Aim of study:
The goal of the study described in this manuscript was to evaluate qualitative and quantitative changes in weed flora infes
-
ting winter wheat stands grown in crop rotation and wheat monoculture.
Area of study:
South-eastern Poland, Europe (2018-2020).
Materials and methods:
The experiment was established in the system of randomized blocks (25 m × 6 m) in three replications. Winter
wheat was sown in (1) crop rotation (CR): potato – winter wheat – peas – winter barley; and (2) in monoculture (MON). Weed infestation
was evaluated in two terms: (1) at the tillering stage and (2) at the waxy maturity stage of winter wheat.
Main results:
The number and air-dry weight of weeds evaluated in both terms were higher in MON than in CR. Before wheat harvest,
its plots in MON were massively infested by Apera spica-venti and significantly populated by
Avena fatua
and Anthemis arvensis. In this
evaluation term, the weeds of the upper and middle levels accounted for 88.4% of the whole weed community in CR and for 97.7% in MON.
In both terms of evaluation, greater biodiversity of the weed community was observed in CR than in MON.
Research highlights:
Indicators used to assess the weed flora in crop rotation and monoculture,
i.e.
weed species composition, number
and air-dry weight of weeds, weed distribution in wheat crop levels, and Shannon-Wiener's diversity index.