Paper · 2003 · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences

Weeds in fields with contrasting conventional and genetically modified herbicide–tolerant crops. I. Effects on abundance and diversity

The American Association for Research into Nervous and Mental Diseases; M. S. Heard; C. Hawes; et al.

16
claims
45
verbatim quotes
178
citations
2
research areas
✓
Open access

Abstract

We compared the seedbanks, seed rains, plant densities and biomasses of weeds under two contrasting systems of management in beet, maize and spring oilseed rape. Weed seedbank and plant density were measured at the same locations in two subsequent seasons. About 60 fields were sown with each crop. Each field was split, one half being sown with a conventional variety managed according to the farmer's normal practice, the other half being sown with a genetically modified herbicide-tolerant (GMHT) variety, with weeds controlled by a broad-spectrum herbicide. In beet and rape, plant densities shortly after sowing were higher in the GMHT treatment. Following weed control in conventional beet, plant densities were approximately one-fifth of those in GMHT beet. In both beet and rape, this effect was reversed after the first application of broad-spectrum herbicide, so that late-season plant densities were lower in the GMHT treatments. Biomass and seed rain in GMHT crops were between one-third and one-sixth of those in conventional treatments. The effects of differing weed-seed returns in these two crops persisted in the seedbank: densities following the GMHT treatment were about 20% lower than those following the conventional treatment. The effect of growing maize was quite different. Weed density was higher throughout the season in the GMHT treatment. Late-season biomass was 82% higher and seed rain was 87% higher than in the conventional treatment. The difference was not subsequently detectable in the seedbank because the total seed return was low after both treatments. In all three crops, weed diversity was little affected by the treatment, except for transient effects immediately following herbicide application.

Abstract from the paper’s OpenAlex record, shown for indexing and research. Copyright remains with the authors or the publisher. Read at the source ↗

The text the model read, with the source record’s inline markup (italics, sub- and superscripts) rendered and its character entities decoded; quote offsets refer to the raw text.

Claims 16

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultmeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Early plant density was higher in GMHT beet.

Treatment
GMHT treatmente0
Interactor
weedse1weed
Outcome
plant densitiese0
Direction
highere0
Comparator
conventional varietye2

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Beta vulgaris
Beta vulgaris · TaxonMichael Bakker Paiva · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist ↗

Verbatim

e0

“In beet and rape, plant densities shortly after sowing were higher in the GMHT treatment.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 562–651 · show in text ↑
e1

“weeds under two contrasting systems of management”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 72–121 · show in text ↑
e2

“conventional variety managed according to the farmer's normal practice”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 348–418 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultmeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Early plant density was higher in GMHT rape.

Treatment
GMHT treatmente0
Interactor
weedse1weed
Outcome
plant densitiese0
Direction
highere0
Comparator
conventional varietye2

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Brassica napus
Brassica napus · TaxonDidier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“In beet and rape, plant densities shortly after sowing were higher in the GMHT treatment.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 562–651 · show in text ↑
e1

“weeds under two contrasting systems of management”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 72–121 · show in text ↑
e2

“conventional variety managed according to the farmer's normal practice”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 348–418 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultmeasured

Claim · model-written summary

After conventional beet weed control, weed density was about one-fifth of GMHT beet.

Treatment
weed control in conventional beete0
Interactor
weedse1weed
Outcome
plant densitiese0
Value
one-fifthe0
Comparator
GMHT beete0

Not reportedDirection

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Beta vulgaris
Beta vulgaris · TaxonMichael Bakker Paiva · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist ↗

Verbatim

e0

“Following weed control in conventional beet, plant densities were approximately one-fifth of those in GMHT beet.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 652–764 · show in text ↑
e1

“weeds under two contrasting systems of management”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 72–121 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Late-season weed density became lower in GMHT beet after herbicide application.

Treatment
GMHT treatmentse0
Interactor
weedse1weed
Outcome
late-season plant densitiese0
Direction
lowere0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Beta vulgaris
Beta vulgaris · TaxonMichael Bakker Paiva · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist ↗

Verbatim

e0

“In both beet and rape, this effect was reversed after the first application of broad-spectrum herbicide, so that late-season plant densities were lower in the GMHT treatments.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 765–940 · show in text ↑
e1

“weeds under two contrasting systems of management”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 72–121 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Late-season weed density became lower in GMHT rape after herbicide application.

