Biological production of thorn apple (Datura stramonium L.), Jimson weed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) and black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) under conditions of the herbicides application in maize crops

Abstract

The environment, available resources, agroecological conditions and measures taken with the aim to suppress weeds are factors that define the level of the crop weediness and thereby damages caused to the cultivated crop. Annual broad leaved species, such as thorn apple (Datura stramonium L.), common amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus (L.) Mill.) and black nightshade (Solarium nigrum L.) cause problems in maize crops. These summer species are great consumers of water, mineral and organic matters and light, on the one hand, and occupy a large environmental area, on the other hand. They are characterised by a great vegetative and generative production. All the stated makes these species excellent competitors within broad planted crops such as maize. The productive performance of thorn apple, common amaranth and black nightshade were observed under conditions of the application of soil (mesotrione, dimetenamide, flurochloridon) and foliar herbicides (atrazine, nikosulphuron, 2,4-D-2ETH) with the aim to obtain a relevant insight into their competitive ratio within the maize crop under the Zemun Polje agroecological conditions.