Field experiments were conducted from 1987 to 1990 to investigate the combination of cultural and chemical methods for control ofAmaranthusspp. in corn. The tolerance of corn hybrids to herbicides or herbicide combinations was dependent on application rate. The early season threshold level for a mixed population ofAmaranthusspp. occurred 3.5 wk after emergence. Density ofAmaranthusspp. from 155 to 495 plants/m2caused corn yield reduction of 50%. A quadratic model was derived relating percentage of yield reduction vs. duration of weed competition. The results emphasize the importance of using herbicides, cultural practices, and competition thresholds for an integrated weed control approach ofAmaranthusspp. in corn.

Summary: Résumé: Zusammenfassung Soil solarization (SS) was tested in outdoor conditions in mid Greece by mulching wet soil with transparent polyethylene sheets to examine its effectiveness as a weed control treatment in maize and soybean planted as second season crops. Three or 4 weeks of solarization gave bet‐ter weed control than preemergence herbicides and effectively controlled volunteer wheat (Triticum aestivum), Portulaca oleracea, Digitaria sanguinalis, Solanum nigrum, Amaranthus spp. and other weeds. The weed control effects lasted for more than 4 months. In mulched soil the maximum temperature at 7.5 cm depth was generally 7–9°C warmer than in the unmulched soil. Polyethylene thicknesses of 0.015–0.030 mm were equally effective. Plants grown on solarized plots out yielded those on clean weeded hoe treatments. The weed flora present caused maize and soybean losses of 20–48%. These losses would economically justify the use of polyethylene mulches. Solarisation du sol en grece La solarisation du sol (SS) a été testée en conditions extérieures en Grèce centrale, en recouvrant le sol humide avec des feuilles de polyéthylene transparent pour examiner son efficacité comme traitement herbicide sur du ma'is et du soja plantés comme secondes culturesde la saison. Trois ou 4 semaines de solarisation ont donné une meilleure destruction des adventices que des herbicides de pré1evée et ont détruit efficacement les repousses de blé (Triticum aesti‐vum), Portulaca oleracea, Digitaria sanguinalis, Solanum nigrum, Amaranthus spp. et d'autres adventices. Les effets herbicides ont duré plus de 4 mois. Dans le sol couvert le maximum de témpérature à 7.5 cm de profondeur a été généale‐ment de 7–9°C plus chaud qu'en sol nu. Des épaisseurs de polyéthylene de 0,015–0,030 mm ont é'té pareillement efficaces. Les plantes cul‐tivées sur parcelles solarisées produisent autant que celles sur des sols tenus propres par binage. La flore adventice présente a entrainé des pertes de maïs et de soja de 20–48%. Ces pertes justi‐fieraient économiquement l'utilisation de films de polyéthylène. Boden‐Solarisation in Griechenland In Mittelgriechenland wurde die Solarisation feuchten Bodens, überdeckt mil transparenter Polyethylenfolie, auf ihre Wirksamkeit zur Unk‐rautbekämpfung in Mais und Sojabohnen als 2. Kultur der Vegetationsperiode untersucht. Mit 3 oder 4 Wochen Solarisation ließen sich Weizenaufschlag (Triticum aestivum), Portulaca oleracea, Digitaria sanguinalis, Solanum nigrum, Amaranthus spp. und andere Unkräuter besser als mil Vorauflauf‐Herbiziden bekämpfen. Die Wirkung hielt > 4 Monate an. Bei der Solarisa‐tion lag die Bodentemperature in 7,5 cm Tiefe um 7.9°C höher als bei offenem Boden. Folien von 0,015.0,030 mm Stärke waren gleich wirk‐sam. Der Ertrag lag in den solarisierten Parzellen über dem gehackter Parzellen. In den unbehan‐delten Parzellen ging der Ertrag um 20.48% zurück, so daß die Solarisation unter Polyethylenfolie ein wirtschaftliches Verfahren ist.

Field experiments were carried out from 1987 to 1990 to develop an integrated weed control management system for the control of blackgrass in winter wheat in Greece. The weed control treatments included both herbicides and cultural measures. The performance of preemergence (PRE) herbicides against blackgrass was better than postemergence (POST) herbicides; selectivity was dependent on application rate. Late timing of wheat sowing resulted in significant reduction of the blackgrass population competing with wheat. The critical period for blackgrass infestation occurred 4.0 to 5.5 wk after wheat emergence. Blackgrass density of 170 to 1,170 plants/m2caused wheat yield reduction equal to 10 and 30%, respectively. A quadratic relationship describing the percent reduction of wheat yield due to competition with different blackgrass densities was developed. The economic threshold level for blackgrass varied between 100 and 125 plants/m2. The results emphasize the importance of using a combination of chemical and cultural controls, including critical periods for herbicide application in maintaining an integrated approach for blackgrass control in wheat.

SUMMARYThe influence of various nitrogen and phosphorus sources, applied at the preseeding stage with two placement methods, on maize yield and fertilizer utilization, was studied in two field experiments and a pot experiment with a calcareous, heavy to medium heavy textured recent alluvial soil.Phosphorus alone had no effect on crop yield. Nitrogen alone or nitrogen (various forms) and phosphorus had a clear positive effect on crop yield. As to the various sources the observed differences in the crop yield of the field experiments were not significant, while in the pot experiment ammonium sulphate gave the highest yields.The data on the phosphate concentrations in the tops derived from phosphate fertilizer (Pf) indicate that the presence of nitrogen increased the utilization of phosphorus fertilizer. From the tested placement methods the incorporation method appears clearly superior in the pot experiment with a similar trend in the field experiment for all sources except ammonium phosphate-sulphate.The utilization coefficients of the nitrogen fertilizer sources suggest that ammonium and urea were better utilized than nitrates, that the higher nitrogen utilization reflected higher yields and that phosphorus fertilizer exerted a beneficial effect on nitrogen fertilizer utilization. Finally they suggest that the addition of 120 kg N/ha enhanced the amount of soil nitrogen taken up in the maize grain by 53%.

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