Species diversity of weeds at the field scale and its relation to soil properties

The weed component of agrocenoses has been studied during field experiments with and without oat. It has been found that the species composition of weeds does not depend on the presence of oat. Shannon’s index shows that they are highly abundant on the studied plots. The following species have turned out to be the most abundant in all experimental plots: couch grass (Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.), lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium album L.), creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.), scentless chamomile (Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip.), and common fumitory (Fumaria officinalis L.). The relation between the abundance of F. officinalis, as well as field mint Mentha arvensis L., and the soil pH has been negative under the conditions of dry vegetation period.