Search Results (96)

The intercropping system is used for weed control in orchards, but the intercrops need to be well-designed to fit into the row spaces of fruit trees. In this study, the citrus (Citrus reticulata cv. Chachiensis) row spaces were intercropped with either soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) or sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.), and their effects on weed control, soil physiochemical properties, and soil microbiome were compared to the natural weeds. Both plant species were effective in reducing the orchard weeds, and their different varieties commonly improved soil organic matter, available P and K, and beneficial metal elements compared to the weeds. Even though the soil fungal and bacterial richness and diversity of the intercrops were not significantly altered, their composition, structure, and function were distinctive to those of the weeds. The soils of the intercrops generally enriched with the fungal genera of Talaromyces and Penicillium and the bacterial genera Sphingomonas, Knoellia, and Nocardioides. Accordingly, the altered microbial communities, in taxonomy, correlated to the enriched cellular functional pathways of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, homologous recombination, nitrogen metabolism, lipoic acid metabolism, mismatch repair, DNA replication, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism. Taken together, these results imply that intercrops and weeds exert distinct effects on soil nutrient accumulation, and these effects are associated with their differential impacts on soil microbiomes—which are likely driven by the rhizosphere activities of the intercrops. Full article

Sugarcane is a high-value crop in Egypt, yet weed communities in the understudied Upper Egypt region have not been systematically characterized. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of weed floristic composition, phytogeographical affinities, and the edaphic and canopy light factors governing vegetation structure across contrasting Nile Valley clay and reclaimed desert lands in Qena Governorate. Fourteen stands were surveyed during the 2024/2025 sugarcane growing season, recording 110 species from 33 families (68 annuals and 42 perennials), which were dominated by Poaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Amaranthaceae (54.6% of the flora recorded). Therophytes were the most abundant life form (60.9%), and 51.8% of species belonged to Neotropical, Palaeotropical, Cosmopolitan, and Pantropical chorotypes. Diversity indices showed high and balanced species diversity, with no dominance by any single species. Seasonal variation showed that species richness peaked in spring, decreased through summer and autumn, and correlated with light intensity under the canopy. TWINSPAN identified four vegetation groups, which were merged into three primary vegetation groups (A, B, and C) via DCA and CCA ordinations and linked to microhabitats shaped by elevation and soil physicochemical properties. CCA revealed that Group C (stands in the Nile Riverbank lands) had the highest diversity, which was associated with organic matter, clay, and field capacity. In contrast, Group A (stands of reclaimed desert land) had low richness linked to high levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Na, K, Mg, CaCO₃, and sandy soils. Group B (stands of Nile clay lands) was an intermediate transitional community between groups A and C. These findings establish edaphic factors as the primary determinant of weed community structure, with salinity as the critical constraint in reclaimed lands and seasonal light variation as a secondary diversity filter. Full article

Mulch films play a vital role in modern agriculture by enhancing soil hydrothermal conditions, suppressing weed growth, and improving crop performance. Across 13 major crops, mulching increased yields by an average of 26%, with particularly strong responses in soybean (44%), millet (42%), wheat (29%), and maize (25%), and improved water-use efficiency by up to 33%. However, conventional polyethylene (PE) mulch films accumulate persistently in soils, reaching 7183–10,586 microplastic particles/kg in topsoil after long-term use and contributing up to 56% of total microplastics across the 0–100 cm soil profile. These residues impair enzymatic activity, disrupt nutrient cycling, and alter microbial community structure, making biodegradable alternatives essential for mitigating these issues. Lignin-based biodegradable mulch films (BDMs) have gained increasing attention owing to lignin’s intrinsic UV-shielding capacity, mechanical reinforcement, hydrophobicity, and biodegradability. Lignin-containing films may block UV radiation below 300 nm, reduce visible-light transmittance by ~80%, exhibit thermal stability up to 150 °C, and demonstrate low water vapour permeability (3.41 × 10⁻⁸ g/m·h·Pa) depending on formulation and lignin loading. Incorporation of lignin may enhance biodegradability, increasing soil-burial degradation by 25.47% relative to pure PVA, with composite systems achieving ~55% degradation within 50 days. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of lignin structure, sources, chemistry, extraction methods. It examines lignin as a renewable and value-added feedstock for mulch applications, and critically evaluates the optical, mechanical, thermal, hydrophobic, and biodegradation properties of lignin-based BDMs. The review also discusses their agronomic applications, including weed suppression, soil moisture retention, nutrient management, and soil microclimate regulation, while analysing the economic considerations affecting large-scale implementation and commercial feasibility. Finally, it outlines key research priorities to enable scalable, field-reliable, and environmentally sustainable mulch film technologies. Full article

