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The species belonging to the genus Echinochloa represent the main weeds in rice fields worldwide. Heavy soils are especially appropriate for this crop that is often grown in monoculture. A drought period in 2012 impeded farmers from sowing rice in some parts of the region of Aragon (northeastern Spain) and, unusually, they seeded alternative crops such as winter cereal, fescue (Festuca arundinacea), ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and lucerne (Medicago sativa). A total of 20 fields were selected, in which rice had been grown in monocrop until 2011 and several crop sequences were established afterwards; weed vegetation was recorded in spring, summer and autumn 2014-16 to find out if the crop rotations reduced weed infestations. Winter cereal and fescue were the crops with the highest soil cover; ryegrass and lucerne had difficulties in installation probably due to the heavy soil textures. Echinochloa spp. plants were found in the winter cereal stubble after having grown fescue for the previous two years and rice before that; in the forage fields, small plants of earing Echinochloa spp. adapted to mowing were detected. Recommendations for Integrated Weed Management that arise from the observations are ploughing the winter cereal stubble before seed shed of the emerged Echinochloa plants, assuring a high density of the forage crops, and efficient herbicide control in rice fields.
Gabriel Pardo; Ana Marí; Joaquín Aibar; Alicia Cirujeda. Do Crop Rotations in Rice Reduce Weed and Echinochloa spp. Infestations? Recommendations for Integrated Weed Control. Agronomy 2021, 11, 454 .
AMA StyleGabriel Pardo, Ana Marí, Joaquín Aibar, Alicia Cirujeda. Do Crop Rotations in Rice Reduce Weed and Echinochloa spp. Infestations? Recommendations for Integrated Weed Control. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (3):454.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGabriel Pardo; Ana Marí; Joaquín Aibar; Alicia Cirujeda. 2021. "Do Crop Rotations in Rice Reduce Weed and Echinochloa spp. Infestations? Recommendations for Integrated Weed Control." Agronomy 11, no. 3: 454.
Herbicide weed control is difficult in the first years of perennial crop establishment or in minor crops, and plastic sheet mulches can leave persistent residues. Liquid spray-on mulch (hydromulch) might be a solution in these cases. To test three hydromulch formulations on perennial weed emergence, greenhouse assays were conducted for two years in two localities to evaluate their rhizome sprouting and shoot emergence. Data, obtained from a completely randomized block design, were analyzed by means of generalized linear mixed models with binomial distribution and logit link function; the effects of hydromulch, species, and their interaction were considered fixed, while the other sources of variation (i.e., locality, year, block and rhizome length) were considered random. All three hydromulches, based on wheat straw, rice husk, and used substrate for mushroom cultivation, were capable of reducing rhizome sprouting of all four species tested when compared to the non-mulched treatment. Many rhizomes sprouted but were trapped under the mulch layer, especially those of Paspalum dilatatum (87%), Cynodon dactylon, and Sorghum halepense (around 50%), while Cyperus rotundus was least affected by the hydromulch treatments (16%). All three blends showed promising results in the reduction of perennial weed emergence, warranting field trials to test combined weed management strategies.
Maria Mas; Gabriel Pardo; Jorge Pueyo; Antoni Verdú; Alicia Cirujeda. Can Hydromulch Reduce the Emergence of Perennial Weeds? Agronomy 2021, 11, 393 .
AMA StyleMaria Mas, Gabriel Pardo, Jorge Pueyo, Antoni Verdú, Alicia Cirujeda. Can Hydromulch Reduce the Emergence of Perennial Weeds? Agronomy. 2021; 11 (2):393.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Mas; Gabriel Pardo; Jorge Pueyo; Antoni Verdú; Alicia Cirujeda. 2021. "Can Hydromulch Reduce the Emergence of Perennial Weeds?" Agronomy 11, no. 2: 393.
Spatial externalities, such as the sharing of harvesting equipment by many farmers, have an impact on the control of invasive species in the agricultural environment. In these cases, the regulator must design a set of measures to promote coordinated control by affected parties. We aim to analyze the determinants of private versus collective control efforts in the case of a particular invasive species (teosinte) occurring as a weed in corn fields throughout North-Eastern Spain. Using a simple discrete space-dynamic framework, we model the effect of the decisions made by the farmer of an infested plot on a noninfested plot, with the harvester being the only potential pathway for the invader to spread and assuming a one-way invasion. The results reveal that failure to adopt optimal cooperative strategies causes losses to other plots if they become infested amounting to an annual average of EUR 322/ha, when the infestation is low, and EUR 364/ha, when it is high. Results suggest that cleaning the harvester, a measure currently recommended by the regulatory agency in low-infestation cases but that does not guarantee that the machine is completely clean, is not socially optimal if monocropping practices are permitted in the region.
Gabriel Pardo; Miguel Gómez; Alicia Cirujeda; Yolanda Martínez. Economic Costs of Sharing the Harvester in the Control of an Invasive Weed. Sustainability 2020, 12, 9046 .
