Comparing weed competition in chickpea, fababean, canola and wheat

摘要

Experiments at Tamworth in 2001, 2002 and 2003 with chickpea, fababean, canola and wheat sown at row spacings of 32 and 64 cm examined competition by 'weeds' at densities of nil, 3, 9, 27 and 81 m~(-2). Triticale was used as a mimic weed to simulate competition by wild oat. Weeds were more competitive in chickpea than fababean and canola, and least competitive in wheat. However, differences varied between years. In weed free treatments wide row spacing did not reduce the yield of chickpea, fababean or canola. Wide rows reduced wheat yield in 2002 and 2003. Row cropping is increasing in popularity to enhance management options such as no-tillage, band- and inter-row spraying. However, farmers must be more diligent to effectively control weeds with wide row agronomy.