Premium
Population dynamics of Rumex obtusifolius under contrasting lucerne cropping systems
Author(s) -
Joan Pino,
F. Xavier Sans,
R. M. Masalles
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
weed research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-3180
pISSN - 0043-1737
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3180.1998.00068.x
Subject(s) - cropping , agronomy , crop rotation , population , biology , cropping system , crop , agriculture , ecology , demography , sociology
The population dynamics of Rumex obtusifolius L. was analysed in a lucerne:winter cereal crop rotation by means of a matrix population model that takes into consideration two crop rotation periods: the lucerne ( Medicago sativa L.) cropping period and the cereal cropping period. Several transition matrices based on life‐cycle stages were calculated for each cropping period using experimental data and were used in the construction of a model that analyses the population dynamics of R. obtusifolius under different harvest dates and lengths of lucerne cropping periods. Model projections showed that populations of R. obtusifolius increased during the lucerne cropping period regardless of harvest date and decreased during the cereal cropping period. Under a late harvest date, populations decreased at each crop rotation when lucerne was grown for 3 years, remained close to the equilibrium when lucerne was left to grow for 5 years, and increased for longer lucerne cropping periods. In contrast, populations of R. obtusifolius decreased even with a lucerne cropping period of 9 years under an early harvest date. The significance of these results in relation to the biology and the non‐chemical control of the species is discussed.