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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #269626
Title: Projected climate change and the role of water availability on weed-induced losses in processing tomato for Southern Italy

Author
item VALERIO, MARIA - University Of Basilicata
item LOVELLI, STELLA - University Of Basilicata
item PERNIOLA, MICHELE - University Of Basilicata
item DITOMMASO, TEODORO - University Of Basilicata
item Ziska, Lewis

Submitted to: Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/18/2012
Publication Date: 7/1/2012
Citation: Valerio, M., Lovelli, S., Perniola, M., Ditommaso, T., Ziska, L.H. 2012. Projected climate change and the role of water availability on weed-induced losses in processing tomato for Southern Italy. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica. 63:62-68.

Interpretive Summary: The aim of this study was to quantify the role of water availability on crop and weed competition and weed-related crop losses for processing tomato grown in Southern Italy. Field experiments were carried out during 2008 and 2009, for a two year period. Two levels of water availability (rainfed and irrigated) were imposed to compare weed competitive effects under irrigated and rainfed conditions on tomato. Although the decline in tomato yields by weed interference increased with the amount of water applied (rain + irrigation), the relative effect of weed biomass on competition appeared to increase under drought, relative to irrigated conditions. That is, under drought, the same amount of weed biomass caused a greater reduction in tomato yield. Because of the importance of irrigation in tomato processing, and the increasing cost of water, quantification of weed-induced production losses as a function of water availability may provide useful information for land managers regarding the cost and benefits of weed control if water becomes scarce. Consequently, this information will be useful to land and water managers, weed scientists and agricultural extension.

Technical Abstract: The aim of this study was to quantify the role of water availability on crop and weed interactions and weed-induced crop losses for processing tomato grown in Southern Italy. Field experiments were carried out during 2008 and 2009, for a two year period. Two levels of water availability (rainfed and irrigated) were imposed to compare weed competitive effects under irrigated and rainfed conditions on tomato. Although the decline in tomato yields by weed interference was a direct function of water applied (rain + irrigation), the relative effect of weed biomass on competition appeared to increase under drought, relative to irrigated conditions. Because of the importance of irrigation in tomato processing, and the increasing cost of water, quantification of weed-induced production losses as a function of water availability may provide useful information for land managers regarding the cost and benefits of weed control if water becomes scarce.