ALBERT

Description: The present paper reports on three sets of experiments exploring the persistence of seeds of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). The first, where known numbers of seeds were buried in September 1991 in two field experiments, demonstrated substantial initial losses of seeds, such that only 0·2 and 3·8% of seeds were still present after 4 months. In these experiments, which were not disturbed by mechanical cultivation, there was little evidence of further decline over the following 13 months. In the second of the two experiments, seeds were then left undisturbed for a further 136 months. A mean of 1·8% of seeds were still present after this period, providing further confirmation of the lack of decline in seed numbers in these undisturbed conditions. In the second pair of experiments, known numbers of seeds of three rape cultivars were broadcast onto plots and then either ploughed into the soil immediately after the start of the experiments, or were exposed to weekly shallow tine cultivation followed by ploughing after 4 weeks. The former created a larger seedbank than the latter. The experiments were then ploughed, annually (Expt 1) or at less frequent intervals (Expt 2); appreciable numbers of seeds survived for 65 months in both. Calculations based on exponential decline curves indicated that 95% seed loss would take 15–39 months, depending on the site, cultivar and initial post-harvest stubble treatment. The third part of the paper is based on more detailed studies of persistence of seeds of six cultivars in Petri dishes and buried in 25 cm pots. This work confirmed that cultivars differed in their persistence, as Apex was confirmed as highly persistent, whereas Rebel was short-lived. There were inconsistencies in the response of cultivar Synergy between the Petri-dish and pot experiment, which need further study. This experiment also reinforced the conclusion of the initial field experiments that little seed loss occurs in the absence of cultivations. Appreciable numbers of rape seeds will persist up to 4 years, in normal cropping conditions and in the absence of cultivation one experiment has confirmed persistence for over 11 years.

Description: Three experiments have investigated the effect of the timing of control of infestations of volunteer barley (Hordeum vulgare), Stellaria media and Galium aparine on the growth and yield of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Although the experiments used conventional herbicides to achieve the different timings of control, the work was done in the context of the commercialization of herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape, where treatments could be applied at any time from autumn to spring. In the three seasons studied, oilseed rape growth was particularly vigorous in the autumn and, as a consequence, the competitive impact of the weeds was lower than anticipated. Untreated volunteer barley and G. aparine reduced yields in one and two experiments, respectively. However, in all experiments volunteer barley reduced crop growth in winter and spring severely, even though January treatments prevented yield loss in these vigorous crops. Delayed control of this weed would not be advisable if the weed was particularly dense or the crop less vigorous. In contrast, the G. aparine had no effect on crop growth and was only really apparent in the crop in late summer, so delaying treatment until even March would not put yields at risk. In one year, S. media markedly reduced crop growth in late winter but in the second experiment this did not occur. Consequently, as with the G. aparine, delayed autumn control would be unlikely to jeopardize yields. Thus, if herbicide-tolerant crops are commercialized in Europe, there will be flexibility in timing of application of herbicides to control broad-leaved weeds in winter rape but there would be a risk of yield loss from delayed control of volunteer cereals.