S. Hakansson, WEEDS IN AGRICULTURAL CROPS .1. LIFE-FORMS AND OCCURRENCE UNDER SWEDISH CONDITIONS, Swedish Journal of Agricultural Research, 25(4), 1995, pp. 143-154
Weed communities on arable land are briefly discussed as early stages
in (secondary) vegetation successions on disturbed ground, and weed co
ntrol is looked upon as measures obstructing the successional course.
The weeds are grouped into annuals, biennials and perennials and, furt
her, into a number of subgroups, modifying some of the definitions giv
en in the literature. Groups and subgroups, life-forms, are defined re
garding reproduction, longivity and seasonal rhythm of development and
growth, emphasizing the resulting tolerance or response to mechanical
disturbance by, mainly, soil cultivation in different seasons. Differ
ences in the occurrence of weeds of different life-forms in spring- an
d autumn-sown annual crops and in perennial crops on arable land, i.e.
mainly leys, are illustrated and explained as consequences of the pla
nt character. The life-form of a species sometimes varies for genetic
or environmental reasons.