Long-term field studies were conducted at two locations to describe the spatial distribution and temporal stability of Orobanche crenata infestation in faba bean. Spatial analysis with distance indices (SADIE) was used to provide aggregation indices for the distribution of O. crenata at different times. SADIE spatial association index was used to measure the spatial stability of O. crenata aggregation patterns through time.Crenate broomrape increased its populations until reaching an average of around 23 plants m-2. SADIE shows that spatial distribution in each locality was significantly consistent showing aggregation, with aggregation distribution seeming to become stronger over the years. Spatial distributions between consecutive years were positively associated, indicating patch location stability. If the locations of crenate broomrape population distributions are predictable and stable in the long term, the potential for reducing herbicide input to farmland will be increased, through the wider use of precision application methods. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.

This work was supported partially by FEDER funds and the Spanish Ministry of Innovation and Science project (AGL2008-544).

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