Predicting the Emergence of Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. in Maize Crop in Croatia with Hydrothermal Model

Abstract

Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. is the most common monocotyledonous weed in maize crops in Croatia. Crop–weed interference is influenced by weed emergence patterns, and knowledge of the timing of weed emergence is crucial for the development of an efficient integrated weed-management program. Therefore, two-year field experiments were conducted in a maize crop sown in early May in continental Croatia to determine the emergence pattern of E. crus-galli from natural seedbank. In laboratory studies, the estimated base temperature and base water potential for the Croatian ecotype of E. crus-galli were 10.8 °C and −0.97 MPa, respectively. Then, the estimated germination parameters were compared with the values embedded in the AlertInf model from Italy (Veneto) to calibrate this hydrothermal model. The estimated hydrothermal units were around 28 for the onset (10%) and 93 for the middle (50%) emergence of E. crus-galli. Our findings showed that the AlertInf model satisfactorily simulated the emergence of E. crus-galli in maize crop in Croatia (EF = 0.97 in 2019 and 0.98 in 2020), indicating its potential use in other geographical areas

Comparing the emergence of Echinochloa crus‐galli populations in different locations. Part I: Variations in emergence timing and behaviour of two populations

“…crus ‐ galli may be difficult to develop: the two populations reacted differently to the same environmental conditions. The need to determine model parameters for different populations and environments is supported by differences in T b which have been found for different locations/populations (Bagavathiannan et al, 2011; Guillemin et al, 2013; Loddo et al, 2018; Masin et al, 2014; Sadeghloo et al, 2013; Šoštarčić et al, 2021). Among these values, the estimated T b for E .…”

“…In Europe, a model that predicts the emergence of E . crus ‐ galli in maize and soybean is also available (Masin et al, 2014; Šoštarčić et al, 2021).…”

“…crus ‐ galli by the different T b levels of 11.7°C and 9.7°C in Central and Northern Italy (Masin et al, 2014) and Arkansas (Bagavathiannan et al, 2011), respectively. Other estimates of T b include 5°C (Sadeghloo et al, 2013) and 13.3°C (Loddo et al, 2018) in Iran, 10.8°C in Croatia (Šoštarčić et al, 2021) and 6.2°C in France (Guillemin et al, 2013).…”

Validation of a new tool to predict the weed emergence in Spain

“…To achieve this objective, further field experiments need to be conducted. Nonetheless, there is a likelihood of success as shown by Šoštarčić et al ., 43 who used AlertInf models to predict the emergence of E. crus‐galli in maize crops in Croatia.…”

Comparing the emergence of Echinochloa crus‐galli populations in different locations. Part II: similarities and threshold parameters

“…For example, the models from Bagavatiannan et al (2011) and Masin et al (2014) have been found to be useful in Arkansas (USA) and Veneto (Italy), respectively, that is where they were developed. They may, however, need to be adjusted for other locations, as has happened in Croatia (Šoštarčić et al, 2021). E. crus‐galli is clearly highly adaptable (Guo et al, 2017), for example the estimated T b seedling emergence of different populations varied from 5°C (Sadeghloo et al, 2013) up to 13.3°C (Loddo et al, 2018), which results in large differences in thermal‐time (TT) estimation.…”