Weed-seed banks in soil

Abstract

Various biological characteristics of weed seeds were investigated. Weed seeds differ in many aspects from those of agricultural seeds. The difference results from a centuries-long struggle against the forces of nature, and especially from human activities aimed at controlling them. Weed seeds differ from those of agricultural crops regarding their biological (anatomical, morphological, physiological), and physical characteristics. The biological characteristics especially include: seed production, irregularity of maturing periods, seed viability, dormancy and germination intervals while the physical characteristics of weed seeds relate to: seed and fruit shape, size, character of the seed surface, absolute and specific mass, etc. Knowing the biological characteristics of weed seeds has great practical value both for forecasting weediness of a particular crop, and for planning and applying control measures, while data on the physical characteristics are relevant to the expansion of weeds, their identification and steps to be taken to acquire pure agricultural seeds. Research of the mechanisms of genetic, physiological and biological control of different phenomena and processes in weed seeds could prove invaluable for creating new cultivars and hybrids of agricultural crops.

U radu se razmatraju osnovne biološke karakteristike semena korovskih biljaka (produkcija, neravnomernost sazrevanja, dugovečnost i životna sposobnost, klijanje, periodičnost klijanja, primarna i sekundarna dormantnost semena). Posebno je ukazano na rezerve semena u zemljištu naročito u uslovima jake zakorovljenosti, raspored semena u zavisnosti od sistema obrade, kao i uticaj različitih faktora i mera na količine semena u zemljištu. Ukazuje se i na zakonitosti i mogućnosti upravljanja ovim procesima, kako bi se, na osnovu toga, moglo znati kada i koliko semena će klijati u određenim klimatskim i zemljišnim uslovima.