Intensive pesticide application sustains global agriculture but poses poorly characterized risks to complex soil ecosystems. Here, we quantitatively evaluated pesticide residues and utilized high-resolution environmental DNA (eDNA) metagenomics to decode multi-trophic community responses across a typical major grain-producing region located in China. Among 39 targeted pesticides, 26 were detected with total concentrations ranging from 27.9 to 478.8 ng/g. While herbicides and fungicides dominated the residual mass, insecticides posed the most severe ecological threat. Notably, the neonicotinoid imidacloprid exhibited high-risk levels (RQ = 1.78 ± 1.49) at >61.1% of the sampling sites. eDNA profiling and Procrustes analyses revealed a clear trophic-dependent sensitivity gradient (p < 0.01). Lower-trophic microbial communities were significantly altered in composition; pesticide stress was strongly associated with profound non-target suppression on keystone plant-beneficial bacteria (e.g., Nocardioides). Concurrently, the fungal eDNA profiles indicated that the soil mycobiome harbored an alarming 34.7% of potential phytopathogenic fungi (e.g., Aspergillus and Colletotrichum), intrinsically driving the massive fungicide reliance. In contrast, higher-trophic soil metazoa (Rotifera, 40.4%) and weed communities (e.g., Digitaria sanguinalis) exhibited significant spatial stability, reflecting robust environmental buffering and herbicide-driven ecological escapes. Furthermore, co-occurrence networks decoupled target from non-target toxicities, uniquely revealing that persistent herbicide metabolites (desethylatrazine) induce prolonged legacy toxicities on specific soil fauna. Collectively, this study unveils the deep, cross-kingdom ecological disruptions caused by current pesticide regimes, underscoring the urgency of integrating eDNA biomonitoring to guide precision pest management and safeguard soil health in vital agricultural hubs. Full article

Vegetated field borders are widely promoted as tools to enhance biodiversity and strengthen biological control in agroecosystems. However, their role in pest dynamics remains conceptually fragmented and empirically inconsistent. Here, we develop a unified framework explaining how crop border vegetation influences pest populations through four interlinked ecological mechanisms. First, borders act as host reservoirs and selective filters, providing alternative hosts and overwintering habitat that enhance pest persistence across crop cycles. Second, borders modify pest colonization dynamics by shaping movement, aggregation, and host-location behavior at crop edges. Third, borders restructure multitrophic networks, simultaneously supporting natural enemies, alternative prey, vectors, and pathogens, generating nonlinear effects on pest suppression. Fourth, repeated disturbance and management function as selective filters, determining which plant functional groups dominate borders and, consequently, which pest and natural enemy communities are maintained. To ground this framework, we conduct a structured synthesis of published empirical and conceptual studies on crop-border vegetation, including weed and arthropod surveys, and classify them according to the proposed mechanisms. Our synthesis reveals a strong emphasis on multitrophic effects, whereas colonization processes and disturbance filtering are comparatively underexplored. Across mechanisms, plant identity and dominance structure consistently emerge as stronger predictors of pest outcomes than species richness alone. We argue that borders are not inherently beneficial or harmful but function as selectively structured ecological interfaces shaped by management history and species composition. By integrating temporal persistence, spatial behavior, network interactions, and anthropogenic filtering, our framework provides a predictive basis for IPM-oriented design of field borders, enabling management strategies that reduce pest carryover, disrupt colonization pathways, and enhance biological control while maintaining ecosystem services. This article is part of the theme issue “The Biology, Ecology, and Management of Plant Pests”. Full article

Long-term simplification of cropping systems and crop protection practices promotes increased weed infestation and may lead to yield decline. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of crop sequence systems and levels of crop protection on weed infestation, weed community diversity, and grain yield of winter wheat under long-term field experiment conditions. The research was conducted in a static field experiment established in 1967 in Bałcyny, Poland. Two cropping systems were analyzed, monoculture and a six-course crop rotation, combined with three levels of protection: no protection, herbicide, and herbicide + fungicide. Weed density, biomass, and species composition were evaluated, as well as diversity indices (Shannon–Wiener and Simpson) and grain yield. Monoculture significantly increased weed density and biomass, promoting the dominance of competitive species such as Apera spica-venti and Centaurea cyanus. In the crop rotation system, lower weed infestation, higher species diversity, and a more even community structure were observed. The application of herbicide effectively reduced weed infestation; however, it led to a decline in species diversity and an increase in the dominance of tolerant species. Grain yield was strongly negatively correlated with the level of weed infestation. The highest yields were obtained in the crop rotation system with full chemical protection, whereas monoculture resulted in a significant yield reduction regardless of the level of protection. These results highlight the key role of crop rotation and integrated crop protection in reducing weed infestation and stabilizing winter wheat yields. Full article

