Germination Parameters of Selected Summer Weeds: Transferring of the AlertInf Model to Other Geographical Regions

Effective weed management depends on correct control timing, which depends on seedling emergence dynamics. Since soil temperature and soil moisture are the two main factors that determine weed germination, the hydrothermal time model can be used to predict their emergence. The aim of this study was to estimate the base temperature (Tb) and base water potential (Ψb) for the germination of Chenopodium album, Amaranthus retroflexus, Setaria pumila, and Panicum capillare collected from fields in continental Croatia and then to compare these values with those of Italian populations embedded in the AlertInf model. Germination tests were performed at seven constant temperatures (ranging from 4 to 27 °C) and eight water potentials (0.00–1.00 MPa). The estimated Tb and Ψb were 3.4 °C and −1.38 MPa for C. album, 13.9 °C and −0.36 MPa for A. retroflexus, 6.6 °C and −0.71 MPa for S. pumila, and 11.0 °C and −0.87 MPa for P. capillare, respectively. According to the criterion of overlap of the 95% confidence intervals, only the Tb of C. album and the Ψb of A. retroflexus of the Croatian and Italian populations were similar. Further field experiments should be conducted to monitor the weed emergence patterns of C. album and calibrate the AlerInf equation parameters.