Effects of nitrogen supply on competition between wheat and three annual weed species

Abstract

SummaryThree pot experiments have investigated the effects of nitrogen (N) supply on interspecific competition between three weed species (Phalaris minor Retz., Chenopodium album L, and Sinapis arvensis L.) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv, Alexandria. The treatments tested included monocultures of each species and a mix‐ture containing them in equal proportions that were combined factorially with two levels of N supply (20, 120 kg N ha‐1). Low N supply decreased net photosynthetic rate (Pn), leaf N percentage, plant dry weight and N uptake of both wheat and weed species and gram dry weight of wheat. The effects of low N on Pn and dry weight of weeds were greater than the effects on wheat. In most cases the decrease in Pn at low N was due to non‐stomatal factors. The relative competitive abilities of wheat and weeds were influenced by N supply. At high N, S.arvensis was more competitive than wheat, whereas P. minor was less competitive than wheat. C. album was more competitive than wheat at both N levels. The rank order of competitive ability of the weed species was C. album > P. minor > S. arvensis. The effects of interspecific competition on Pn were smaller than the effects of N supply and were not associated with corresponding effects on leaf N percentage and plant dry weight of both wheat and weed species and grain dry weight of wheat.