Weed community diversity in conservation agriculture: Post-adoption changes

Conservation agriculture has been identified as one of the farming systems likely to deliver sustainable but its effects over time on diversity and composition weed communities are poorly documented. Using a network 100 winter wheat fields selected encompass gradient years in conservation from 1 20 Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region (France), we analyzed changes that occurred several years, both α- β-diversity using taxonomic (species level) functional (10 response traits) approach. Based three surveys (before last herbicide use, before harvest, sowing following crop), weeds able maintain and/or produce propagules. All observed were rich (average species richness 23.9 species), diverse Shannon 2.15) equitably composed low-density species. The results showed an increase richness, total abundance α-functional no change evenness time. Heterogeneity average values β-taxonomic β-functional between high early adoption agriculture. decreased time, leading homogenization community assemblages. Despite major cultural practices related agriculture, was not immediate did concern all traits studied.