Direct seeding and tillage: ten year agrophytocenoses integrated monitoring in the Centre of Precision Agriculture of the Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy

Abstract

Aim . The objectives of this study were to compare of the number and species diversity of weeds in the winter wheat crops in the long-term field crop rotation experiment under two plant technology classical plowing and direct seeding. Methods . Monitoring of agrophytocenoses under two constantly reproduced soil treatments was carried out twice per season for 10 years by the method of grid mapping of weeds distribution in winter wheat crops. Results . Spatial maps of weeds distribution and areas of different productivity of agrophytocenoses associated with uneven soil conditions and applied technologies of cultivation of crops. It was shown that the number and species diversity of weeds under zero-till technology was on average two to three times higher than under plowing. Autumn use of herbicides Lintur (dicamba+triasulfuron) (1.8 kg/ha) or Alistair Grand (Mesosulfuron-methyl+iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium+diflufenican+mefenpyr-diate) (0.8 l/ha) on winter wheat in the tillering phase significantly reduces the number of weeds for the entire vegetation period. However, under zero-tillage the number of weed plants remains high, approximately 40-80 PCs.m^-2. Conclusions . For ten years of observations in agrophytocenoses of long-term experience of the Center of precision agriculture there were recorded 84 species of undesirable vegetation: 69 weed species, 7 species tree-weeds and 8 species of cultivated plants. During every vegetation season, the survey found an average of 35-40 species. The weeds frequency under zero-tillage (double treatment with herbicide) is on average three times higher than under plowing (single treatment with herbicide).