This study has investigated the occurrence characteristics and population damage of weeds in double-cropping direct-seeded rice fields in Hunan, and has identified efficient and safe pre- and post-emergence herbicides to enhance resistance management. Field trials were conducted at two representative sites (Yiyang and Changsha) in Hunan in 2024~2025. Weed community composition and emergence patterns were systematically monitored. The inhibitory effects of weed infestations on rice growth and yield were quantified. The biological activity and field efficacy of various herbicide classes against barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) were evaluated via greenhouse bioassays and field trials. Weed emergence lasted 3–48 days after sowing (DAS) with three distinct peaks. Grasses emerged earliest and dominated the community, with barnyardgrass peaking at 13–17 DAS (≈50% of total weeds), followed by broadleaves at 20 DAS (≈40%) and sedges at 25 DAS (<20%). Weed infestation drastically suppressed rice height (max 19% reduction) and tillering (max 50% reduction), with mixed-weed and grass-dominated plots causing the severest yield losses (92.0% and 90.5%, respectively), versus only 18.0% in broadleaf-dominated plots. Greenhouse bioassays showed that oxaziclomefone had the highest intrinsic activity against barnyardgrass (GR₉₀ = 17.70 g ai ha⁻¹). In pre-emergence applications in field trials, pretilachlor (900 g ai ha⁻¹) and mefenacet (147.6 g ai ha⁻¹) provided >96.8% control at 20 and 40 days after treatment (DAT), while oxaziclomefone (66 g ai ha⁻¹) achieved 88.2% control at 20 DAT. For post-emergence herbicides, Profoxydim showed the highest intrinsic activity (GR₉₀ = 33.01 g ai ha⁻¹), followed by feproxydim (GR₉₀ = 33.45 g ai ha⁻¹) and flusulfinam (GR₉₀ = 64.55 g ai ha⁻¹). In field trials, flusulfinam provided 100% control with superior crop safety at 20 and 40 DAT, while Florpyrauxifen-benzyl, feproxydim, and metamifop reached >93% efficacy. In conclusion, weed emergence in Hunan direct-seeded rice follows a three-peak pattern, with barnyardgrass being the most destructive species. An integrated strategy combining pretilachlor (pre-emergence) and flusulfinam (post-emergence), rotated with florpyrauxifen-benzyl and feproxydim, is recommended for effective barnyardgrass management and resistance mitigation. Full article

Weed infestations are a major agricultural problem, driving the need for sustainable control methods beyond conventional synthetic herbicides. This study explored wood vinegar (WV), a pyrolysis by-product, as a dual-purpose tool for weed management and crop growth. Chemically characterized WV exhibited an acidic pH, high acetic acid content, and diverse organic compounds. Pot experiments demonstrated WV’s strong, concentration-dependent inhibition of weed seedling emergence. Field trials across three seasons confirmed WV’s efficacy in reducing weed density and biomass, particularly at 50% and 100% concentrations, while also influencing weed community composition. Critically, subsequent evaluation of residual phytotoxicity on tomato and courgette crops revealed that WV 50% significantly optimized both plant biomass and fruit yield. In contrast, WV 100% negatively impacted courgette yield, and WV 10% showed variable effects. These findings highlight WV, especially at optimal dilutions like 50%, as a promising sustainable solution for integrated weed management with potential biostimulant properties for crops. Full article

Although treated wastewater (TWW) is increasingly being used to irrigate urban landscapes in arid regions like Qatar to preserve scarce freshwater resources, little is known about its long-term ecological impacts. The effects of extended irrigation with TWW on the composition of weed communities and soil characteristics in urban turfgrass systems were assessed in this study for a full year period. Three turfgrass fields in public parks in Doha that are not distant and similar in turf species and type of management were chosen. One of them has received regular tap water, and the other two had received a period of two years or a period of seven years irrigation with TWW. Due to nutrient availability in TWW, long-term irrigation improved turfgrass performance but drastically changed the structure and composition of the weed communities. More weed diversity and abundance were observed under irrigation with TWW, coinciding with cumulative increases in soil salinity [from 265 µS/cm for soil irrigated with regular tap water to about 1799 µS/cm for soil long-term irrigated with treated wastewater] and nutrient levels. Dactyloctenium aristatum and Euphorbia prostrata were dominating the field under TWW irrigation, while Cyperus rotundus prevailed better under regular tap-water irrigation. Crucially, build-up of toxic elements was found in the turfgrass, but not harmful. Overall, the findings showed that although TWW is a useful source for maintaining urban green spaces in arid regions, its long-term use necessitates cautious management to reduce weed growth and adaptation. Maintaining sustainable and healthy urban landscapes may be aided by using salt-leaching irrigation techniques and seasonal blending with freshwater. Full article

