Annual weed competition in wheat crops: the effect of weed density and applied nitrogen

Abstract

Summary:Experiments investigating the effect of weed density on the yjeld of a wheat crop at three levels of applied nitrogen were conducted in north‐western Victoria. Australia, during 1970. There were five sites, each infested with a pure stand of one of the following annual broad‐leaved weed species: Lithospermum arvense, Brassica tournifortii. Lamium amplt'xicaule, Amsinckia hispida and Fumaria parviflora. At the three‐leaf stage of crop growth, the weed populations were systematically thinned with a specially developed spray boon) (which is described) to give a range of weed densities in competition) with the crop.The relalionship between dry matter production and population density for all but one weed species was curvilinear, but the degree of curvature was small and competition in the wheat crop was linear for four of the five weed species. There were large differences in the competitive ability of individual weed species and these have been described by regression equations. Applied nitrogen increased wheat yields at all sites but weed competition was not affected.The use of these grain yield‐weed density relationships in predicting crop losses from weed competition is discussed.