Identifying the effect of density dependence, agricultural practices and climate variables on the long-term dynamics of weed populations
2014
García de León, David | Freckleton, R. P. | Lima, Mauricio | Navarrete, Luis | Castellanos-Frías, Elena | González-Andújar, José Luis | Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha | European Commission | Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España)
Quantifying the impacts of climate change on weed populations requires an understanding of the relative contributions of endogenous and exogenous factors on their numerical fluctuations. Here, we have used long-term data (26 years) of seven weed species growing in a cereal–legume rotation from a locality in central Spain to determine the importance of endogenous (density dependence) and exogenous (tillage system, crop rotation, temperature and precipitation) factors. Density dependence was the main driver of the population dynamics studied, and it was exhibited more frequently under zero tillage (86% of the species) than under minimum tillage (57% of the species). Our results confirmed previous findings and provided stronger support for density dependence under zero tillage than under minimum tillage. Under the latter, temperature negatively affected the population growth rate of Descurainia sophia and positively Atriplex patula. We found no effect of either precipitation or crop rotation on population dynamics. Our findings could underpin an awareness campaign aimed at farmers to prevent them from drawing unwarranted conclusions regarding the efficacy of the particular control method used in a given year.
Mostrar más [+] Menos [-]This work has been partly funded by the Spanish Regional Government of Comunidad de Castilla la Mancha (Project POII 10-0123-554) and by FEDER Funds and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (AGL2012-39929-C03-01 and AGL2012-33736). DGL was supported by a JAE-Predoc-LINCGlobal scholarship.
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