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Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate Effects on Weed Competitiveness is Species Dependent

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Robert E. Blackshaw  and
Randall N. Brandt
Robert E. Blackshaw*
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Centre, 5403–1st Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1J 4B1
Randall N. Brandt
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Centre, 5403–1st Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1J 4B1
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: blackshawre@agr.gc.ca
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Abstract

Information on nitrogen fertilizer effects on crop–weed competitive interactions might aid in developing improved weed management programs. A controlled environment study was conducted to examine the effect of three N rates on the competitive ability of four weed species grown with wheat. The four weed species were chosen to represent species that varied in their growth responsiveness to nitrogen (N): Persian darnel (low), Russian thistle (low), redroot pigweed (high), and wild oat (high). Wheat and each weed species were grown in a replacement series design at N rates of 60, 120, and 240 mg N kg−1 soil. The competitive ability of the low N-responsive species, Persian darnel and Russian thistle, was not influenced by N rate, supporting our hypothesis that N rate would have little effect on the competitiveness of species responding minimally to N. Conversely, the competitiveness of the high N-responsive species redroot pigweed progressively improved as N rate increased. However, wild oat competitiveness was unaffected by N fertilizer rate. There is some evidence from this study to suggest that fertilizer management strategies that favor crops over weeds deserve greater attention when weed infestations consist of species known to be highly responsive to higher soil N levels. Information gained in this study will be used to advise farmers of the importance of strategic fertilizer management in terms of both weed management and crop yield.

Keywords

Redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L. AMAREwild oat, Avena fatua L. AVEFAPersian darnel, Lolium persicum Boiss. & Hohen. ex Boiss. LOLPSwild mustard, Sinapis arvensis L. SINARwheat, Triticum aestivum L. ‘AC Barrie’.Competitioninterferencenitrogen fertilizernitrogen uptakeweed managementweed nitrogen concentration
Type
Weed Management
Information
Weed Science , Volume 56 , Issue 5 , October 2008 , pp. 743 - 747
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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