Modelling perennial-weed life cycle in interaction with cropping systems to identify agroecological management levers

Le résumé fourni par la source

Reducing the use of herbicides is crucial to sustainable agriculture. In this context, it is urgent to develop non-chemical, agroecological management strategies. These strategies must be based on a combination of numerous agronomic levers and aiming at maximizing biological regulation. Perennial weeds are particularly difficult to control, as they propagate rapidly and regenerate by vegetative propagation. They are often controlled by frequent tillage, but this has also negative impacts that need to be limited. The aim of this thesis was 1) to synthesize knowledge on the dynamics of perennial weeds in cultivated fields, 2) to supplement this knowledge through experimentation, and 3) to use it to supplement a mechanistic model of crop-weed dynamics so that it can be used to identify agroecological management levers and design cropping systems. As a result of this work, we have gained new insights into the effect of tillage on the fragmentation of perennial weed storage organs, as well as on the growth of belowground stems from storage organs. We have translated this knowledge and other data from the literature into mathematical functions to model the asexual life cycle of perennial weeds and the effect of tillage. This module has been integrated into the FLORSYS mechanistic model, which will soon be able to be used to analyze the impact of techniques on perennial weeds and design agroecological cropping systems that are effective in managing perennial weeds.

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