2022) in four site-years with the following treatment list: untreated control (T1), 2,4-D at 300 and 600 g a.e. ha⁻¹ (T2 and T3, respectively), pyroxsulam + florasulam at 18.82 + 3.71 g a.i. ha⁻¹ + cloquintocet-mexyl at 18.82 g a.i. ha⁻¹ (T4), and mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium at 15 + 3 g a.i. ha⁻¹ + mefenpyr-diethyl at 45 g a.i. ha⁻¹ (T5). Site-years and treatments affected weed NDVI, weed biomass, crop NDVI, and grain yield (p ≤ 0.05). At Kozani, weed NDVI was lowest in T4 plots in 2020–2021 (0.31) and 2021–2022 (0.33). Treatments T4 and T5 resulted in lowest weed biomass in 2020-2021 (14–16 g m⁻²) and 2020-2021 (19–22 g m⁻²). At Velestino, T3 reduced weed biomass by 92 and 87% when compared to T5 in 2020–2021 and 2021–2022, respectively. Approximately, 67% and 73% of the variability in weed biomass in 2020–2021 and 2021–2022, respectively, at Kozani could be explained by weed NDVI. These parameters were strongly correlated in Velestino (R² ≥ 90%). Low crop NDVI at Kozani indicated herbicide injury in T3 plots, confirmed by yield losses. During 2020-2021, yield was 30, 38, and 40% higher in T4 plots than in T2, T1, and T3 plots, respectively. At Velestino, yield in T1 plots was 25, 27, 27, and 29% lower than in T2, T4, T5, and T3 plots, respectively, in 2020–2021. Similar results were obtained in 2021–2022. The current study indicates that NDVI can be used as a reliable, non-subjective indicator of herbicide efficacy and selectivity in winter cereals. The methodology used in this work should also be evaluated in other crops and under different soil and climatic conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Weed Science—Novel Approaches to Weed Management)

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12 pages, 1109 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Efficacy of Living and Dead Cover Crop Mixtures for Weed Suppression in Sweet Corn

by Veronica L. Yurchak, Alan W. Leslie and Cerruti R. R. Hooks

Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 688; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030688 - 26 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1194

Abstract

Modern vegetable production systems are often characterized by monoculture fields and the intensive use of tillage and/or synthetic agrochemicals for managing weeds. A growing public interest in more sustainable and eco-friendly production practices has resulted in increased demand for crops to be produced [...] Read more.

Modern vegetable production systems are often characterized by monoculture fields and the intensive use of tillage and/or synthetic agrochemicals for managing weeds. A growing public interest in more sustainable and eco-friendly production practices has resulted in increased demand for crops to be produced with lower inputs. Field studies were conducted over three field seasons to investigate the use of conservation tillage in concert with an interplanted living mulch and/or cover crop residue for managing weeds in sweet corn as compared with the standard practice of using conventional tillage and pre-emergence residual herbicides. Whole plot treatments included: (1) conventional till, (2) no-till with cover crop residue, (3) living mulch + cover crop residue, and (4) living mulch + winter killed residue. The split-plot factor consisted of herbicide treatments: (1) at-planting application of residual herbicides or (2) no herbicide. The cover crop systems suppressed weeds as well as the standard practice throughout the cropping cycle in all three years. In addition, there was no significant improvement in weed suppression with the application of herbicides within the cover crop treatments. Crop development and yield were similar among treatments in year 2. However, reduced yields were encountered in all cover crop treatments during year 3 relative to the conventional tillage treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Weed Science—Novel Approaches to Weed Management)

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21 pages, 3314 KiB

Open AccessArticle

False Seedbed for Agroecological Weed Management in Forage Cereal–Legume Intercrops and Monocultures in Greece

by Ioannis Gazoulis, Panagiotis Kanatas, Nikolaos Antonopoulos, Alexandros Tataridas and Ilias Travlos

Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010123 - 30 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1586

Abstract

Intercropping cereals with legumes is a widely used agronomic practice to improve forage yield and quality in forage cropping systems. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the potential of a false seedbed to reduce weed pressure in intercrops and [...] Read more.

