Weed species richness, density and relative abundance on farms in the subtropical grain region of Australia

Rew, L. J., Medd, R. W., Van de Ven, R., Gavin, J. J., Robinson, G. R., Tuitee, M., Barnes, J. and Walker, S. (2005) Weed species richness, density and relative abundance on farms in the subtropical grain region of Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 45 6: 711-723.


Author Rew, L. J.
Medd, R. W.
Van de Ven, R.
Gavin, J. J.
Robinson, G. R.
Tuitee, M.
Barnes, J.
Walker, S.
Title Weed species richness, density and relative abundance on farms in the subtropical grain region of Australia
Journal name Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2005
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1071/EA03273
Volume number 45
Issue number 6
ISSN 0816-1089; 1836-5787
Start page 711
End page 723
Total pages 13
Place of publication Collingwood, Vic., Australia
Publisher CSIRO Publishing
Language eng
Formatted abstract Weed management is one of the most important economic and agronomic issues facing farmers in Australia’s grain regions. Weed species occurrence and abundance was monitored between 1997 and 2000 on 46 paddocks (sites) across 18 commercial farms located in the Northern Grain Region. The sites generally fell within 4 disjunct regions, from south to north: Liverpool Plains, Moree, Goondiwindi and Kingaroy. While high species richness was found (139 species or species groups), only 8 species occurred in all 4 regions and many (56 species) only occurred at 1 site or region. No species were observed at every site but 7 species (Sonchus spp., Avena spp., Conyza spp., Echinochloa spp., Convolvulus erubescens, Phalaris spp. and Lactuca serriola) were recorded on more than 70% of sites. The average number of species observed within crops after treatment and before harvest was less than 13. Species richness tended to be higher in winter pulse crops, cotton and in fallows, but overall was similar at the different sampling seasons (summer v. winter). Separate species assemblages associated with the Goondiwindi and Kingaroy regions were identified by correspondence analysis but these appeared to form no logical functional group. The species richness and density was generally low, demonstrating that farmers are managing weed populations effectively in both summer and winter cropping phases. Despite the apparent adoption of conservation tillage, an increase in opportunity cropping and the diversity of crops grown (13) there was no obvious effect of management practices on weed species richness or relative abundance. Avena spp. and Sonchus spp. were 2 of the most dominant weeds, particularly in central and southern latitudes of the region; Amaranthus spp. and Raphanus raphanistrum were the most abundant species in the northern part of the region. The ubiquity of these and other species shows that continued vigilance is required to suppress weeds as a management issue.
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Provisional Code
Institutional Status Non-UQ
Additional Notes Current journal title: Animal Production Science

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collection: Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation
 
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