The problem of controlling segetal vegetation in agrophytocenoses in the context of biodiversity conservation

Abstract

Weeds for a long time coexist with cultivated plants in agrophytocenoses and can be considered as indicators of biodiversity. From the phytocenotic viewpoint, the existence and persistence of weeds are quite natural, but for economic reasons weeds are negative factors because of their competition with cultivated plants (crops) for water, nutrients, and living space. The strategic task of crop protection is the control of weeds at the economic threshold of harm. Under modern conditions, the use of integrated crop protection technologies, which involve combining and harmonizing crop rotation schemes, agrotechnics and chemical protection means, becomes of particular importance. The article discusses the issues related to the need for integrated application of several active ingredients of herbicides, which complement each other by their spectrum of action, improve the effectiveness of weed control, and prevent the emergence of resistance of weeds to specific herbicides. The basic regularities of the changes of selective phytotoxicity in complexes of herbicides with different mechanisms of their action, which were established in the course of researche, became the basis for development of various effective herbicidal complexes and mixtures for protection of various crops. According to the current strategy, the application of integrated crop protection systems should ensure the maintenance or reduction of potential infestation with weeds during rotation of crops. At that, the weed species composition in agrophytocenoses should not undergo abrupt changes, except for a significant reduction of the potential contamination by especially harmful weedy species.

Effect of weeds on pea (Pisum sativum) seed germination

“…Early adaptative nature, rapid growth, and fast spread of weeds make them able to inhibit growth of desired crops and reduce the final estimated yields. (Morderer et al, 2018;Shah et al, 2022;Zareen et al, 2022). Weeds that invade crops contest for environmental resources alongside releasing certain chemicals into the soil, thereby lowering yield potential (Lalbiakdika et al, 2022).…”

Influence of cultivation methods on the soil aggregate state in the context of weed development in winter wheat plantations

“…Weeds, diseases, and pests remain significant factors that reduce winter wheat yields by more than a third (Jørgensen et al, 2019). Harmful and beneficial organisms cannot be considered in isolation from agrophytocenoses in the field (Morderer et al, 2019). They are essential components of ecological systems, and changes in their numbers and taxonomic composition are caused by changes in environmental conditions and unequal responses of individual species to plant-protection products, as well as by the specifics of grain growing technology in general.…”

Bacteria as agents of biocontrol of phytopathogens after laser stimulation and of their metabolites’ impact on plants

“…When exposed to hormone-like plant herbicides, the cell size increases and does not have time to stock up nutrients, which leads to their depletion and death. Due to the fact that further auxin-like substances affect various metabolic processes, the normal functioning of the plant as a whole is subsequently disturbed [10,11,12].…”