AMA StyleGabriel Pardo, Miguel Gómez, Alicia Cirujeda, Yolanda Martínez. Economic Costs of Sharing the Harvester in the Control of an Invasive Weed. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (21):9046.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGabriel Pardo; Miguel Gómez; Alicia Cirujeda; Yolanda Martínez. 2020. "Economic Costs of Sharing the Harvester in the Control of an Invasive Weed." Sustainability 12, no. 21: 9046.
The cultivation of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber melanosporum has considerably spread in recent years throughout the world. During the first years of truffle cultivation, weed control is a key practice to improve the establishment of host trees and the proliferation of the fungus in the soil. Glyphosate is nowadays the most commonly used herbicide in Spanish truffle orchards. We explored the effect of glyphosate on the proliferation of T. melanosporum mycorrhizae, on extraradical mycelium and on the inoculum potential of T. melanosporum spores in greenhouse experiments using Quercus ilex seedlings as host plants. No detrimental effect on the secondary infection of T. melanosporum was found after three sequential glyphosate applications in young seedlings during one vegetative period. Instead, a change in the distribution of fine roots and T. melanosporum mycorrhizae along soil depth was observed. On the other hand, results indicate that high application rates of glyphosate hinder the infectivity of T. melanosporum spore inoculum, without apparent impact on the host performance. Our results suggest that glyphosate has the potential to jeopardise the role of the soil spore bank as inoculum source for the colonisation of new roots, also raising the question of whether glyphosate could hinder the presumed role of spores in sexual mating.
Eva Gómez-Molina; Sergio Sánchez; Javier Parladé; Alicia Cirujeda; Meritxell Puig-Pey; Pedro Marco; Sergi Garcia-Barreda. Glyphosate treatments for weed control affect early stages of root colonization by Tuber melanosporum but not secondary colonization. Mycorrhiza 2020, 30, 725 -733.
AMA StyleEva Gómez-Molina, Sergio Sánchez, Javier Parladé, Alicia Cirujeda, Meritxell Puig-Pey, Pedro Marco, Sergi Garcia-Barreda. Glyphosate treatments for weed control affect early stages of root colonization by Tuber melanosporum but not secondary colonization. Mycorrhiza. 2020; 30 (6):725-733.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEva Gómez-Molina; Sergio Sánchez; Javier Parladé; Alicia Cirujeda; Meritxell Puig-Pey; Pedro Marco; Sergi Garcia-Barreda. 2020. "Glyphosate treatments for weed control affect early stages of root colonization by Tuber melanosporum but not secondary colonization." Mycorrhiza 30, no. 6: 725-733.
More than half of the plastic used in Spain for mulching in agriculture is black polyethylene (PE) mulch. It has been widely adopted due to its low price and ease of installation. The mass use of this material entails a number of disadvantages: the cost of removing fragments from fields after use, the difficulty of managing the waste, and deficient weed control of some species such as purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.), which is capable of piercing the film. The objective of this work was thus to find alternative materials in horticultural crops in order to reduce these drawbacks. In the present document, we describe the trials carried out in Zaragoza (Spain) from 2012 to 2015 in pepper with various different biodegradable materials in order to find agronomically viable alternatives to PE. Plots were distributed randomly in four blocks and 6–9 different treatments were studied depending on the year, including an unweeded plot. In total, 11 different mulches were tested: 5 biodegradable plastic films, 5 paper mulches and PE. Weed density, mulch degradation and pepper production were evaluated. Biodegradable plastic films and PE were not good options for purple nutsedge control (mean efficacy of 48 %) and only paper mulches controlled this species effectively, as the leaves were unable to pierce the material. The above-soil part of most mulches was intact 15 days after transplant (DAT) and degradation increased in time in all materials excepting PE. In-soil degradation was generally faster for papers than for biodegradable plastics, except in 2015, when the plastic mulching materials suffered early fractures due to a windy spring with exceptionally high solar radiation. Rapid degradation of some paper mulches occurred before the crop covered the soil, which can be a serious problem in windy areas because the material can be lifted by gusts of wind. Earthing up along the edges of the materials 10–15 days after transplanting would solve this problem. Pepper production was similar for all materials in 2012–14 and the differences found in 2015 cannot be attributed to the mulches but to the irregular crop density due to high mortality of pepper seedlings during that year. The biodegradable mulches tested are thus considered to be technically viable alternatives to PE. Paper mulches are recommended for purple nutsedge infestations, while biodegradable films can be used for annual weed infestations.
A.I. Marí; Gabriel Pardo; J. Aibar; A. Cirujeda. Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) control with biodegradable mulches and its effect on fresh pepper production. Scientia Horticulturae 2019, 263, 109111 .
AMA StyleA.I. Marí, Gabriel Pardo, J. Aibar, A. Cirujeda. Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) control with biodegradable mulches and its effect on fresh pepper production. Scientia Horticulturae. 2019; 263 ():109111.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA.I. Marí; Gabriel Pardo; J. Aibar; A. Cirujeda. 2019. "Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) control with biodegradable mulches and its effect on fresh pepper production." Scientia Horticulturae 263, no. : 109111.
