Livestock in diverse cropping systems improve weed management and sustain yields whilst reducing inputs

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Maclaren, C., Storkey, J., Strauss, J., Swanepoel, P. and Dehnen-Schmutz, K. 2019. Livestock in diverse cropping systems improve weed management and sustain yields whilst reducing inputs. Journal of Applied Ecology. 56, p. 144 –156. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13239

AuthorsMaclaren, C., Storkey, J., Strauss, J., Swanepoel, P. and Dehnen-Schmutz, K.
Abstract

1. Intensive cropping systems select for a low diversity of weeds tolerant of chemical control, leading to persistent weed-crop competition and declining biodiversity. Crop rotation can mitigate this by introducing variable filters on the weed community through increasing management diversity. In this study, we investigate the effect of integrating livestock into no-till crop rotations to complement chemical weed control.
2. We analysed 12 years of weed seedbank data from a trial of eight rotation systems with different crop sequence diversities, of which four included grazed for- age phases. Linear mixed models and ordination were used to assess how weed abundance, diversity, and community composition responded to management filters, defined in terms of levels of disturbance strength and diversity (grazing and herbicides), and resource availability and diversity (inorganic fertilizers, legumes, and manure).
3. Grazed rotation systems had less herbicide applied than ungrazed rotation sys- tems, and had the lowest weed abundance and highest weed diversity. Herbicides and grazing apply contrasting selection pressures on weeds, and this combination was more effective in reducing weed pressure than increasing herbicide quantity or mode-of-action diversity. Lower resource availability and higher nitrogen source diversity in grazed systems may have further reduced weed abundance and promoted diversity.
4. Crop sequence diversity also reduced weed abundance and promoted weed diversity, indicating that variable crop-weed interactions can enhance weed management. In addition, yields in the main cash crop (wheat) were highest where crop diversity was highest, regardless of whether the system contained grazed phases.
5. Synthesis and applications. Diverse rotation systems produced high yields, and the inclusion of grazed forage phases maintained these yields at lower applications of herbicides and fertilizers: integrated livestock can therefore improve the sustain- ability of no-till systems. The role of grazing as a filter imposing a contrasting se- lection pressure to other weed control options could be further explored to improve weed management in different farming systems.

KeywordsCrop diversity; Crop rotation; Forage legumes; Grazing; Integrated crop-livestock systems; Selection pressure; Weed management
Year of Publication2019
JournalJournal of Applied Ecology
Journal citation56, p. 144 –156
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13239
Web address (URL)https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1365-2664.13239
Open accessPublished as green open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Natural Environment Research Council
Funder project or codeASSIST - Achieving Sustainable Agricultural Systems
BBS/E/C/000I0120
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
PrintJan 2019
Publication process dates
Accepted18 Jun 2018
PublisherWiley
ISSN0021-8901
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