The effect of selected agrotechnical factors and weather conditions on the weeding of winter triticale

Zbigniew Pawlonka

Janina Skrzyczyńska

Abstract

The aim of the studies was to examine the influence of such factors, as: manner of soil cultivation, level of nitrogen fertilization, usage of growth retardants and meteorological conditions on occurrence constancy and number of species weed-infesting winter triticale. Observations of weed communities at particular experimental objects were carried out according to the split-plot method at regular four-week intervals. The phytosociological method was used during the studies. Abundance of particular species as well as of the whole weed community was expressed by the cover coefficient. Occurrence frequency of species at the studied objects was presented using degrees of phytosociological constancy. The effect of particular agrotechnical factors and weather conditions on weeding was stated according to the conditions of plant communities in July. The results were statistically analyzed by the analysis of variance. Replacement of plough cultivation by farming using a cultivator resulted in a decrease of weeding. Two taxa, Apera spica -venti and Viola arvensis showed the strongest reaction. The method of corn-blades shortening using growth retardants did not affect the number of species and cover coefficient of weeds in winter triticale. A decrease in the level of nitrogen fertilization also had no effect on the weeding level and botanical composition of the community. Meteorological conditions strongly affected the level of weedinfestation and had a smaller effect on species abundance of the community. Apera spica -venti was the most variable species as to occurrence constancy and cover coefficient.