Complaints about the lack of control of Rapistrum rugosum with tribenuron-methyl and iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium in winter cereals in Northeastern Spain motivated this study. During 2015–2018, greenhouse trials were conducted to test the responses of two possibly resistant (R1 and R2) and two susceptible populations to both active ingredients to determine the response of these populations to alternative herbicides. In the first trial that was repeated twice, populations were treated with both active ingredients (three rates, six replicates), and the lack of control confirmed resistance both times. The second trial was conducted on the self-pollinated progeny of the initial populations (13 rates, 6 replicates) to confirm the heritable character of resistance and to determine the resistance factors related to survival and biomass. Resistance factors based on biomass were 188 and 253 for tribenuron-methyl and 42 and 26 for iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium for R1 and R2, respectively, confirming the strong resistance of the progeny. In the third trial, nine active ingredients (a.i.) registered for broadleaved weed control in winter cereals were tested on the four populations (two rates, four replicates). All the alternative herbicides, except florasulam, results in important phytotoxicity to all tested populations, with 100% efficacy for several a.i. This work is the first report of R. rugosum that is resistant to iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium and the first report in Europe of R. rugosum that is resistant to tribenuron-methyl.
Gabriel Pardo; Ana I. Marí; Joaquín Aibar; Lluïsa Vilaplana; Alicia Cirujeda; Marí. Bastard Cabbage (Rapistrum rugosum L.) Resistance to Tribenuron-Methyl and Iodosulfuron-Methyl-Sodium in Spain and Alternative Herbicides for Its Control. Agronomy 2019, 9, 492 .
AMA StyleGabriel Pardo, Ana I. Marí, Joaquín Aibar, Lluïsa Vilaplana, Alicia Cirujeda, Marí. Bastard Cabbage (Rapistrum rugosum L.) Resistance to Tribenuron-Methyl and Iodosulfuron-Methyl-Sodium in Spain and Alternative Herbicides for Its Control. Agronomy. 2019; 9 (9):492.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGabriel Pardo; Ana I. Marí; Joaquín Aibar; Lluïsa Vilaplana; Alicia Cirujeda; Marí. 2019. "Bastard Cabbage (Rapistrum rugosum L.) Resistance to Tribenuron-Methyl and Iodosulfuron-Methyl-Sodium in Spain and Alternative Herbicides for Its Control." Agronomy 9, no. 9: 492.
Boundary structure can hinder or facilitate disturbance of the boundary vegetation by farming practices, such as herbicide and fertiliser drift and occasional cultivation; this may affect their potential role as a weed reservoir. It would be relevant for researchers, farmers and legislators to know whether relationships exist between boundary structure and weed abundance and frequency in boundaries and adjacent fields. In this study, we present a classification of arable field boundaries based on five descriptors: presence of a bank, width, percentage cover of woody and evergreen perennials (WEP), presence of a stonewall and presence of trees. Five types of boundaries are identified, ranging from structurally simple ones (flat, narrow, dominated by annual species) to structurally complex ones (presence of a bank, more than 3 m wide, dominated by WEP). Data from three Spanish regions were used to validate this classification, and the five boundary classes contained different plant communities. Structurally simple, flat and narrow boundaries contained many of the weed species found also in the field centre and with high abundance. More complex, wider boundaries with a slope and a WEP >60%, had a lower probability of hosting the main weeds present in the field centres. Assessment of weed frequency and abundance gave complementary information. The proposed classification of field boundaries may be easily used by farmers and allows adjustment of field margin management to risks posed by the field boundary, in terms of hosting common weeds of arable crops.
A Cirujeda; Gabriel Pardo; A I Marí; J Aibar; Y Pallavicini; J L González-Andújar; Jordi Recasens; X O Solé-Senan. The structural classification of field boundaries in Mediterranean arable cropping systems allows the prediction of weed abundances in the boundary and in the adjacent crop. Weed Research 2019, 59, 300 -311.
AMA StyleA Cirujeda, Gabriel Pardo, A I Marí, J Aibar, Y Pallavicini, J L González-Andújar, Jordi Recasens, X O Solé-Senan. The structural classification of field boundaries in Mediterranean arable cropping systems allows the prediction of weed abundances in the boundary and in the adjacent crop. Weed Research. 2019; 59 (4):300-311.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA Cirujeda; Gabriel Pardo; A I Marí; J Aibar; Y Pallavicini; J L González-Andújar; Jordi Recasens; X O Solé-Senan. 2019. "The structural classification of field boundaries in Mediterranean arable cropping systems allows the prediction of weed abundances in the boundary and in the adjacent crop." Weed Research 59, no. 4: 300-311.