In the conducted study, the structure of weed communities and their dynamics were assessed and compared in relation to plantation age and the species of energy crop. Weed diversity within the stands of the investigated energy crops was evaluated in three-year cycles, from 2006 to 2024. The assessment of weed diversity in the stands of the studied energy crops was conducted in three-year cycles, i.e., in the first year of cultivation (2006—the year of plantation establishment), the fourth year of cultivation (2009), the seventh year of cultivation (2012), the tenth year of cultivation (2015), the thirteenth year of cultivation (2018), the sixteenth year of cultivation (2021), and the nineteenth year of cultivation (2024). The species composition of weed communities and the abundance of individual weed species were determined. The diversity and dominance patterns of weed communities occurring in Salix viminalis, Miscanthus × giganteus, and Phalaris arundinacea were described using two indices: the Shannon–Wiener diversity index and the Simpson dominance index. As a result of the conducted observations, it was found that weed abundance, species diversity, and weed infestation dynamics depended on the energy crop species and the age of the plantation. Greater interannual variability was observed in weed abundance, whereas species richness remained relatively more stable between years. The highest species diversity was recorded in the Salix viminalis plantation, where a total of 53 weed species were identified. In contrast, considerably fewer taxa were found in Miscanthus × giganteus (42 species) and Phalaris arundinacea (41 species). Moreover, it was found that regardless of the energy crop species, segetal weeds dominated during the first years of cultivation, i.e., E. crus-galli, A. spica-venti, A. retroflexus, Ch. album, M. inodora, and V. arvensis. In subsequent years of cultivation, however, the dominant species were ruderal weeds, such as A. vulgaris, T. officinale, and U. dioica, as well as invasive species, e.g., S. canadensis and S. gigantea. In subsequent years, ruderal species became dominant. The Shannon–Wiener diversity and Simpson dominance indices indicated differences in species richness and the relative abundance of individual weed species. The highest values of the Shannon–Wiener diversity index and the lowest values of the Simpson dominance index were recorded in weed communities of Salix viminalis plantations aged 7–16 years after establishment. In contrast, the highest Simpson index values, indicating dominance by one or a few weed species, were observed in the first year of cultivation regardless of the energy crop species, as well as in the 19-year-old Miscanthus × giganteus plantation. Full article

Transitioning from traditional to organic production is gaining popularity worldwide with significant challenges including weed management. We evaluated how legumes sown as cover crops in a synchronous intercropping (SI) system with organic oat (Avena sativa) as the main crop impacted weed communities. A split-plot design was set up on a farm in Poularies (Quebec, Canada) to compare Melilotus officinalis, Trifolium incarnatum, Trifolium repens and a control without legumes for two years (2019–2020). We determined the botanical composition, calculated diversity indices, and measured plant functional traits. Species richness was similar (S = 5.5 ± 0.4) across treatments in 2019, but higher in the control (S = 12.2 ± 2.6) and lower (S = 6.0 ± 1.2) under T. incarnatum in 2020. Shannon diversity was lower in 2019 (H′ = 1.49 ± 0.07) than in 2020 (H′ = 1.99 ± 0.04), and higher under the control (H′ = 1.87 ± 0.05) than under T. incarnatum (H′ = 1.46 ± 0.04). Weeds under T. incarnatum had a high specific leaf area and a resource-acquisition strategy, while those in the control had a higher leaf dry matter content and a resource-conservation strategy. Our study brings novel results on the use of legumes in SI systems to control weeds. Using T. incarnatum in a SI system with oat had the greatest capacity to cover the ground, control weeds and reduce their diversity, but this species and the acquisitive weeds in this treatment could compete with the main crop. Future research should evaluate the quantity and quality of yields to complete this ecological study and give appropriate agronomic recommendations. Our results could provide agronomists and farmers with indications on the level of competition weeds exert on the cropping system depending on the SI treatment. Full article