Intercropping cereals with legumes is a widely used agronomic practice to improve forage yield and quality in forage cropping systems. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the potential of a false seedbed to reduce weed pressure in intercrops and monocultures of annual ryegrass and berseem clover during the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 growing seasons in western Greece. A split-plot randomized complete block design with four replications was set up. Seedbed manipulations assigned to the main plots included: normal seedbed preparation (NSB) and seeding, and two different false seedbeds. In the first (FSB 1) and second false seedbeds (FSB 2), weeds were controlled by shallow tillage at 1 and 2 weeks, respectively, after the first tillage and immediately before crop sowing. Forages were subplots of berseem clover (BCM) and annual ryegrass monocultures (ARM) and three intercrops with BCM:ARM ratios of 75:25 (ARBC 1), 50:50 (ARBC 2), and 25:75 (ARBC 3). FSB 1 reduced weed biomass by 27% and 34% compared to NSB in 2020–2021 and 2021–2022, respectively (p ≤ 0.001). FSB 2 improved forage yield by 9% and 14% in 2020–2021 and 2021–2022, respectively, compared to FSB 1. Compared to NSB, FSB 2 also increased forage yield by 11% in 2020–2021 and 17% in 2021–2022. Berseem clover biomass was higher in FSB 2 than in NSB main plots in both years. In the first harvest, ARBC 3 was the most weed-suppressive intercrop, which also provided the highest forage yield in both the first and second harvests of both years, followed by ARM and ARBC 2. In the second harvest, forage yield was 11% and 12% higher in ARBC 3 subplots than in ARBC 1 and BCM subplots, respectively. Similar results were obtained for cumulative forage yield from two harvests. Further research is needed to evaluate other alternative practices for agroecological weed management in low-input forage production systems in the Mediterranean region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Weed Science—Novel Approaches to Weed Management)

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15 pages, 1837 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seed Meals from Allelopathic Crops as a Potential Bio-Based Herbicide on Herbicide-Susceptible and -Resistant Biotypes of Wild Oat (Avena fatua L.)

by Elżbieta Pytlarz and Dorota Gala-Czekaj

Agronomy 2022, 12(12), 3083; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12123083 - 05 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1332

Abstract

Wild oat is a nuisance monocot weed mainly in cereal canopies. The increasing problem of herbicide resistance and the implementation of integrated pest management includes the use of seed meals from species with allelopathic potential. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of [...] Read more.

Wild oat is a nuisance monocot weed mainly in cereal canopies. The increasing problem of herbicide resistance and the implementation of integrated pest management includes the use of seed meals from species with allelopathic potential. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of seed meals as an environmentally friendly alternative for the control of herbicide-susceptible (S) and -resistant (R) wild oat biotypes. A pot experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions at the Swojczyce Research and Training Station in Wrocław (Poland) to determine the impact of seed meals from Fagopyrum esculentum, Lupinus luteus, Ornithopus sativus, Phacelia tanacetifolia, Raphanus sativus var. oleiformis and Sinapis alba at two concentrations—1 and 3%. The lowest percentage of seedling emergence was recorded after the application of S. alba seed meal. Seed meals from S. alba reduced the emergence of both S and R biotypes by approximately 82 and 61 percentage points, respectively, and limited the initial growth of both biotypes. F. esculentum, O. sativus and R. sativus seed meals generally did not decrease the number of seedlings. Almost all the seed meals inhibited the growth of the aboveground parts of the susceptible biotype of wild oat to a greater extent than the herbicide treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Weed Science—Novel Approaches to Weed Management)

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13 pages, 4399 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Evaluation of Diode Laser Treatments to Manage Weeds in Row Crops

by Canicius Mwitta, Glen C. Rains and Eric Prostko

Agronomy 2022, 12(11), 2681; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12112681 - 28 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2718

Abstract

Herbicides have been the primary weed management practice in agriculture for decades. However, due to their effects on the environment in addition to weeds becoming resistant, alternative approaches to weed control are critical. One approach is using lasers, particularly diode lasers because of [...] Read more.

Herbicides have been the primary weed management practice in agriculture for decades. However, due to their effects on the environment in addition to weeds becoming resistant, alternative approaches to weed control are critical. One approach is using lasers, particularly diode lasers because of their portability, low power demand, and cost effectiveness. In this research, weeds’ response to diode laser treatments was investigated. Three experiments were conducted. The first experiment involved treating two species of weeds with four different laser powers to determine the time it takes to sever the weed stem. The second experiment involved monitoring the status of two species of weeds for a week after treating them with two lasers at constant application times of 1 s, 2 s, and 3 s. The third experiment was a repeat of the second with higher laser powers and shorter treatment times. The results showed diode lasers have a potential to be an effective weed controlling tool. Weed stem diameter, laser power, treatment duration, and distance between laser and weed were all statistically significant in weed mortality, with weed species having no significance. Furthermore, it was found that weed management is possible by exposing the stem of the two weed species between 0.8 and 2.65 mm diameter to a laser beam dosage without necessarily severing it, with 80% effectiveness at 0.5 s treatment time, and 100% effectiveness using a 6.1 W laser for 1.5 s. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Weed Science—Novel Approaches to Weed Management)

