The impact of different weed control methods on weed infestation in maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the occurrence and development of weed species as actual weed infestation of maize in sustainable farming systems. The specific goals of the study were to assess the dynamics of occurrence of each weed species in integrated and ecological farming systems, and to evaluate the impact of farming system, manure or fertiliser application and year on the presence of weeds in maize stands from 2014 to 2016. In the integrated non-fertilised maize cropping system, the following weed species were dominant in the spring: Amaranthus retroflexus, Cirsium arvense, Chenopodium album, Persicaria maculosa and Echinochloa crus galli. In the integrated fertilised maize cropping system, the following weed species were dominant in the spring: Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album, Cirsium arvense, Echinochloa crus galli, Convolvulus arvensis and Cardaria draba. In the integrated maize cropping system, Silybum marianum occurred as a weed at medium density. Silybum marianum was cultivated two years ago and its seeds were in a state of dormancy for that time. The efficacy of the herbicide treatment in the integrated system was excellent. In the ecological non-fertilised maize cropping system, the following weed species were dominant in the spring: Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album, Cirsium arvense, Avena fatua and Sonchus oleraceus. In the ecological fertilised maize cropping system, the following weed species were dominant in the spring: Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album, Echinochloa crus galli, Avena fatua, Persicaria maculosa, Cirsium arvense and Convolvulus arvensis. In the ecological farming system, due to insufficient mechanical weed control, a higher level of maize infestation with Avena fatua as an annual grass weed species was detected.