Onobrychis viciifolia (Scop.) (sainfoin) is promoted in the Spanish Aragón region through the Agro-Environmental Schemes (AES) since 2007 with the aim of enhancing biodiversity. Also, in other countries, the interest in this legume crop is growing due to its rusticity and beneficial effects on the soil and livestock. However, the effect of the crop on weed flora in the subsequent cereal crops has hardly been investigated yet. With this aim, weed flora has been characterised in 2011–2014 in sainfoin fields in the second and third year of establishment (S2 and S3), in cereal monocrop (CM), in cereal after sainfoin (CS) and in organic cereal fields (OC). Additionally, the soil seedbank was determined in two years in CM and S3 fields. Weed species richness of emerged flora and of the soil seedbank was highest for sainfoin and lowest for CM, being intermediate for OC and CS regardless of the sampling year. The most feared weed species in winter cereal did not increase by growing sainfoin or in CS compared to CM. Curiously, summer annuals dominated in the soil seedbank. Sainfoin fields cause thus a shift in the weed flora, which does not seem to damage subsequent cereal crops provided fields are mouldboard ploughed after sainfoin.
Alicia Cirujeda; Ana Isabel Marí; Sonia Murillo; Joaquín Aibar; Gabriel Pardo; Xavier Oriol Solé-Senan. May the Inclusion of a Legume Crop Change Weed Composition in Cereal Fields? Example of Sainfoin in Aragon (Spain). Agronomy 2019, 9, 134 .
AMA StyleAlicia Cirujeda, Ana Isabel Marí, Sonia Murillo, Joaquín Aibar, Gabriel Pardo, Xavier Oriol Solé-Senan. May the Inclusion of a Legume Crop Change Weed Composition in Cereal Fields? Example of Sainfoin in Aragon (Spain). Agronomy. 2019; 9 (3):134.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlicia Cirujeda; Ana Isabel Marí; Sonia Murillo; Joaquín Aibar; Gabriel Pardo; Xavier Oriol Solé-Senan. 2019. "May the Inclusion of a Legume Crop Change Weed Composition in Cereal Fields? Example of Sainfoin in Aragon (Spain)." Agronomy 9, no. 3: 134.
A few years ago, a new invasive weed was found in Spanish maize fields grazed by sheep after harvest and identified as a subform of teosinte (Zea mays ssp. mexicana ad int). If teosinte seeds survive digestion, then the weed could spread via sheep manure. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of this process on the emergence and viability of teosinte seeds. In an in sacco study, seeds were introduced into the rumen of fistulised wethers and extracted after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Then, seed emergence was recorded and the viability of non‐germinated seeds was analysed. In an ‘intake and in vivo’ study, lambs were kept in metabolic cages and fed for 6 days with 200 g teosinte seeds and ears. The daily faecal production was individually collected, seeds were recovered and viability was tested (15 days). In the in sacco trials, a decrease in teosinte viability was observed after remaining for 48 h or more in the rumen. In the ‘intake and in vivo’ trial, between 0.1% and 3% of the ingested seeds that were excreted were viable. Uncoated seeds that lost their exocarp during the mastication and digestion processes were less viable (18%) than intact excreted seeds (74%). The last viable and intact seeds appeared 4 and 6 days after intake respectively. In areas with teosinte infestation, sheep grazing on maize stubble should be avoided and, in case of ingestion, sheep should be kept isolated for 4–6 days to avoid the spread of this invasive weed.
A Cirujeda; Gabriel Pardo; A I Marí; M Joy; Isabel Casasus. Emergence and viability of teosinte seeds (Zea maysssp.mexicana ad int.) subjected to sheep digestion. Weed Research 2019, 1 .
AMA StyleA Cirujeda, Gabriel Pardo, A I Marí, M Joy, Isabel Casasus. Emergence and viability of teosinte seeds (Zea maysssp.mexicana ad int.) subjected to sheep digestion. Weed Research. 2019; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA Cirujeda; Gabriel Pardo; A I Marí; M Joy; Isabel Casasus. 2019. "Emergence and viability of teosinte seeds (Zea maysssp.mexicana ad int.) subjected to sheep digestion." Weed Research , no. : 1.
Black polyethylene (PE) is the most common mulching material used in horticultural crops in the world but its use represents a very serious environmental problem. Biodegradable films and paper mulches are available alternatives but farmers are reluctant to adopt them because of their high market prices. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the economic profitability of eight biodegradable mulching materials available for open-air pepper production. The economic evaluation is based on a four-year trial located in a semi-arid region of Spain. Three scenarios of PE waste management are examined: (i) absence of residues management, (ii) landfill accumulation, and (iii) total recycling. The inclusion of the costs of waste management and recycling under the current Spanish legislation only reduced the final net margin by 0.2%. The results show that an increase in subsidy rates of up to 50.1% on the market price would allow all biodegradable films to be economic alternatives to PE. The study supports the mandatory measures for the farmers to assume the costs of waste management and recycling. Despite savings in field conditioning costs, high market prices of biodegradable materials and papers are not compensated by the current level of subsidies, hampering their adoption in the fields.
