Abstract
Abstract Fertiliser input in annual cropping systems can benefit crops and weeds. The effects of organic and inorganic fertilisers on weed species composition were evaluated across two agroecological zones in Eswatini: the Highveld and the Middleveld. Weed field surveys and weed seed bank studies were conducted over two cropping seasons, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022, in fields managed by smallholder farmers practising maize and cattle production. Fertiliser regimes were cattle manure only, cattle manure plus inorganic fertiliser, and inorganic fertiliser only, replicated six times in each region. The weed survey was conducted using three 25-m transects, and the weed seed bank was assessed at sampling depths of 0–10 and 10–20 cm. Results showed that cattle manure only and cattle manure plus inorganic fertiliser regimes had higher species richness and diversity than the inorganic fertiliser only regime. However, weed seed distribution did not differ between sampling depths or fertiliser regimes. Twelve weed species, including bermudagrass, crabgrass, and goosegrass, were key contributors to the differences in species composition between fertiliser regimes and agroecological zones, and were the most prevalent weeds in the seed bank. The study established that fertiliser type influences weed species composition and diversity. Proper cattle manure composting is essential to mitigate weed proliferation and enhance sustainable maize production. These findings demonstrate the need for integrated weed management and fertiliser strategies to improve crop yield and agricultural sustainability for smallholder farmers.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Cattle manure only gave higher weed species richness and diversity than the inorganic fertiliser only regime.
Verbatim
t0“weed flora”
e1“cattle manure only and cattle manure plus inorganic fertiliser regimes had higher species richness and diversity than the inorganic fertiliser only regime”
Claim · model-written summary
Cattle manure plus inorganic fertiliser gave higher weed species richness and diversity than the inorganic fertiliser only regime.
Verbatim
t0“weed flora”
e1“cattle manure only and cattle manure plus inorganic fertiliser regimes had higher species richness and diversity than the inorganic fertiliser only regime”
Claim · model-written summary
Weed seed distribution did not differ between sampling depths.
Verbatim
t0“weed flora”
e1“weed seed distribution did not differ between sampling depths or fertiliser regimes”
Claim · model-written summary
Weed seed distribution did not differ between fertiliser regimes.
- Taxon
- weed florat0
- Treatment
- fertiliser regimese1
- Outcome
- weed seed distributione1
- Direction
- did not differe1
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
t0“weed flora”
e1“weed seed distribution did not differ between sampling depths or fertiliser regimes”
Claim · model-written summary
Twelve weed species, including bermudagrass, crabgrass and goosegrass, were key contributors to the differences in species composition between fertiliser regimes and agroecological zones.
Verbatim
t0“weed flora”
e1“Twelve weed species, including bermudagrass, crabgrass, and goosegrass, were key contributors to the differences in species composition between fertiliser regimes and agroecological zones”
Claim · model-written summary
The twelve key weed species were the most prevalent weeds in the seed bank.
Verbatim
t0“weed flora”
e1“were the most prevalent weeds in the seed bank”
Claim · model-written summary
Proper cattle manure composting is recommended to mitigate weed proliferation and enhance sustainable maize production.
- Outcome
- mitigate weed proliferation and enhance sustainable maize productione1
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Proper cattle manure composting is essential to mitigate weed proliferation and enhance sustainable maize production”