| Project: COL00221A |
Department: Bioagricultural Sciences & Pest Management |
Multi-State Project No: NC-1026 |
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PIs: Westra, P |
| Title: Characterize Weed Population Dynamics for Improved Long-Term Weed Management Decision Making |
| Begin Date: 10/01/2005 |
Term Date: 09/30/2011
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Most recent project status:
New
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| Objectives: 1. Quantify the demography of giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida L.) and common sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) across the North Central region and use this information to enhance weed management decision support systems. 1a. Compare the relative importance of spatial variation in demographic rates at different levels of scale to inter-annual variation within sites. 1b. Examine soil feedback mechanisms as they relate to variation in species demography. 1c. Partition nutrient and water stress in common sunflower and giant ragweed plants alone and in combination with crops. 2. Incorporate weed demographic information into a WeedSOFT module that quantitatively accounts for the economic losses of weed escapes and explore the significance of escapes with a risk-based approach. |
| Approach: Field level replicated biology research will be utilized to address the objectives of this project. Greenhouse and laboratory studies will be utilized as needed to support the research objectives. Data collected will be analyzed utilizing appropriate statistical techniques such that the results of this research can be published in peer reviewed journals. Research will be conducted at the Colorado State University ARDEC research facility near Fort Collins, CO. The results of this research will be shared with growers and clients in Colorado. |
| Keywords: weed biology, weed science, plant ecology, bioeconomic models, crop and weed competition, weed spatial dynamics |