Ana I. Marí; Gabriel Pardo; Alicia Cirujeda; Yolanda Martínez. Economic Evaluation of Biodegradable Plastic Films and Paper Mulches Used in Open-Air Grown Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) Crop. Agronomy 2019, 9, 36 .
AMA StyleAna I. Marí, Gabriel Pardo, Alicia Cirujeda, Yolanda Martínez. Economic Evaluation of Biodegradable Plastic Films and Paper Mulches Used in Open-Air Grown Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) Crop. Agronomy. 2019; 9 (1):36.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAna I. Marí; Gabriel Pardo; Alicia Cirujeda; Yolanda Martínez. 2019. "Economic Evaluation of Biodegradable Plastic Films and Paper Mulches Used in Open-Air Grown Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) Crop." Agronomy 9, no. 1: 36.
An important drawback in adopting minimum tillage (MT) and no-tillage (NT) techniques is the frequently observed weed shift promoting adapted species and achieving poorer weed control. These changes can be detected best with long-term experiments, and results might differ depending on soil characteristics and the local flora. The objectives of this work were to evaluate the effect of reduced tillage on weed seed distribution in the soil profile and to identify possible consequences on weed diversity on a long-term experiment maintained during 24 years in Seville (Spain) with three tillage systems: NT, MT and conventional tillage (CT) including moldboard plow on a vertisol. For this purpose, soil seedbanks at 0-8 cm and 8-16 cm depths were enumerated in autumn 2005 and in-field emerged plants in autumn 2005 and winter 2006. Shannon diversity index (H) and evenness (J’) were calculated for seedbank and aboveground weed communities. Total weed seed density was highest for NT and lowest for CT. Some big-seeded species, such as Chrozophora tinctorea L., showed highest seed density in CT. NT increased the relative density of Amaranthus blitoides S. Watson seeds in the seedbank and the abundance of emerged plants of Malva parviflora L., Anagallis arvensis L. and Picris echioides L. Overall, MT led to a less diverse seedbank in the 0-8 cm depth of soil than CT. The frequent drought-induced deep fractures in the expandable clay soil caused natural tillage, which probably resulted in fewer differences in weed seed and seedling densities among tillage treatments compared to what might be expected in other soil types.
G. Pardo; A. Cirujeda; F. Perea; A.M.C. Verdú; M.T. Mas; J.M. Urbano. Effects of Reduced and Conventional Tillage on Weed Communities: Results of a Long-Term Experiment in Southwestern Spain. Planta Daninha 2019, 37, 1 .
AMA StyleG. Pardo, A. Cirujeda, F. Perea, A.M.C. Verdú, M.T. Mas, J.M. Urbano. Effects of Reduced and Conventional Tillage on Weed Communities: Results of a Long-Term Experiment in Southwestern Spain. Planta Daninha. 2019; 37 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleG. Pardo; A. Cirujeda; F. Perea; A.M.C. Verdú; M.T. Mas; J.M. Urbano. 2019. "Effects of Reduced and Conventional Tillage on Weed Communities: Results of a Long-Term Experiment in Southwestern Spain." Planta Daninha 37, no. : 1.
Yolanda Martínez; Alicia Cirujeda; Miguel I. Gómez; Ana I. Marí; Gabriel Pardo. Bioeconomic model for optimal control of the invasive weed Zea mays subspp. (teosinte) in Spain. Agricultural Systems 2018, 165, 116 -127.
AMA StyleYolanda Martínez, Alicia Cirujeda, Miguel I. Gómez, Ana I. Marí, Gabriel Pardo. Bioeconomic model for optimal control of the invasive weed Zea mays subspp. (teosinte) in Spain. Agricultural Systems. 2018; 165 ():116-127.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYolanda Martínez; Alicia Cirujeda; Miguel I. Gómez; Ana I. Marí; Gabriel Pardo. 2018. "Bioeconomic model for optimal control of the invasive weed Zea mays subspp. (teosinte) in Spain." Agricultural Systems 165, no. : 116-127.
Alicia Cirujeda. Estado fitosanitario del azafrán en Aragón (España): insectos, ácaros, nematodos, virus, bacterias y malas hierbas. Informacion Tecnica Economica Agraria 2016, 112, 1 .
AMA StyleAlicia Cirujeda. Estado fitosanitario del azafrán en Aragón (España): insectos, ácaros, nematodos, virus, bacterias y malas hierbas. Informacion Tecnica Economica Agraria. 2016; 112 (1):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlicia Cirujeda. 2016. "Estado fitosanitario del azafrán en Aragón (España): insectos, ácaros, nematodos, virus, bacterias y malas hierbas." Informacion Tecnica Economica Agraria 112, no. 1: 1.
