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The Use of Selected Essential Oils as an Alternative Method of Controlling Pathogenic Fungi, Weeds and Insects on Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.)
The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices has led researchers to explore alternative methods for controlling plant diseases and pests. Among these alternatives, essential oils (EOs) derived from various plant species have gained significant attention due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, which can be utilized in plant protection. Essential oils are volatile compounds that possess strong aromatic characteristics and are found in many medicinal and aromatic plants. They are known for their antifungal, antibacterial, and insecticidal activities, making them viable candidates for eco-friendly pest and disease management strategies. In this research, six essential oils—pine, patchouli, geranium, spruce, coriander, and eucalyptus oil—have been tested in vitro for controlling mycelium growth of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria brassicicola, and Cylindrosporium concentricum. The study also covers experiments in controlling pollen beetle and cabbage seed weevil (laboratory trials). In greenhouse conditions, the phytotoxicity of EOs to oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and the effect of these substances on the control of cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) were also tested. The results obtained indicate a large diversity of different essential oils in terms of their action on pathogens, pests, weeds, and winter rapeseed. Differences in their effectiveness were also found, depending on the applied dose.
The Dynamics of Sugar Maize (Zea mays saccharata Sturt.) Infestation of Field Pansy (Viola arvensis)
Field pansy infestation can lead to a decrease in the species diversity of plant communities and to the disappearance of other species. Field pansy infestation is fairly common in many crops, including maize. Understanding the ecology and management strategies for field pansy in maize is essential for effective weed control. This research into sugar maize was conducted from 1992 to 2019 in the Research and Education Center Gorzyń, Złotniki branch, which belongs to the Poznań University of Life Sciences. The assessment of weed infestation was carried out in experiments that focused on chemical weed control in maize. The experiments were established as single-factor randomized block designs with four field replications. The aim of the study was to evaluate dynamic changes in the status and the degree of field pansy infestation in sugar maize that was cultivated after various other crops in the Wielkopolska region, with a focus on weather conditions. The results indicated that the probability of field pansy individuals occurring among the total number of weeds was highest when maize was cultivated after wheat, but the probability of such infestation did not significantly differ when maize was sown in a crop rotation after winter triticale.
Impact of chemical weed management in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) on productivity, quality and economics
Weeds in sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris L.) can contribute to a significant reduction in the root yield. The species composition of these plants is an important factor influencing the competition with crops. The aim of the 2-year field experiment with mixtures of: phenmedipham + ethofumesate + metamitron + quinmerac; ethofumesate + metamitron + metamitron + + quinmerac + triflusulfuron-methyl; phenmedipham + ethofumesate + metamitron + + quinmerac + triflusulfuron-methyl + clopyralid + lenacil, and phenmedipham + ethofumesate + metamitron + quinmerac + triflusulfuron-methyl + clopyralid applied in split doses, microdoses and Conviso Smart technology was to determine the weed species community composition and effectiveness of weed control strategies. The most common species occurring in both years were: Chenopodium album L., Fallopia convolvulus L., and Geranium pusillum L. The communities had the highest values of biodiversity indices in 2020 and lower values in 2021. There were no statistically significant differences in the herbicidal effectiveness of the tested herbicidal technologies over both years of research and for individual main weed species – 95–99%. The use of all herbicide variants contributed to achieving significantly higher yields than untreated treatments, and contributed to an increase in profitability of cultivation, but this result depended on the selected strategy. The presented herbicide solutions were characterized by direct income at a similar level.