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15 pages, 4696 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Do Long Term Crop Rotations Influence Weed Populations: Exploring the Impacts of More than 50 Years of Crop Management in Serbia

by Markola Saulic, Mostafa Oveisi, Ivica Djalovic, Dragana Bozic, Alireza Pishyar, Aleksandra Savić, PV Vara Prasad and Sava Vrbničanin

Agronomy 2022, 12(8), 1772; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12081772 - 28 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2352

Abstract

Crop rotation is known as an eco-friendlier approach, as provides diversification in crop management systems, modifies intensive pressure on the agricultural ecosystem, utilizes various soil horizons, and prevents the establishment of specific pests and weeds. We set out here a study on the [...] Read more.

Crop rotation is known as an eco-friendlier approach, as provides diversification in crop management systems, modifies intensive pressure on the agricultural ecosystem, utilizes various soil horizons, and prevents the establishment of specific pests and weeds. We set out here a study on the farms that have been managed over 50 years of specific continuous crop management programs. The experimental treatments were in a different management system: monoculture of maize, winter wheat, and soybean, 2-year crop rotation (winter wheat–maize) with and without chemical fertilizer, and 3-year crop rotation (winter wheat–soybean–maize) with and without chemical fertilizer and manure. We took soil samples six times from 2014 to 2017 prior to sowing and after harvesting each year. Weed seeds were extracted from soils and identified and counted by species. We, upon the data of a long term experiment of crop rotation, could conclude that crop rotations with more crops in the sequence are significantly effective in maintaining weed populations, a low-input crop production could reach a constant low population below an important damaging density, and therefore will be a more sustainable crop production while chemical fertilizers would change the soil’s chemical and structure and imbalance the plant population diversity and manures with high weed seed infestations have the potential to totally eradicate crop rotation effects, Therefore, clean manures or compost are highly recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Weed Science—Novel Approaches to Weed Management)

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11 pages, 1089 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pelargonic Acid and Caraway Essential Oil Efficacy on Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv.) and Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.)

by Panagiotis Kanatas, Spyridoula-Marina Zavra, Alexandros Tataridas, Ioannis Gazoulis, Nikolaos Antonopoulos, Agnieszka Synowiec and Ilias Travlos

Agronomy 2022, 12(8), 1755; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12081755 - 26 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1763

Abstract

Bioherbicides are naturally originated products posing alternatives to synthetic herbicides for weed control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of pelargonic acid and microencapsulated caraway essential oil on barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv.) and johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense [...] Read more.

Bioherbicides are naturally originated products posing alternatives to synthetic herbicides for weed control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of pelargonic acid and microencapsulated caraway essential oil on barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv.) and johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.). Two separate pot experiments were conducted at the Agricultural University of Athens (spring 2021), arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with six weed control treatments replicated four times. Treatments included the applications of: microencapsulated caraway essential oil at 50 g L⁻¹ (CAR), CAR plus a commercial adjuvant (CAR + adj), i.e., alcohol ethoxylate at 1.8 g L⁻¹, pelargonic acid at 36.3 g L⁻¹ (PA), PA plus a commercial adjuvant (PA + adj), i.e., alcohol ethoxylate at 1.8 g L⁻¹, and a tank mixture of pelargonic acid at 64 g L⁻¹ plus microencapsulated caraway essential oil at 50 g L⁻¹ (PA + CAR). An untreated control (CON) was also included. The results of the current research confirmed the knock-down effect of pelargonic acid against both barnyardgrass and johnsongrass and demonstrated the low efficacy of caraway microcapsules. The addition of a commercial adjuvant improved the efficacy of caraway essential oil but did not appear to affect the performance of pelargonic acid. No synergistic effects were observed between pelargonic acid and microencapsulated caraway essential oil. Further research is needed to optimize the use of these and other natural herbicides for weed control in agriculture and as components of sustainable integrated weed management (IWM) systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Weed Science—Novel Approaches to Weed Management)

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18 pages, 23115 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Searching of Novel Herbicides for Paddy Field Weed Management—A Case Study with Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase

by Ajitha Antony and Ramanathan Karuppasamy

Agronomy 2022, 12(7), 1635; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12071635 - 08 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1930

Abstract

Weed management is the major biological constraint in paddy (Oryza sativa L.) producing areas. Predominantly, barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) is a rice-mimicking weed that causes 57% of yield loss in rice production. Conventionally, herbicides are the site-specific weed inhibitors often [...] Read more.

