Scholarly record

CHEMICAL CONTROL OF THE INVASIVE SPECIES AMBROSIA ARTEMISIIFOLIA L. IN SUN FLOWER AGROECOSYSTEM

Ramona Stef

Abstract

The species Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. is a native of North America and was introduced in Europe, in botanical gardens, in the 17th-18th centuries [3, 6]. First alerts on the presence of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. in Romania was registered in 1910 [11]. In the period 1960-1985 Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. was considered a ruderal species and was sporadically reported in Romania. The results of recent research show that Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. is in full expansion in Romania, as well as an increase in abundance, becoming now a segetal species, showing the tendency to invade agricultural crops. The present study on the chemical control of this species is important because it is a invasive species that threatens the biodiversity of ecosystems by releasing some allelopathic compounds into the environment compounds which can suppress other species, leads to large production reductions in agroecosystems and produces a very large amount of pollen, being a plant with a strong allergenic character. The importance of the study is also given by the reduced range of chemicals approved in Romania for the reduction of the populations of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.. For chemical control of the species Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. in sunflower agroecosystem, four pre-emergence herbicides (Frontier Forte, Wing P, Gardoprim Plus Gold, Dual Gold 960 EC) were applied in different doses. The sunflower hybrid used in the experience was the LG 5555, type semi-early hybrid Clearfield Plus (SUNEO). The trial included 9 treatments. As a result of plant counting, from the sunflower agroecosystem, it appeared that in the untreated plots only the species Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. was present in a number of 125 plants. The EWRS scale was used to determine the efficacy of herbicides in population reduction of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.. The best results obtained against invasive species Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. in sunflower agroecosystems were recorded in variants where Wing P was applied (98%). The Dual Gold 960 EC herbicide exhibited the lowest efficacy in controlling the target species.

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