Mechanical weed-control methods using autonomous weeding machines provide an option for farmers to reduce the use of herbicides while efficiently dealing with weed issues. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the effects of advanced mechanical weed control technology on soil bacterial communities in paddy fields. In this study, a field experiment was conducted in southern China in 2021. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing was employed to sequence bacterial communities in soil samples under three treatments: mechanical weeding, chemical weeding, and no weeding. The objective was to investigate the impact of different weed-control methods on the diversity, composition, and co-occurrence patterns of soil bacteria. While mechanical weed-control method did not significantly alter bacterial alpha diversity, it specifically increased the relative abundance of the Bacteroidota phylum. Co-occurrence network analysis further showed that mechanical weed-control treatment enhanced network complexity and the proportion of positive interactions among bacteria, likely due to the physical intertillage effect of the weeding machinery. Our one-year study indicates that mechanical weed control can promote beneficial shifts in soil bacterial interactions without reducing diversity, offering a novel microcosmic perspective for selecting appropriate weed-control methods in agricultural management and sustainability of soil ecosystems. Full article

Chenopodium album L. is a highly problematic weed in agricultural systems, exhibiting resistance or tolerance to multiple herbicides. This weed significantly impacts crop growth and yield, threatening global agricultural production. Since the introduction of genetically modified herbicide-resistant crops, glyphosate has become a primary option for controlling C. album. However, the continuous application of glyphosate has led to shifts in weed community composition, favoring species that are more challenging to manage, and thus complicating weed control efforts. Although glyphosate resistance in C. album has not been confirmed, varying tolerance among populations brings practical problems to weed evolution. This review provides a synthesis of the progress on the mechanisms of glyphosate tolerance in C. album. Key factors influencing plant responses to glyphosate are examined, including target proteins, encoding genes, morphological and physiological traits, transport capacity, and metabolic detoxification processes. The existing evidence indicates that glyphosate tolerance in C. album is driven primarily by non-target-site adaptations or morpho-physiological changes, not target-site mutations. The insights gained from this review will aid in designing precision approaches to manage glyphosate-tolerant weeds in agricultural systems. Full article

Weeds reduce crop yield but may also support agroecosystem biodiversity. The biomass and functional composition of weed communities were evaluated in cereal–field bean intercrops and sole crops, with and without NP fertilization. Intercrops were repeatedly grown in the same plots using 1:1 and 2:1 cereal:field bean row ratios, while sole crops were sown at low or high density and rotated. Weeds were sampled at cereal flowering and maturity stages. Fertilization had little effect on weed biomass but tended to reduce species richness and favor cosmopolitan species. Intercropping reduced weed biomass two- to sevenfold compared with high-density cereal and legume sole crops. Plot richness was 39% lower in intercrops than in field bean and low-density cereal crops. Over three years, weed functional composition was influenced more by year than by crop system or fertilization. However, the contribution of tall weeds increased in intercrops: 51% compared to 42% in high-density sole crops and approximately 31% in low-density ones. The average frequency of types indicated early shifts in weed community structure. In conclusion, continuous cereal–field bean intercropping controlled weeds more effectively than rotated sole crops, with a slight decline in species richness and minor shifts in functional composition. Full article

The surface chemistry of biochar plays a pivotal role in the adsorption and stabilization of soil organic carbon (SOC); however, sorption-mediated mechanisms remain insufficiently understood for biochars derived from invasive plants. In this study, Solanum rostratum biomass, an aggressive invasive weed in northern China, was pyrolyzed at 400–600 °C in 2023 to produce biochars with varying surface functionalities and structural features. FTIR, Raman, XPS, and SEM analyses revealed that increasing pyrolysis temperature led to decreased oxygen-containing functional groups and enhanced aromatic condensation, reflecting a transition from hydrogen bonding to π–π and hydrophobic sorption mechanisms. Soil incubation experiments using sandy loam soil showed that biochar produced at 500 °C significantly increased the stable carbon pool (SCP) to 52.4%, compared to 30.6% in unamended soils. It also reduced cumulative CO₂ release from 1.74 mg g⁻¹ to 1.21 mg g⁻¹ soil, indicating improved carbon retention. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that biochar amendments significantly altered community composition and increased deterministic assembly, particularly under 500 °C biochar, suggesting a sorption-driven niche filtering effect. These findings demonstrate that S. rostratum-derived biochar, especially at intermediate pyrolysis temperatures, enhances both carbon sequestration and microbial habitat structure. This has direct implications for improving degraded soils in arid farming regions, offering a dual strategy for invasive biomass management and climate-resilient agriculture. Full article