Weed management is the major biological constraint in paddy (Oryza sativa L.) producing areas. Predominantly, barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) is a rice-mimicking weed that causes 57% of yield loss in rice production. Conventionally, herbicides are the site-specific weed inhibitors often used to suppress E. crus-galli growth. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) is an important target for developing novel herbicides with remarkable selectivity against gramineous weeds. Notably, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (FPPE) is a selective ACCase herbicide extensively used in paddy fields to inhibit barnyard grass. However, prolonged use of FPPE herbicide elicits phytotoxicity in cultivated rice and herbicide resistance in weeds. Recently, phytotoxins are emerging as an alternative to commercial herbicides with safer environmental profiles. Nevertheless, discovering natural herbicides through in vivo and in vitro techniques is time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, high-end computational screening strategies including Tanimoto similarity, docking, binding free energy, and herbicide-likeness were used to pinpoint the lead molecule. Finally, molecular dynamics and MM/PBSA calculations were employed to validate the binding kinetics of the hit compound. Indeed, sinigrin was identified as a promising phytotoxic inhibitor against the ACCase enzyme. The findings of our study were well correlated with the existing experimental results. Overall, the current work will aid in the development of commercializing phytotoxin herbicides in foreseeable future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Weed Science—Novel Approaches to Weed Management)

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20 pages, 12241 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preliminary Study of Control and Biochemical Characteristics of Giant Hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.) Treated with Microwaves

by Krzysztof Słowiński, Beata Grygierzec, Agnieszka Synowiec, Sylwester Tabor and Fabrizio Araniti

Agronomy 2022, 12(6), 1335; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12061335 - 31 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1902

Abstract

There is an urgent need to develop new compensatory and human-safe methods for controlling invasive Heracleum species. This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of H. sosnowskyi control under microwave radiation and biochemical changes in tissues and sap after irradiation. In field experiments [...] Read more.

There is an urgent need to develop new compensatory and human-safe methods for controlling invasive Heracleum species. This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of H. sosnowskyi control under microwave radiation and biochemical changes in tissues and sap after irradiation. In field experiments in southern Poland, the plants were cut and irradiated with a device generating electromagnetic waves (2.45 GHz, 32.8 kW/m²). The control efficacy of plants in the rosette phase irradiated for 5, 10, or 15 min was 20%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. The control efficacy of plants in the flowering phase irradiated for 7.5 or 15 min was 66% and 100%. The metabolomic analysis of tissues and sap of irradiated H. sosnowskyi showed significant changes, mainly in the content and composition of proteins and sugars. In tissues, the treatments resulted in protein denaturation and significant changes in the metabolism of amino acids and the glyoxylate and galactose pathways. The sap was rich in sugars, glutamic acid, glutamine, homoserine, serine, and methionine. More changes in metabolite levels were observed in the tissues irradiated for 7.5 min. In conclusion, microwave radiation of H. sosnowskyi for longer times, e.g., 10 and 15 min, efficiently controls it. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Weed Science—Novel Approaches to Weed Management)

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19 pages, 10404 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Weed Composition in Hungarian Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.) Seed Production: Could Tine Harrow Take over Chemical Management?

by Gyula Pinke, Zsolt Giczi, Viktória Vona, Éva Dunai, Ottilia Vámos, István Kulmány, Gábor Koltai, Zoltán Varga, Renátó Kalocsai, Zoltán Botta-Dukát, Bálint Czúcz and Ákos Bede-Fazekas

Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 891; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040891 - 06 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2496

Abstract

Phacelia tanacetifolia, an excellent cover, green manure and honey crop is now widely cultivated throughout the world. One of its principal European seed production regions is north-western Hungary, where the recent withdrawal of a potent herbicide, linuron, created a new challenge for [...] Read more.

