Effect of crop-weed competition on the mineral structure of wheat crop

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to understand the translocation of nitrogen and phosphorus through crop plants at different stages of growth as affected by weed infestation. The profile distribution of these elements in different components of wheat has been studied at the vegetative, flowering and fruiting stages of crop growth. It was found that the reduction in the concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus in the wheat plant started at the vegetative stage itself due to interference from weeds in the weedy stand and the maximal reduction was at the flowering stage (perhaps due to the maximal density of weeds at this stage). From the above investigation it is concluded that weeds growing along with crop plants significantly affect the mineral status of the crop as well as uptake, return and retention by wheat plants.