engleski

IMPACT OF COMMON RAGWEED (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) ON WEED FLORA OF ROW CROPS DURING LAST FOUR DECADES IN CROATIA

In the last twenty years invasive alien plants have been of interest to researchers from different scientific fields as it is known that they are a serious threat to ecosystems and biodiversity. Invasive plants threat also the native weed associations of the agricultural land. The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) listed plant species posing a threat to the plant health, environment and biodiversity among which is a common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.). Common ragweed is well-known as a strong competitor, particularly in row crops (corn, sunflower, sugar beet and soybean) where it can maintain large populations. We analyzed untreated plots in 167 field trials conducted in row crops (maize, sugarbeet, soybean, sunflower and potato) over the last 40 years. Weed species were tabulated every year and frequency (%) and species density (plant m-2) were calculated and compared. Ambrosia artemisiifolia was less frequent then other weed species till 1989, whereas its frequency was similar or higher from 1999. Polygonum persicaria and Amaranthus retroflexus frequency declined over the time. Ambrosia artemisiifolia came from 10th place in 1979. on 2nd place in 2009. If we take into account only annual broadleaf weeds as the most similar weed species regarding life cycle and ecological traits, common ragweed came from 5th to 1st place.

weed flora; invasive species; common ragweed; frequency

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