Degradable materials have been suggested to overcome accumulation in the field of persistent plastic residues associated with the increasing use of polyethylene mulches. New degradable materials have been proven successful for increasing crop productivity; however, their degradation in the field has been hardly addressed. A qualitative scale was used in the present study to assess the above-soil and in-soil degradation of degradable mulches during the cropping season. Degradation was determined in three biodegradable plastic mulches (Biofilm, BF; Mater-Bi, MB; Bioflex, BFx), two paper sheet mulches (Saikraft, PSA; MimGreen, PMG) and one oxo-degradable plastic mulch (Enviroplast, EvP). Polyethylene (PE) mulch was used as control. Mulches were tested in five Spanish locations (Castilla-La Mancha, La Rioja, Navarra, Aragón and Catalunya), with three crop seasons of processing tomato. Biodegradable plastic mulches BF and MB degraded more and faster above-soil than paper mulches; among biodegradable mulches BF degraded more than MB, and MB more than BFx. The above-soil degradation of the oxo-degradable mulch EvP was highly dependent on location and crop season, and it degraded more than PE. Main environmental factors triggering above-soil degradation were radiation, rainfall and crop cover. In-soil, paper mulches and BF degraded more and faster than MB, whereas BFx and EvP barely degraded. Environmental factors triggering in-soil degradation during the crop season were rainfall and irrigation water. The effect of soil parameters (organic matter, nutrient availability) on degradation during the cropping season was not evidenced. The qualitative scale used proved convenient for determining mulch field degradation. A visual scale for supporting the qualitative evaluation is provided. In order to standardise parameters and criteria for future studies on field mulching degradation evaluation, a unified degradation qualitative scale is suggested.
L. Martín-Closas; J. Costa; A. Cirujeda; J. Aibar; C. Zaragoza; A. Pardo; M. L. Suso; Marta María Moreno; C. Moreno; I. Lahoz; J. I. Mácua; Ana Pelacho. Above-soil and in-soil degradation of oxo- and bio-degradable mulches: a qualitative approach. Soil Research 2016, 54, 225 -236.
AMA StyleL. Martín-Closas, J. Costa, A. Cirujeda, J. Aibar, C. Zaragoza, A. Pardo, M. L. Suso, Marta María Moreno, C. Moreno, I. Lahoz, J. I. Mácua, Ana Pelacho. Above-soil and in-soil degradation of oxo- and bio-degradable mulches: a qualitative approach. Soil Research. 2016; 54 (2):225-236.
Chicago/Turabian StyleL. Martín-Closas; J. Costa; A. Cirujeda; J. Aibar; C. Zaragoza; A. Pardo; M. L. Suso; Marta María Moreno; C. Moreno; I. Lahoz; J. I. Mácua; Ana Pelacho. 2016. "Above-soil and in-soil degradation of oxo- and bio-degradable mulches: a qualitative approach." Soil Research 54, no. 2: 225-236.
Mulch materials of different origin and colour are available in the agricultural sector as sustainable alternatives to the use of polyethylene (PE). Mulching modifies soil temperature and consequently affects crop yields. This work assessed the thermal and productive responses of different mulch materials in two different geo-climatic conditions during a 3-year integrated field study on processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Two biodegradable plastic mulches (BD1, BD2), one oxo-degradable material (OB), two types of paper (PP1, PP2) and one barley-straw cover (BS) were compared with two control treatments: black PE and manual weeding (MW). Soil temperature variables (maximum, minimum and mean temperature, soil growing degree-days and soil temperature amplitude) and production variables (marketable and total yield, mean fruit weight) were considered. Thermally, PE could be considered an atypical mulch causing higher temperatures in the soil, but it is not associated with a higher yield. Responses of PE, PP2 and MW were independent of the geo-environmental conditions, whereas OB, BD1 and BD2 had similar thermal and productive responses to each other in different environments. Tomato yield was correlated positively only with the minimum soil temperature, especially when excluding PE.
Marta María Moreno; Alicia Cirujeda; Joaquín Aibar; Carmen Moreno. Soil thermal and productive responses of biodegradable mulch materials in a processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) crop. Soil Research 2016, 54, 207 .
AMA StyleMarta María Moreno, Alicia Cirujeda, Joaquín Aibar, Carmen Moreno. Soil thermal and productive responses of biodegradable mulch materials in a processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) crop. Soil Research. 2016; 54 (2):207.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarta María Moreno; Alicia Cirujeda; Joaquín Aibar; Carmen Moreno. 2016. "Soil thermal and productive responses of biodegradable mulch materials in a processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) crop." Soil Research 54, no. 2: 207.
In the Jiloca valley (Teruel, Spain) saffron (Crocus sativus) is attracting attention because of its high quality and the growing demand in the gourmet market. To increase production the phytosanitary status needs to be guaranteed as well as the mechanization of the basic agronomic practices, especially weed control operations. Saffron is a perennial crop and weeding is especially important after flowering in mid of October until May when the aerial part disappears. Eight field trials were established to test the effect of flextine harrow, torsion and finger weeders. Torsion and finger weeders were difficult to adjust due to compact soils and steering problems. Efficacy for these tools was higher than 80% in two out of 12 occasions, only, while the flex-tine harrow exceeded this value in 7 occasions out of 18. The flextine harrow did no require adjustments on the row and could be used in an aggressive position because of the 20 cm plantation depth of the corms. Weeds including the Poaceae Lolium rigidum could be effectively controlled with the flextine harrow provided climatic conditions allowed treating immediately after flower harvest. Saffron flower and corm density were reduced by more than 40% after 3 cropping seasons without weed control compared to harrowing. Only slight differences were found in bulb size being higher for the harrowed plots. The use of the flex-tine harrow is highly recommended to reduce yield losses as well as to avoid weeds hosting viruses.
