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In an effort to implement conservation measures farmers have used a variety of production methods, including the use of reduced or zero tillage and cover crops. One benefit of these production methods has been early season weed control. The literature suggests that a variety of mechanisms may be involved, among them the allelopathic effects of phenolic acids. This retrospective analysis addresses the following: How likely are phenolic acid concentrations and environmental conditions in wheat no-till cropping systems for the inhibition of annual broadleaf weed emergence? and Do phenolic acids have a dominant role or are they just one component of a larger promoter/modifier/inhibitor complex? The book covers allelopathic plant-plant interactions, laboratory and field experiments, and future research. It uses a journal format, provides justifications for procedures used, if-then hypotheses, and cons and pros so that readers can reach their own conclusions.
List of contents
List of Illustrations.- List of Tables.- Abbreviations.- Dedication.- Preface.- References.- Acknowledgements.- Chapter 1: Plant-plant Allelopathic Interactions.- Chapter 2: Plant-plant Allelopathic Interactions. Phase I: The Laboratory.- 2.1 Criteria for Model Systems.- 2.2 Materials, Methods, and Commentary.- 2.3 Research Objectives.- 2.4 Results and Discussion.- 2.5 Summary of Major Points for Model Systems.- 2.6 Relevance of Model Systems to Field Studies.- Chapter 3: Plant-plant Allelopathic Interactions. Phase II: Field/Laboratory Experiments.- 3.1 Annual Broadleaf Weed Control in No-till Systems.- 3.2 Material, Methods, and Commentary.- 3.3 Research Objectives.- 3.4 Results and Discussion.- 3.5 Summary of Major Points.- Chapter 4: Phase III: Summing Up.- 4.1 Hypotheses.- 4.2 Final Comments.- 4.3 The Present Paradigm.- 4.4 A Modified Paradigm.- 4.5. Concluding Remarks.- Author Index.- Subject Index.
About the author
Professor Emeritus at NC State University, Prof. Udo Blum is interested in characterizing and identifying the mechanisms by which allelopathic compounds, specifically phenolic acids (e.g., ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid), released into the soil environment may impact soil chemistry (e.g., soil nutrition, organic pools, sorption and desorption), soil microbiology (e.g., population biology, natural selection, carbon utilization), rhizosphere ecology (e.g., microbial population biology) and population biology (e.g., germination, seedling emergence) and physiology (e.g., mineral nutrition, carbon allocation, water relations, growth) of dicot weeds in no-till agroecosystems.
Summary
In an effort to implement conservation measures farmers have used a variety of production methods, including the use of reduced or zero tillage and cover crops. One benefit of these production methods has been early season weed control. The literature suggests that a variety of mechanisms may be involved, among them the allelopathic effects of phenolic acids. This retrospective analysis addresses the following: How likely are phenolic acid concentrations and environmental conditions in wheat no-till cropping systems for the inhibition of annual broadleaf weed emergence? and Do phenolic acids have a dominant role or are they just one component of a larger promoter/modifier/inhibitor complex? The book covers allelopathic plant-plant interactions, laboratory and field experiments, and future research. It uses a journal format, provides justifications for procedures used, if-then hypotheses, and cons and pros so that readers can reach their own conclusions.