Phacelia tanacetifolia, an excellent cover, green manure and honey crop is now widely cultivated throughout the world. One of its principal European seed production regions is north-western Hungary, where the recent withdrawal of a potent herbicide, linuron, created a new challenge for many growers. The goal of this study is to identify the main factors determining weed species composition in the phacelia fields of the region and to assess the efficiency of tine harrow and clopyralid herbicide in reducing weed abundance and biomass. We carried out a series of weed surveys across the study region following a two-level design: (i) we estimated the cover of all weed species in 205 fields (broad-scale survey, BS); and (ii) in 22 of these fields, we provided more precise biomass measurements (counting the individuals and measuring the dry weights of all weed species) in microplots samples (fine-scale survey; FS). To characterize the fields, 34 background variables were also collected for all of the studied fields. In both investigations, Chenopodium album was by far the most abundant weed. Within the BS, using a minimal adequate model containing 11 terms with significant net effects, 20.93% of the total variation in weed species data could be explained. The variation in species composition was determined by environmental factors (soil pH, clay and K; precipitation and temperature), non-chemical management variables (crop cover, preceding crop, irrigation and tillage system) and herbicides (linuron and clopyralid). Variation partitioning demonstrated the dominance of environmental and cultural components in shaping the weed species composition. Although the effect of mechanical treatments was most likely masked in the BS by the soil properties, our FS suggests that tine harrow could efficiently decrease the total number and biomass of weeds and can be a useful tool in the phacelia management of the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Weed Science—Novel Approaches to Weed Management)

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Review

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11 pages, 1394 KiB

Open AccessReview

Deep Learning-Based Weed Detection in Turf: A Review

by Xiaojun Jin, Teng Liu, Yong Chen and Jialin Yu

Agronomy 2022, 12(12), 3051; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12123051 - 02 Dec 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3067

Abstract

Precision spraying can significantly reduce herbicide input for turf weed management. A major challenge for autonomous precision herbicide spraying is to accurately and reliably detect weeds growing in turf. Deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs), an important artificial intelligent tool, demonstrated extraordinary capability to [...] Read more.

Precision spraying can significantly reduce herbicide input for turf weed management. A major challenge for autonomous precision herbicide spraying is to accurately and reliably detect weeds growing in turf. Deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs), an important artificial intelligent tool, demonstrated extraordinary capability to learn complex features from images. The feasibility of using DCNNs, including various image classification or object detection neural networks, has been investigated to detect weeds growing in turf. Due to the high level of performance of weed detection, DCNNs are suitable for the ground-based detection and discrimination of weeds growing in turf. However, reliable weed detection may be subject to the influence of weeds (e.g., biotypes, species, densities, and growth stages) and turf factors (e.g., turf quality, mowing height, and dormancy vs. non-dormancy). The present review article summarizes the previous research findings using DCNNs as the machine vision decision system of smart sprayers for precision herbicide spraying, with the aim of providing insights into future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Weed Science—Novel Approaches to Weed Management)

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Other

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6 pages, 244 KiB

Open AccessConcept Paper

Biostimulants and Herbicides: A Promising Approach towards Green Deal Implementation

by Panagiotis Kanatas, Ilias Travlos, Ioannis Gazoulis, Nikolaos Antonopoulos, Alexandros Tataridas, Natalia Mpechliouli and Dimitra Petraki

Agronomy 2022, 12(12), 3205; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12123205 - 16 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1506

Abstract

Biostimulants are products that can increase crop growth and can be applied either to the soil or to the plant and seed of a wide range of crops. However, there is a large gap in knowledge regarding the potential interactions of biostimulants with [...] Read more.

Biostimulants are products that can increase crop growth and can be applied either to the soil or to the plant and seed of a wide range of crops. However, there is a large gap in knowledge regarding the potential interactions of biostimulants with plant protection products like herbicides. The present review aims to highlight various effects of the combined use of biostimulants with herbicides in terms of weed management, crop yield and quality parameters. Special emphasis is given to the comparison between the combined use of biostimulants with herbicides and herbicides used alone (without biostimulants). In wheat and potato, the combined use of biostimulants with herbicides can in some cases be beneficial for the crop compared with herbicides alone, with recorded yield increases of up to 14.7% depending on the biostimulant, the herbicide, the year and the method of application (mixture or sequentially). Combining herbicides and biostimulants shows potential to achieve good weed management while improving crop yields and quality and thus lower herbicide rates could be probably used for sufficient weed control in full agreement with the goals of Green Deal and agroecology approaches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Weed Science—Novel Approaches to Weed Management)

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