TO WHAT EXTENT IS WEEDING A KEY PRACTICE FOR ARUNDO GROWTH IN THE ESTABLISHMENT YEAR OF THE CROP?

摘要

There is little knowledge of the impact of weeds on the energy crop of Arundo donax. In this work therneffect of weeds on the growth of Arundo donax is studied in Central Spain in the establishment of the crop. Thernexperimental design involved a field experiment with three weeding treatments and four quantitative variables. Weedrnspecies, abundance and size of the dominant weed were assessed as well. Significant differences were found betweenrntreatments for all plant traits. The most sensitive trait was the basal diameter of Arundo main stems. In ourrnexperiment conditions, Conyza spp was the dominant weed and it grew above Arundo crop in the control treatment.rnEvidence was provided that weeding should be best performed in mid spring.