Occurrence of archaeophytes in agrophytocoenoses – field survey in the Czech Republic
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Department of Agroecology and Crop Production, Kamýcká 129, CZ-165 00 Prague-Suchdol, Czech Republic
*Correspondence: mkolarova@af.czu.cz
Abstract:
Archaeophytes are alien plants introduced to the Czech Republic before the year 1500. Their occurrence is strongly connected with agricultural production. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of archaeophytes in arable fields in the Czech Republic in terms of applied management systems (conventional and organic farming), crops (winter cereals, spring cereals, wide-row crops) and environmental site conditions at different altitudes. In 2006–2018, a phytocoenological survey was conducted in selected farms across the Czech Republic. Totally, 180 weed species were found, of which 48.89% were considered as archaeophytes (88 species). In view of the invasive status, 5 archaeophytes were considered as invasive, the other 83 species were regarded as naturalized. The net effects of all variables studied on the occurrence of archaeophytes were statistically significant. The majority of the variation was explained by altitude, followed by crop and type of farming. Incidence of archaeophytes increases with an increasing altitude and is also related to their affinity with environmental factors. The highest occurrence of archaeophytes was found in cereals, some species, however, occur more frequently in wide row crops. The higher occurrence of archaeophytes was observed in organically managed fields.
Key words:
Altitude, cereals, conventional farming, organic farming, weed communities, wide-row crops