Legacy effects of crop diversity on weed-crop competition in maize production

Abstract The legacy effects of crop diversity on maize (Zea mays L.) tissue nutrient composition, weed community structure, and intensity of weed-crop competition were assessed through a field experiment at two sites in the northeastern United States. Fields were conditioned with crop diversity grad...

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Main Authors: Uriel D. Menalled, K. Ann Bybee-Finley, Richard G. Smith, Antonio DiTommaso, Heather M. Darby, Sarah J. Pethybridge, Matthew R. Ryan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:npj Sustainable Agriculture
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-024-00036-y
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author Uriel D. Menalled
K. Ann Bybee-Finley
Richard G. Smith
Antonio DiTommaso
Heather M. Darby
Sarah J. Pethybridge
Matthew R. Ryan
author_facet Uriel D. Menalled
K. Ann Bybee-Finley
Richard G. Smith
Antonio DiTommaso
Heather M. Darby
Sarah J. Pethybridge
Matthew R. Ryan
author_sort Uriel D. Menalled
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The legacy effects of crop diversity on maize (Zea mays L.) tissue nutrient composition, weed community structure, and intensity of weed-crop competition were assessed through a field experiment at two sites in the northeastern United States. Fields were conditioned with crop diversity gradients from summer 2016 to spring 2019. The crop diversity gradients ranged from a single cultivar to sixteen intercropped cultivars (four species, four cultivars per species) and were established in organic annual and perennial cropping systems. Following the three-year conditioning phase, maize was planted across the entire experiment, and each conditioning-phase diversity treatment was split into weed-free, ambient-weed, moderate-weed, and heavy-weed treatments. Within each cropping system, the effect of crop diversity legacy on weed-crop competition was negligible. In contrast, weed-crop competition varied between the maize grown in soil conditioned by the annual and perennial cropping systems.
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spelling doaj-art-6083c407eee14201b064e875ca3d95c02024-12-22T12:43:23ZengNature Portfolionpj Sustainable Agriculture2731-92022024-12-01211910.1038/s44264-024-00036-yLegacy effects of crop diversity on weed-crop competition in maize productionUriel D. Menalled0K. Ann Bybee-Finley1Richard G. Smith2Antonio DiTommaso3Heather M. Darby4Sarah J. Pethybridge5Matthew R. Ryan6School of Integrative Plant Science, Soil and Crop Sciences Section, Cornell UniversityUSDA-ARS, Sustainable Agricultural Systems LaboratoryDepartment of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New HampshireSchool of Integrative Plant Science, Soil and Crop Sciences Section, Cornell UniversityDepartment of Plant and Soil Science, University of VermontSchool of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, Cornell UniversitySchool of Integrative Plant Science, Soil and Crop Sciences Section, Cornell UniversityAbstract The legacy effects of crop diversity on maize (Zea mays L.) tissue nutrient composition, weed community structure, and intensity of weed-crop competition were assessed through a field experiment at two sites in the northeastern United States. Fields were conditioned with crop diversity gradients from summer 2016 to spring 2019. The crop diversity gradients ranged from a single cultivar to sixteen intercropped cultivars (four species, four cultivars per species) and were established in organic annual and perennial cropping systems. Following the three-year conditioning phase, maize was planted across the entire experiment, and each conditioning-phase diversity treatment was split into weed-free, ambient-weed, moderate-weed, and heavy-weed treatments. Within each cropping system, the effect of crop diversity legacy on weed-crop competition was negligible. In contrast, weed-crop competition varied between the maize grown in soil conditioned by the annual and perennial cropping systems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-024-00036-y
spellingShingle Uriel D. Menalled
K. Ann Bybee-Finley
Richard G. Smith
Antonio DiTommaso
Heather M. Darby
Sarah J. Pethybridge
Matthew R. Ryan
Legacy effects of crop diversity on weed-crop competition in maize production
npj Sustainable Agriculture
title Legacy effects of crop diversity on weed-crop competition in maize production
title_full Legacy effects of crop diversity on weed-crop competition in maize production
title_fullStr Legacy effects of crop diversity on weed-crop competition in maize production
title_full_unstemmed Legacy effects of crop diversity on weed-crop competition in maize production
title_short Legacy effects of crop diversity on weed-crop competition in maize production
title_sort legacy effects of crop diversity on weed crop competition in maize production
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-024-00036-y
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