Variable crop plant establishment contributes to differences in competitiveness with wild oat among cereal varieties

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at three locations in Alberta to determine the relative competitiveness with wild oat (Avena fatua L.) of three hard red spring (HRS) and three Canada prairie spring (CPS) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties and a semidwarf hull-less barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) (Falcon), and normal height general purpose barley (AC Lacombe). Crop variety significantly affected crop yield loss, wild oat shoot dry weight and wild oat seed yield (competitive indicators). AC Lacombe barley was consistently more competitive than Falcon barley or any of the wheat varieties, while the HRS wheat varieties were mainly more competitive than the CPS varieties. Falcon barley was generally similar in competitiveness to the CPS wheat varieties. Differences among varieties in crop plant density at establishment correlated significantly with the competitive indicators suggesting that this factor contributed to the differences in competitiveness among the varieties. Crop density tended to be higher with the more competitive AC Lacombe barley and HRS wheat varieties than with the less competitive Falcon barley and CPS wheat varieties. Variety and seeding rate did not interact significantly but intentionally increasing the seeding rate improved the competitiveness of all varieties. Key words: Hard red spring wheat, Canada prairie spring wheat, crop seeding rate, hull-less barley, semi-dwarf wheat and barley