Abstract

Introduction. The present-day notion of role of weeds in crops and introduction of concept of their number control requires thorough study of reproduction process, growth and development of plants of this group in various agrophytocenoses. Purpose.The aim of this work is to assess the status of populations of one of the most common weed Fallopia convolvulus (L.). Lоve in five different agrophytocenoses and the example of this species to evaluate the feasibility of using population analysis as a preventative control measures the growth of weeds in agricultural crops. Methods. The study used methods: observation, field experiment, morphometric, statistical data processing. Results. We presented the results of research of main population characteristics of one-year segetal species Fallopia convolvulus, conducted during two vegetative periods in crops of five cultivated plants (winter rye and wheat, barley, buckwheat, pea), which did not have pesticides applied to. It was found out that there is statistically proven change of reproduction indices by agrophytocenosis in this species. Value of reproductive effort of Fallopia convolvulus individuals decreased in the following line of agrophytocenosis: pea – barley – winter wheat – winter rye, buckwheat. Fallopia convolvulus plants from researched cultures crops had also statistically proven difference between each other by the values of the majority of dimensional quantities. According to the results of the use of vitality analysis it was found out that blooming populations are formed in the crops of winter wheat and pea, and depressive populations are formed in the crops of buckwheat, rye and barley. Depending on previous crop, ontogenetic structure of Fallopia convolvulus and its integral characteristics changed considerably. Gramineous precursor contributed to the growth of generativity and decrease of regeneration. On the contrary, such precursor as buckwheat reduced population generativity immensely. Among the agrophytocenoses under research crops with pea and winter wheat being the main culture turned out to be the most favorable for Fallopia convolvulus development. Agrophytocenoses with winter rye or spring barley oppressed development of weeds moderately. Agrophytocenoses with buckwheat oppressed development of weeds strongly. Originality.Scientific novelty of our work lies in application of complex population analysis, the important compound part of which was the use of morphometric analysis, aimed at evaluation of characteristics of both vegetative and generative plant organs, and also determination of ontogenetic and vitality structure of Fallopia convolvulus populations in the researched agrophytocenosis. Conclusion. The results obtained fairly prove that the use of population analysis is highly informative and practical for study of weeds in general and Fallopia convolvulus in particular. Information, presented in this work can be used during production for preparing anti-weed sowing interchange aimed at oppression of Fallopia convolvulus development and efficient control of this species number.

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