Weed species abundance and diversity in maize (Zea mays, L.) crop preceded by a transitory fallow after potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

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Yaisys Blanco

Abstract

Weeds constitute a sort of plant species
damaging its yields sensibly when coexisting in competition
with economic crops; however, regarding the theoretical
conception of sustainable agriculture, weeds are a key element
to be considered and its management is aimed to improve or
solve some problems caused by erosion, cover and
preservation of soil fertility. Also, weed species diversity/m2
enables to increase the overall stability of agrarian systems in
front of plenty weed-tolerating levels, so that beneficial insects
would increase. The present work was conducted at the
National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, with the objective
of determining the dominant and subordinate weed species,
its abundance and specific diversity competing with maize crop
preceded by a transitory fallow after potato crop. A randomized
block design was used with four repetitions and three
treatments of weed management: (1) non-handling weed tillage
during the whole crop cycle, (2) non-handling tillage until the
beginning of the critical competition period and (3) non-handling
tillage after the critical competition period. Results showed
that Cyperus rotundus and Rottboellia exaltata were the
dominant species of the system, probably due to the preceding
crops, dominated by selective herbicides of high residual
power. Floral composition was made up by 15 species derived
from eight botanical families: 46.67 % belonging to Poaceae,
13.33 % to Euphorbiaceae, and 6.66 % only represented the
families Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Cyperaceae,
Cucurbitacea, Portulacaceae and Zigofilacea.

Article Details

How to Cite
Blanco, Y. (2012). Weed species abundance and diversity in maize (Zea mays, L.) crop preceded by a transitory fallow after potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Cultivos Tropicales, 31(2), 12–16. Retrieved from https://ediciones.inca.edu.cu/index.php/ediciones/article/view/91
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Original Article