Distribution of Arable Weed Populations along Eastern Arkansas–Mississippi Delta Roadsides: Factors Affecting Weed Occurrence

Abstract

The occurrence of 36 arable weed species across 13 counties in the eastern Arkansas–Mississippi Delta area on 489 randomly selected road sites was surveyed in 2012. Palmer amaranth, johnsongrass, large crabgrass, barnyardgrass, prickly sida, and broadleaf signalgrass were the top six weed species, with occurrence noted at 313, 294, 261, 238, 176, and 136 sites, respectively. Factors found to affect weed occurrence along Mississippi Delta roadsides included topographical characteristics, weed species, ditch slope, road type, and nearby land use. Among roadside topographical characteristics, road shoulder was found to strongly affect weed occurrence. In addition, paved and gravel road types with moderate roadside slope explained most of the variability of weed occurrence at each sampling site. Additionally, nearby arable land use affected weed occurrence more so than natural, residential, and pastoral land. Barnyardgrass, johnsongrass, and Palmer amaranth were 3.6 to 4.3 times more likely to occur than all other species identified. An effective weed management plan along eastern Arkansas–Mississippi Delta roadsides should focus on road shoulder, adjacent arable land use, road type, and specific weed species (e.g., Palmer amaranth, johnsongrass, and barnyardgrass). The inclusion of these parameters in future weed control programs can prove invaluable for preventing the spread of the herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth, barnyardgrass, and johnsongrass.

Common ragweed: An emerging threat for sunflower production and human health in Turkey

“…Korres et al . () also have emphasized the role of roadsides in weed distribution. Moreover, due to the enormous amount of seed production of ragweed, the plant can spread from the roadsides to the agricultural fields with rainwater or the frequently occurring flash floods in the region (Unal et al .…”

Relationships between soil properties and the occurrence of the most agronomically important weed species in the field margins of eastern Arkansas – implications for weed management in field margins

“…The occurrence (presence/absence) of the agronomically important weeds was visually assessed at field margins, road ditches and road shoulders along a 25‐m transect parallel to one of the roadsides, as described in Korres et al . (,b). Weed species considered for analysis were those at field margins that recorded at ≥10% of sampling sites (Korres et al ., 2015a) and include A. palmeri , E. crus‐galli , U. platyphylla , S. halepense , D. sanguinalis , Ipomoea spp.…”

“…However, the establishment and spread of these plants depend on the selection of ecologically suited species to a location, propagule pressure and the degree of human assistance or disturbance the species receives. It has been shown that road type, roadside slope and adjacent land use are all important characteristics that facilitate weed occurrence along roadsides in the Mississippi River Delta region of eastern Arkansas (Korres et al ., ,b).…”

“…(johnsongrass) , Digitaria sanguinalis L. Scop (large crabgrass) , Ipomoea spp. (morning glories) and Sida spinosa L. (prickly sida) across Mississippi Delta region of eastern Arkansas roadsides (Korres et al ., ,b). The cosmopolitan nature of these weeds (i.e.…”

Invasive flora within urban railway areas: a case study from Lublin (Poland) and Lviv (Ukraine)

“…In Europe, the development of railway transport was encouraged by the technological innovations of the Industrial Revolution [18]. In the modern landscape (both urban and rural), railways form networks and promote development of an area and its economy, i.e., the production, distribution, trade and consumption of goods and provisioning services [19]. Railway transport systems with associated structures (e.g., tunnels, bridges) can also encourage biodiversity in an urban environment [20].…”