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Title: IMPLICATIONS OF WEED SEED AND SEED BANK DYNAMICS TO WEED MANAGEMENT

Author
item Buhler, Douglas - Doug
item HARTZLER, ROBERT - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Forcella, Frank

Submitted to: Weed Technology Journal
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/21/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The seed represents the end of the reproductive cycle and the beginnings of a new plant. The seed contains everything plants need for dispersal, survival, and germination of the next generation. The soil acts as a medium for seed storage and plant regeneration and the seed bank is a key element in the persistence of most annual weed species. The species composition and density of weed seed in the soil varies greatly and is closely linked to the cropping history of the land. For example, tillage influences the vertical distribution of weed seed in the soil, which plays a role in weed species shifts and affects efficacy of control practices. Crop rotation and weed control practices also impact the weed seed bank in the soil. Information on the weed seed bank should be a useful tool for integrated weed management. Decision aid models are being developed that use information on the composition of the weed seed bank to estimate weed populations, crop yield loss, and to recommend weed control tactics. Understanding the light requirements of weed seed may provide new approaches to weed management. Improving and applying our understanding of weed seed and seed bank dynamics is essential to developing improved weed management systems. The principles of plant ecology must be integrated with the science of weed management to develop strategies that take advantage of basic plant responses in weed management systems for agronomic crops.