Alicia Cirujeda; Ana Isabel Marí; Joaquín Aibar; Sonsoles Fenández-Cavada; Gabriel Pardo; Carlos Zaragoza. Experiments on mechanical weed control in saffron crops in Spain. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection 2014, 121, 223 -228.
AMA StyleAlicia Cirujeda, Ana Isabel Marí, Joaquín Aibar, Sonsoles Fenández-Cavada, Gabriel Pardo, Carlos Zaragoza. Experiments on mechanical weed control in saffron crops in Spain. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection. 2014; 121 (5):223-228.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlicia Cirujeda; Ana Isabel Marí; Joaquín Aibar; Sonsoles Fenández-Cavada; Gabriel Pardo; Carlos Zaragoza. 2014. "Experiments on mechanical weed control in saffron crops in Spain." Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection 121, no. 5: 223-228.
Open-air crops are important in Spanish horticulture. The limited number of herbicide active ingredients in minor crops, the waste problem of polyethylene (PE) plastic mulch and the high prices of biodegradable plastics leave hand-weeding and mechanical weed control as the most viable weed control methods. Different tools have been tested in northern European countries but their performance remains unknown in the edaphoclimatic situation of southern Europe. The objective of this work was to test novel physical weed control methods on processing tomato in northeastern Spain compared with other effective control methods, i.e., plastic and paper mulches. A first sequence of field trials was established from 2005 to 2008 at Zaragoza (Spain) to select the best physical control methods out of flamer, torsion weeder, finger weeder, flex-tine harrow and brush hoe used alone or in combination. The best method was the brush hoe which was then compared from 2009 to 2011 with PE mulch, biodegradable plastic mulch and paper mulch. Flamer, flex-tine harrow, torsion weeder and finger weeder performed quite irregularly due to crusty soil conditions and needed additional tools or repeated treatments to increase weed control efficacy. The brush hoe performed best in this soil situation working at about 5 cm depth. Weed biomass reduction was higher than 80% in 6 out of 7 years and similar yield was obtained in the brushed plots compared to the yield obtained with PE, biodegradable plastic and paper mulch. The brush hoe is thus a suitable option for weed control in processing tomato while the other tools were too weak to control aggressive summer weeds in the tested conditions.
A. Cirujeda; J. Aibar; M.M. Moreno; C. Zaragoza. Effective mechanical weed control in processing tomato: Seven years of results. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 2013, 30, 223 -232.
AMA StyleA. Cirujeda, J. Aibar, M.M. Moreno, C. Zaragoza. Effective mechanical weed control in processing tomato: Seven years of results. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 2013; 30 (3):223-232.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA. Cirujeda; J. Aibar; M.M. Moreno; C. Zaragoza. 2013. "Effective mechanical weed control in processing tomato: Seven years of results." Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 30, no. 3: 223-232.
Enhanced understanding of soil disturbance effects on weed seedling recruitment will help guide improved management approaches. Field experiments were conducted at 16 site‐years at 10 research farms across Europe and North America to (i) quantify superficial soil disturbance (SSD) effects on Chenopodium album emergence and (ii) clarify adaptive emergence behaviour in frequently disturbed environments. Each site‐year contained factorial combinations of two seed populations (local and common, with the common population studied at all site‐years) and six SSD timings [0, 50, 100, 150, 200 day‐degrees (d°C, base temperature 3°C) after first emergence from undisturbed soil]. Analytical units in this study were emergence flushes. Flush magnitudes (maximum weekly emergence per count flush) and flush frequencies (flushes year−1) were compared between disturbed and undisturbed seedbanks. One year after burial, SSD promoted seedling emergence relative to undisturbed seedbanks by increasing flush magnitude rather than increasing flush frequency. Two years after burial, SSD promoted emergence through increased flush magnitude and flush frequency. The promotional effects of SSD on emergence were strongest within 500 d°C following SSD; however, low levels of SSD‐induced emergence were detected as late as 3000 d°C following SSD. Accordingly, stale seedbed practices that eliminate weed seedlings should occur within 500 d°C of disturbance, because few seedlings emerge after this time. However, implementation of stale seedbed practices will probably cause slight increases in weed population densities throughout the year. Compared with the common population, local populations exhibited reduced variance in total emergence measured within sites and across SSD treatments, suggesting that C. album adaptation to local pedo‐climatic conditions involves increased consistency in SSD‐induced emergence.
