Weed cover, frequency and diversity in field plots and edges in the soybean central region of Argentina

Eduardo Puricelli, Delma Faccini, Luisa Nisensohn, Daniel Tuesca

Cátedra de Terapéutica Vegetal Universidad Nacional de Rosario. S 2125 ZAA - CC 14, Zavalla, Santa Fe, Argentina.
Malezas, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario. S 2125 ZAA - CC 14, Zavalla, Santa Fe, Argentina.

DOI: 10.4236/as.2012.35076                

Abstract

A comparative survey of the weed species present in field plots and edges was performed in fields at Zavalla (Santa Fe) Argentina in the soybean central region of the country in order to determine changes in cover, frequency and diversity of the weed communities. Five to twelve soybean fields were surveyed in 2006, 2007, and 2009. Weed surveys were carried out in the soybean fallow in winter and after soybean planting in spring. In edges, species richness was higher than in field plots in spring-summer but diversity showed an erratic response. The weed community cover showed a shift in weed vegetation composition relative to the field plot. Our results indicate that the community in crop edges relative to field plots differs in structure and abundance and that many weed species are only present either in crop edges or in field plots.

Keywords

Weed Community; Richness; Glyphosate

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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