Weed vegetation of small grain crops in Serbia: environmental and human impacts

Abstract

Weed flora of winter and spring small grain crops (wheat, barley, oats, and rye) was surveyed in lowland and mountainous areas of the central part of Serbia, which are dissimilar in environmental conditions, primarily climate and soil characteristics, and crop management practices. The weed community of the mountainous area was more diverse that of the lowlands. The weed community of the mountainous area was characterized by a significantly higher proportion of dicotyledonous species, mainly hemicryptophytes, probably due to insufficient tillage and the consequent impact of surrounding grassland vegetation. Different environmental conditions and crop managements of the 2 sites caused the occurrence of 2 separate weed communities, the ass. Consolido-Polygonetum avicularae in the lowland area, and ass. Galeopsi-Brassicetum campestrue in the mountain area of the surveyed region in central Serbia.