Common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) interference with corn across the northcentral United States

Abstract

Variation in crop–weed interference relationships has been shown for a number of crop–weed mixtures and may have an important influence on weed management decision-making. Field experiments were conducted at seven locations over 2 yr to evaluate variation in common lambsquarters interference in field corn and whether a single set of model parameters could be used to estimate corn grain yield loss throughout the northcentral United States. Two coefficients (IandA) of a rectangular hyperbola were estimated for each data set using nonlinear regression analysis. TheIcoefficient represents corn yield loss as weed density approaches zero, andArepresents maximum percent yield loss. Estimates of both coefficients varied between years at Wisconsin, andIvaried between years at Michigan. When locations with similar sample variances were combined, estimates of bothIandAvaried. Common lambsquarters interference caused the greatest corn yield reduction in Michigan (100%) and had the least effect in Minnesota, Nebraska, and Indiana (0% yield loss). Variation inIandAparameters resulted in variation in estimates of a single-year economic threshold (0.32 to 4.17 plants m−1of row). Results of this study fail to support the use of a common yield loss–weed density function for all locations.