Globe artichoke [Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus (L.) Fiori] is one of the most important crops across the Mediterranean basin, where weeds are an important biotic constraint limiting crop yields. However, the effects of globe artichoke-cropping systems on weeds have been rarely tested. Following the demand for eco-friendly weed management practices, a multi-location trial (13 farms) was carried out, measuring weed seedbanks and aboveground communities within four globe artichoke-cropping systems: globe artichoke monoculture (ART), past cultivation of globe artichoke (8 to 10 yr ago) (past-ART), a globe artichoke-durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) rotation (ART-WHEAT), and a control where globe artichoke was never grown. Both below- and aboveground weed communities were dominated by annual therophytes, but a low correspondence was found between both types of communities. Averaged over farms, ART highly reduced both the weed soil seedbank (1,600 seeds m-2 on average) and the aboveground weed biomass (only 3.4 g dry weight m-2) compared with the control, with a decrease of 72% in the soil seedbank and 99% in the aboveground flora. Moreover, on the farms where globe artichoke was previously grown, a very low aboveground weed biomass (77% less than control) was found. In addition, ART contributed to the preservation of high levels of weed diversity (except for aboveground communities) and therefore avoided the creation of a specialized weed flora. In conclusion, we suggest the inclusion of globe artichoke into crop rotation schemes in Mediterranean agroecosystems as a sustainable tool for reducing both the soil weed seedbank and aboveground weeds, thus reducing the requirement of direct weed control methods and preserving the environment.

Responses of soil seedbank and aboveground weed communities to globe artichoke–cropping systems: an on-farm analysis

Scavo, Aurelio
;
Restuccia, Alessia;Mauromicale, Giovanni
2024-01-01

Abstract

Globe artichoke [Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus (L.) Fiori] is one of the most important crops across the Mediterranean basin, where weeds are an important biotic constraint limiting crop yields. However, the effects of globe artichoke-cropping systems on weeds have been rarely tested. Following the demand for eco-friendly weed management practices, a multi-location trial (13 farms) was carried out, measuring weed seedbanks and aboveground communities within four globe artichoke-cropping systems: globe artichoke monoculture (ART), past cultivation of globe artichoke (8 to 10 yr ago) (past-ART), a globe artichoke-durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) rotation (ART-WHEAT), and a control where globe artichoke was never grown. Both below- and aboveground weed communities were dominated by annual therophytes, but a low correspondence was found between both types of communities. Averaged over farms, ART highly reduced both the weed soil seedbank (1,600 seeds m-2 on average) and the aboveground weed biomass (only 3.4 g dry weight m-2) compared with the control, with a decrease of 72% in the soil seedbank and 99% in the aboveground flora. Moreover, on the farms where globe artichoke was previously grown, a very low aboveground weed biomass (77% less than control) was found. In addition, ART contributed to the preservation of high levels of weed diversity (except for aboveground communities) and therefore avoided the creation of a specialized weed flora. In conclusion, we suggest the inclusion of globe artichoke into crop rotation schemes in Mediterranean agroecosystems as a sustainable tool for reducing both the soil weed seedbank and aboveground weeds, thus reducing the requirement of direct weed control methods and preserving the environment.
2024
Crop rotation
Cynara cardunculus
weed management
weed abundance
weed diversity
species composition
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/640736
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