Weed Flora Analysis In Conventional Potato Crop In Țara Bârsei Area

Abstract

The damages caused by weeds do not only results in potato yield reduction but also in the tubers quality, reducing tuber size, affecting starch and protein content, and increase the likelihood of physiological disorders. Floristic weed analysis was carried out during 2023-2024 in the experimental plots of NIRDPSB Brasov. Weed flora consisted of 19 species; the most frequent species were Convolvulus arvensis L., Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., Chenopodium album L., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Setaria viridis L. and Equisetum arvense L. Weed seeds reach maturity, depending on the species, at very different times, practically throughout the entire vegetation period. Given the very large number of weeds, knowledge of the diversity is a condition for establishing an effective system of control measures that will ensure the avoidance of seed formation and shedding. The most represented families were: Asteraceae (4 species), Poaceae and Polygonaceae (3 species each), Lamiaceae and Brassicaceae (2 species each), while rest families (Rubiaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Equisetaceae, Amarathaceae, Convolvulaceae) were represented by one species. The weed threshold can be reduced to a reasonable and tolerant level using appropriate chemical control measures and knowing the weed flora composition.