Ricerche Sulla Flora Infestante Delle Culture in Italia

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Abstract
Studies on the weeds of cultivated land in italy I. - bibliographical and methodological introduction In the 1rst part of this paper the Author outlines the weed problem, discusses the meaning of the term “weed”, agrees with Korsmo (1930) in considering weeds as constituing a biological group characterised by certain adaptments to life. After a short survey of the chief European and American books on weeds, he gives a more detailed account of the Italian literature which is not, the Author thinks, very rich on this subject. In the 2nd part the Author discusses several aspects and some methodological questions of the study of weeds. After dealing briefly with the floristic and quantitative analysis of weed floras, he goes on to outline the problem concerning the origin of the weed species of a given district; these can be considered as belonging to two main groups: local species which were present in that station before the soil was tilled, and exotic species introduced, often unwillingly, by man through his commercial and industrial activities. The line between the two groups is hard to draw, especially in countries of ancient civilization ad extensively cultivated, where in very few places the local flora has been left undisturbed. It is perhaps easier to distinguish the two main groups of species according to their geographic area of distribution and to the type of stations preferred within that area. The study of weeds dissemination is strictly connected with the one of their origin. The next main field of study is the ecological one: having shown the main ecological effects of agricultural technique, which also acts as a levelling agent for the vegetation of the earth, the Author agrees with E. P. Evans (1928) in stating that it is not easy “to draw any but very general conclusions” owing to the undeterminate and variable nature of the human biotic factors, which, together with natural ones, control weed growth. A great amount of research has been carried out on ecological problems a swell as sinecological and mainly agricultural ones concerning weeds. Examples are given, with reference to several Authors. Lastly the Author stresses the importance of the biological study of weeds and describes at length the biological classification employed by Korsmo (1930), who devides weeds in three main groups, namely: “seed”, “stationary”, and “wandering” plants. The bibliography is meant to give an useful list of references for the student, but is far from being complete, except as far as Italian literature is concerned.