Native and not-native weeds in globe artichoke fields under diverse cropping systems in Sardinia (Italy)
Lozano Vanessa, Brundu Giuseppe, Tiloca Maria Teresa, Ledda Luigi
Department of Agriculture, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Both native and non-native weeds pose globally an important economic threat to crop production in agricultural areas as they compete for space, light, water and nutrients from the soil. The rate between native and non-native weeds in agricultural cropping systems has been only scarcely studied as the weed flora is more frequently considered as a single unit. However, pathways of introduction and spread and impacts might be diverse. Agricultural areas can be sites of introduction of new alien species, therefore worth to be periodically monitored or they could act as reservoirs of alien species that can invade also adjacent semi-natural to natural areas, thus specific management plans are to be put in place.
This study was conducted in the framework of a project funded by the Sardinian Regional Authority, i.e. “CarBio - Carciofo Biologico: innovazione e sostenibilità di filiera”. The objective of the study was to assess the native and non-native weed flora of Sardinian globe artichoke fields, under different management types (conventional or alternative) along a temporal and geographic gradient. To estimate weed cover in the field, we established a network of 1x1 m control plots, GPS located, between the artichoke’s rows, with a total of 12 plots per each field.
The presence/absence and cover degree of all weeds was evaluated. The investigated fields are located in three main macro-areas of the island of Sardinia (Italy) where globe artichoke cultivation represents the most important and economically relevant open field horticultural crop.
We also evaluated weed flora diversity as a result of weed management changes in globe artichoke cropping systems. Specifically, were evaluated the following three management systems: a) conventional cultivation, b) improved monoculture in which in globe artichoke cropping system was introduced no synthetic fertilizer supply and a short cycle of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Bronco', both for additional income and for N supply,and c) organic system characterized by no synthetic fertilizer supply and an inter-row cover crop of pea (Pisum sativum 'Attika').
Taking into account Cynara growth cycle, floristic data were collected in three different periods of the year and species were monitored from late winter when inflorescence develop (BBCH code 50-9) to summer when globe artichoke was BBCH code 30-9 (leafs development) during the first growing season (2018-2019).
As a preliminary result, we present the full checklist of the recorded weed species, the seasonal differences of the coverage of native and non-native weeds. Oxalis pes-caprae is one of the most abundant alien species in the globe artichoke fields during the late winter – early spring season, in spite of the many attempts to control its spread. The research is in its initial phase, however, the data collected so far have highlighted significant differences among cropping systems which suggests the possibility of identifying optimal and sustainable strategies for the management of
native and non-native weeds in Cynara fields, by developing more eco-friendly production systems.