B J Schutte; B J Tomasek; Adam Davis; Lars Andersson; D L Benoit; Alicia Cirujeda; J Dekker; F Forcella; Jose Luis Gonzalez-Andujar; F Graziani; A J Murdoch; Paul Neve; I A Rasmussen; B Sera; J Salonen; Francesco Tei; K S Tørresen; J M Urbano. An investigation to enhance understanding of the stimulation of weed seedling emergence by soil disturbance. Weed Research 2013, 54, 1 -12.
AMA StyleB J Schutte, B J Tomasek, Adam Davis, Lars Andersson, D L Benoit, Alicia Cirujeda, J Dekker, F Forcella, Jose Luis Gonzalez-Andujar, F Graziani, A J Murdoch, Paul Neve, I A Rasmussen, B Sera, J Salonen, Francesco Tei, K S Tørresen, J M Urbano. An investigation to enhance understanding of the stimulation of weed seedling emergence by soil disturbance. Weed Research. 2013; 54 (1):1-12.
Chicago/Turabian StyleB J Schutte; B J Tomasek; Adam Davis; Lars Andersson; D L Benoit; Alicia Cirujeda; J Dekker; F Forcella; Jose Luis Gonzalez-Andujar; F Graziani; A J Murdoch; Paul Neve; I A Rasmussen; B Sera; J Salonen; Francesco Tei; K S Tørresen; J M Urbano. 2013. "An investigation to enhance understanding of the stimulation of weed seedling emergence by soil disturbance." Weed Research 54, no. 1: 1-12.
A. Cirujeda; A. Anzalone; J. Aibar; Marta María Moreno; C. Zaragoza. Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) control with paper mulch in processing tomato. Crop Protection 2012, 39, 66 -71.
AMA StyleA. Cirujeda, A. Anzalone, J. Aibar, Marta María Moreno, C. Zaragoza. Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) control with paper mulch in processing tomato. Crop Protection. 2012; 39 ():66-71.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA. Cirujeda; A. Anzalone; J. Aibar; Marta María Moreno; C. Zaragoza. 2012. "Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) control with paper mulch in processing tomato." Crop Protection 39, no. : 66-71.
Black polyethylene (PE) film is used for mulching in processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum P. Mill.) in Spain achieving a generally high weed control but causing a serious waste problem. Few herbicides are available for tomato, so that a biodegradable mulching is the desired solution which should provide high yield, high weed control and be economically available. For 3 years, the same field trial was carried out in four areas of Spain using the following mulch materials in processing tomatoes: (1) untreated control, (2) manual weeding, (3) PE, black, 15 μm thick, (4) and (5) two types of biodegradable plastic mulch, black, 15 μm, (6) oxo-degradable plastic mulch, black, 15 μm, (7) paper mulch, black, 85 g m−2, (8) kraft paper mulch, brown, 140 g m−2 and (9) barley straw, 1 kg m−2.. Weed control, yield and economic aspects were analysed. Most frequent weed species were Convolvulus arvensis, Chenopodium album and Amaranthus spp. Here, we showed that despite differences in weed species, soil type and years, weed competition caused a similar yield decrease in all locations. A common regression coefficient could be estimated indicating that weed competition was responsible for a yield decrease of 3.3 to 4.4 t ha−1 for each 10% of efficacy loss. Weed control was high for biodegradable plastics, paper mulches and PE ranging between 80% and 100% for all of them; also, yield was similar for all plastic and paper mulching treatments ranging between 72% and 108% of the yield achieved by PE. Here, we demonstrate that technically viable biodegradable alternatives exist for all four locations. From the economic point of view, PE gave highest benefits, mainly due to its low market price and to high yields despite removal costs, showing that its substitution will depend on prohibition. For locations with low-density weed infestations, manual weeding can be an alternative.
Alicia Cirujeda; Joaquin Aibar; Álvaro Anzalone; Lluis Martin-Closas; Ramón Meco; Marta María Moreno; Alfoso Pardo; Ana Pelacho; Ferran Rojo; Aritz Royo-Esnal; María Luisa Suso; Carlos Zaragoza. Biodegradable mulch instead of polyethylene for weed control of processing tomato production. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 2012, 32, 889 -897.
AMA StyleAlicia Cirujeda, Joaquin Aibar, Álvaro Anzalone, Lluis Martin-Closas, Ramón Meco, Marta María Moreno, Alfoso Pardo, Ana Pelacho, Ferran Rojo, Aritz Royo-Esnal, María Luisa Suso, Carlos Zaragoza. Biodegradable mulch instead of polyethylene for weed control of processing tomato production. Agronomy for Sustainable Development. 2012; 32 (4):889-897.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlicia Cirujeda; Joaquin Aibar; Álvaro Anzalone; Lluis Martin-Closas; Ramón Meco; Marta María Moreno; Alfoso Pardo; Ana Pelacho; Ferran Rojo; Aritz Royo-Esnal; María Luisa Suso; Carlos Zaragoza. 2012. "Biodegradable mulch instead of polyethylene for weed control of processing tomato production." Agronomy for Sustainable Development 32, no. 4: 889-897.