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Diversifying crop rotations with temporary grasslands - Université de ...

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Weed seeds<br />

i) Presence, abundance<br />

- Weed community & pop <strong>de</strong>nsity<br />

(<strong>crop</strong> rotation, past weed<br />

control)<br />

- Plant phenology seed prod.<br />

- Seed burial<br />

- Spatial seed distribution<br />

-<br />

ii) Seed traits<br />

- Weed species:<br />

- Mass, dimensions<br />

- Physical characteristics<br />

- Chemical composition<br />

- Seed age & viability<br />

Environment<br />

Pedo-climatic conditions<br />

- soil, season, weather, …<br />

Landscape configuration<br />

- …<br />

Cropping system,<br />

farming practices<br />

- Crop type<br />

- vegetation cover<br />

- Soil tillage, sowing, inter<strong>crop</strong>ping<br />

- Fertilizing, irrigation, drainage<br />

- Insectici<strong>de</strong>s, herbici<strong>de</strong>s<br />

- Crop harvest, mowing, cutting<br />

Synchronization<br />

Match<br />

Fig. 25: Overview of factors <strong>de</strong>termining post-dispersal weed seed predation.<br />

Factors <strong>de</strong>termining the presence and abundance of weed seeds (factor group i) as well as the presence,<br />

abundance and activity of seed predators (iii) vary according to the environment (upper box), which is<br />

<strong>de</strong>termined by pedo-climatic conditions, landscape parameters and the <strong>crop</strong>ping system (illustrated by the black<br />

arrows). These factors may thus be manipulated by the farmer through the choice of a <strong>crop</strong> and associated<br />

management practices (soil tillage, pestici<strong>de</strong>s, harvest etc.). This is not the case for the specific traits of weed<br />

seeds (ii) and the diets, preferences and behaviour of the seed predators (iv). These characteristics might be<br />

consi<strong>de</strong>red as fixed parameters of the plant and animal species.<br />

Following this scheme, seed predation may only take place if the predators’ preferences<br />

correspond to the seed characteristics ↔iv) (ii and if there is a temporal synchronisation<br />

between the presence of the predators and weed seed shed ↔iii, (i Fig. 25) (Van Klinken,<br />

2005; Gallandt, 2006).<br />

The species-specific characteristics of the seeds (ii) and of the predators (vi) are stable and can<br />

therefore not be manipulated to enhance weed seed predation. In contrast, most of the factors<br />

177<br />

Seed predators<br />

iii) Presence, abundance,<br />

activity<br />

- Regional species pool<br />

- Dispersal abilities<br />

- Favorable habitat<br />

(shelter, micro-climat, food)<br />

- carnivores, parasitoïds,…<br />

iv) Diet, preferences,<br />

behaviour<br />

- Species, guilds<br />

- Energy need, hunger<br />

- Alternative food items<br />

- …

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