Treatment
GMHT treatmentse0
Interactor
weedse1weed
Outcome
late-season plant densitiese0
Direction
lowere0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Brassica napus
Brassica napus · TaxonDidier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“In both beet and rape, this effect was reversed after the first application of broad-spectrum herbicide, so that late-season plant densities were lower in the GMHT treatments.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 765–940 · show in text ↑
e1

“weeds under two contrasting systems of management”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 72–121 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

GMHT beet weed biomass was one-third to one-sixth of conventional treatment.

Treatment
GMHT cropse0
Interactor
weedse2weed
Outcome
Biomasse0
Value
between one-third and one-sixthe0
Comparator
conventional treatmentse0

Not reportedDirection

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Beta vulgaris
Beta vulgaris · TaxonMichael Bakker Paiva · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist ↗

Verbatim

e0

“Biomass and seed rain in GMHT crops were between one-third and one-sixth of those in conventional treatments.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 941–1050 · show in text ↑
e1

“In beet and rape”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 562–578 · show in text ↑
e2

“weeds under two contrasting systems of management”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 72–121 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

GMHT rape weed biomass was one-third to one-sixth of conventional treatment.

Treatment
GMHT cropse0
Interactor
weedse2weed
Outcome
Biomasse0
Value
between one-third and one-sixthe0
Comparator
conventional treatmentse0

Not reportedDirection

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Brassica napus
Brassica napus · TaxonDidier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“Biomass and seed rain in GMHT crops were between one-third and one-sixth of those in conventional treatments.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 941–1050 · show in text ↑
e1

“In beet and rape”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 562–578 · show in text ↑
e2

“weeds under two contrasting systems of management”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 72–121 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

GMHT beet weed seed rain was one-third to one-sixth of conventional treatment.

Treatment
GMHT cropse0
Interactor
weedse2weed
Outcome
seed raine0
Value
between one-third and one-sixthe0
Comparator
conventional treatmentse0

Not reportedDirection

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Beta vulgaris
Beta vulgaris · TaxonMichael Bakker Paiva · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist ↗

Verbatim

e0

“Biomass and seed rain in GMHT crops were between one-third and one-sixth of those in conventional treatments.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 941–1050 · show in text ↑
e1

“In beet and rape”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 562–578 · show in text ↑
e2

“weeds under two contrasting systems of management”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 72–121 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

GMHT rape weed seed rain was one-third to one-sixth of conventional treatment.

Treatment
GMHT cropse0
Interactor
weedse2weed
Outcome
seed raine0
Value
between one-third and one-sixthe0
Comparator
conventional treatmentse0

Not reportedDirection

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Brassica napus
Brassica napus · TaxonDidier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“Biomass and seed rain in GMHT crops were between one-third and one-sixth of those in conventional treatments.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 941–1050 · show in text ↑
e1

“In beet and rape”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 562–578 · show in text ↑
e2

“weeds under two contrasting systems of management”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 72–121 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Subsequent weed seedbank density was about 20% lower after GMHT beet.

Treatment
GMHT treatmente0
Interactor
weedse2weed
Outcome
densitiese0
Direction
lowere0
Value
20%e0
Comparator
conventional treatmente0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Beta vulgaris
Beta vulgaris · TaxonMichael Bakker Paiva · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist ↗

Verbatim

e0

“densities following the GMHT treatment were about 20% lower than those following the conventional treatment.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1140–1248 · show in text ↑
e1

“In beet and rape”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 562–578 · show in text ↑
e2

“weeds under two contrasting systems of management”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 72–121 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Subsequent weed seedbank density was about 20% lower after GMHT rape.

Treatment
GMHT treatmente0
Interactor
weedse2weed
Outcome
densitiese0
Direction
lowere0
Value
20%e0
Comparator
conventional treatmente0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Brassica napus
Brassica napus · TaxonDidier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“densities following the GMHT treatment were about 20% lower than those following the conventional treatment.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1140–1248 · show in text ↑
e1

“In beet and rape”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 562–578 · show in text ↑
e2

“weeds under two contrasting systems of management”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 72–121 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultnegativemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Weed density remained higher through the season under GMHT maize.

Taxon
maizeZea mayse0
Treatment
GMHT treatmente0
Interactor
Weede0weed
Outcome
Weed densitye0
Direction
highere0
Comparator
conventional varietye1

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“The effect of growing maize was quite different. Weed density was higher throughout the season in the GMHT treatment.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1249–1366 · show in text ↑
e1

“conventional variety managed according to the farmer's normal practice”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 348–418 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultnegativemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Late-season weed biomass in GMHT maize was 82% higher.

