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Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) Growth as Affected by Plant Density and Clipping

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Cristina Patracchini ,
Francesco Vidotto  and
Aldo Ferrero
Cristina Patracchini*
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy, Forest and Land Management, University of Turin, Via Leonardo Da Vinci 44, 10095, Grugliasco (TO), Italy
Francesco Vidotto
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy, Forest and Land Management, University of Turin, Via Leonardo Da Vinci 44, 10095, Grugliasco (TO), Italy
Aldo Ferrero
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy, Forest and Land Management, University of Turin, Via Leonardo Da Vinci 44, 10095, Grugliasco (TO), Italy
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: cristina.patracchini@unito.it.
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Abstract

During the past century, common ragweed has spread from its native eastern North America to Europe, where it has become an increasing problem from both an agricultural and a human health perspective. Two field experiments were performed over a 2-yr period in a naturally infested fallow field in northern Italy to evaluate the effects of common ragweed plant density on its growth dynamics and to study its response to clipping. In the first experiment, three plant densities were tested (4, 12.5, and 25 plants m−2) and plant height, aboveground biomass, and leaf area were assessed. Intraspecific competition had a substantial negative effect on leaf area and aboveground biomass on a per plant basis in both years, but did not affect plant height. However, the high-density (25 plants m−2) treatment resulted in the highest total aboveground biomass (1,428 and 4,377 g m−2) and leaf area index (5.6 and 12.6 m2 m−2) in 2006 and 2007, respectively. In the second experiment, common ragweed plants were clipped at reaching 20 cm (four clippings during the season), 50 cm (three clippings), or 80 cm (two clippings) plant height. Number of surviving plants, flowering plants, and aboveground biomass were assessed before each clipping. Clipping resulted in a partial reduction in the surviving plants and did not prevent flowering. Under the most stressing condition (clipping at 20 cm height), more than 67% of plants survived to the last clipping and, among these, more than 97% flowered, whereas before the last clipping at reaching 80 cm height from 50 to 100% of plants survived and 100% of them flowered. These findings in northern Italy confirm that common ragweed is a fast-growing annual species, capable of producing considerable aboveground biomass at various pure stand densities and that plants can still flower from plants clipped at various frequencies.

Desde el siglo pasado, Ambrosia artemisiifolia se ha extendido de su origen nativo en el oriente de Norteamérica hasta Europa, donde se ha convertido en un creciente problema tanto desde el punto de vista agrícola como el de salud humana. Se efectuaron dos experimentos de campo a lo largo de un período de 2 años en el norte de Italia en un campo de barbecho infestado naturalmente, para evaluar los efectos de las densidades de A. artemisiifolia sobre sus dinámicas de crecimiento y para estudiar su respuesta al corte. En el primer experimento, se evaluaron 3 densidades de plantas (4, 12.5, y 25 plantas m−2), en las cuales se midió la altura, la biomasa aérea y el área foliar. La competencia intra-específica tuvo un efecto substancial negativo en el área foliar y biomasa aérea por planta en ambos años, pero no afectó la altura. Sin embargo, el tratamiento de alta densidad (25 plantas m−2) registró la mayor cantidad de biomasa (1428 y 4377 g m−2) y de índice de área foliar (5.6 y 12.6 m2 m−2) en 2006 y 2007, respectivamente. En el segundo experimento, las plantas de A. artemisiifolia se cortaron cuando alcanzaron una altura de 20 cm (cuatro cortes durante la estación), 50 cm (tres cortes), y 80 cm (dos cortes). El número de plantas sobrevivientes, de plantas en floración y de biomasa aérea, fueron evaluadas antes de cada corte. El corte provocó una reducción parcial en las plantas sobrevivientes y no impidió la floración. Bajo la condición más estresante (corte a los 20 cm de alto), más del 67% de las plantas sobrevivieron antes del último corte y de éstas, más del 97% florecieron, mientras que antes del último corte, al alcanzar los 80 cm de altura, sobrevivieron de 50 a 100% y de éstas el 100% florecieron. Estos resultados en el norte de Italia confirman que A. artemisiifolia es una especie anual de rápido crecimiento, capaz de producir considerable cantidad de biomasa aérea a diferentes densidades y que las plantas pueden aún florecer cuando se cortan a varias frecuencias.

Keywords

Common ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia L. AMBELAllergiescompetitionfloweringItalyinvasivemowingold fieldregrowthweed
Type
Weed Biology and Competition
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , June 2011 , pp. 268 - 276
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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