Taxon
maizeZea mayse1
Treatment
GMHTe3
Interactor
weedse2weed
Outcome
Late-season biomasse0
Direction
highere0
Value
82%e0
Comparator
conventional treatmente0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“Late-season biomass was 82% higher and seed rain was 87% higher than in the conventional treatment.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1367–1466 · show in text ↑
e1

“The effect of growing maize was quite different.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1249–1297 · show in text ↑
e2

“weeds under two contrasting systems of management”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 72–121 · show in text ↑
e3

“Weed density was higher throughout the season in the GMHT treatment.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1298–1366 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultnegativemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Weed seed rain in GMHT maize was 87% higher.

Taxon
maizeZea mayse1
Treatment
GMHT treatmente2
Interactor
weedse3weed
Outcome
seed raine0
Direction
highere0
Value
87%e0
Comparator
conventional treatmente0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“Late-season biomass was 82% higher and seed rain was 87% higher than in the conventional treatment.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1367–1466 · show in text ↑
e1

“The effect of growing maize was quite different.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1249–1297 · show in text ↑
e2

“Weed density was higher throughout the season in the GMHT treatment.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1298–1366 · show in text ↑
e3

“weeds under two contrasting systems of management”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 72–121 · show in text ↑
Observationobservedoriginal resultno effectmeasured

Claim · model-written summary

The maize seedbank difference was not detectable because seed return was low in both treatments.

Taxon
maizeZea mayse1
Interactor
weedse2weed
Outcome
difference was not subsequently detectable in the seedbanke0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“The difference was not subsequently detectable in the seedbank because the total seed return was low after both treatments.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1467–1590 · show in text ↑
e1

“growing maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1263–1276 · show in text ↑
e2

“weeds under two contrasting systems of management”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 72–121 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultno effectmeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Weed diversity was little affected by treatment in all three crops except immediately after herbicide use.

Taxon
beet, maize and spring oilseed rapeBrassica napusZea maysBeta vulgarise1
Treatment
herbicide applicatione0
Interactor
weede0weed
Outcome
weed diversitye0
Direction
little affectede0
Qualifier
except for transient effects immediately following herbicide applicatione0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Brassica napus
Brassica napus · TaxonDidier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Beta vulgaris
Beta vulgaris · TaxonMichael Bakker Paiva · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist ↗

Verbatim

e0

“In all three crops, weed diversity was little affected by the treatment, except for transient effects immediately following herbicide application.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1591–1737 · show in text ↑
e1

“beet, maize and spring oilseed rape”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 125–160 · show in text ↑

herbicide · pest · Brassica napus (oilseed rape)Positive and negative results

2 papers: 1 positive, 1 negative or no effect

1 in the opposite direction

  1. negative
See all 2 papers →

herbicide · pest · Beta vulgaris (beet)Positive and negative results

3 papers: 2 positive, 1 negative or no effect

1 paper in the same direction as this paper · 1 in the opposite direction

  1. no effect
  2. positive
See all 3 papers →

transgenic · growth · Brassica napus (oilseed rape)Positive and negative results

6 papers: 5 positive, 1 negative or no effect

4 papers in the same direction as this paper · 1 in the opposite direction

  1. positive
  2. no effect
  3. positive

2 papers more in this group

See all 6 papers →

herbicide · growth · Brassica napus (oilseed rape)Positive and negative results

16 papers: 9 positive, 7 negative or no effect

8 papers in the same direction as this paper · 7 in the opposite direction

  1. positive
  2. negative
  3. negative

12 papers more in this group

See all 16 papers →

herbicide · growth · Beta vulgaris (beet)Positive and negative results

21 papers: 12 positive, 9 negative or no effect

11 papers in the same direction as this paper · 9 in the opposite direction

  1. positive
  2. negative
  3. negative

17 papers more in this group

See all 21 papers →

transgenic · growth · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

26 papers: 17 positive, 9 negative or no effect

8 papers in the same direction as this paper · 17 in the opposite direction

  1. negative
  2. positive
  3. positive

22 papers more in this group

See all 26 papers →

herbicide · weed · Brassica napus (oilseed rape)Positive and negative results

26 papers: 23 positive, 3 negative or no effect

2 papers in the same direction as this paper · 23 in the opposite direction

  1. positive
  2. positive
  3. positive

22 papers more in this group

See all 26 papers →

herbicide · weed · Beta vulgaris (beet)Positive and negative results

63 papers: 50 positive, 13 negative or no effect

12 papers in the same direction as this paper · 50 in the opposite direction

  1. positive
  2. positive
  3. negative

59 papers more in this group

See all 63 papers →

8 of 11 groups shown: named compounds and organisms first, then groups whose results differ (checked claim by claim), then those with positive and negative results, then the smaller groups.

Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.