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The response of spring barley and winter wheat to Avena fatua population density
Author(s) -
WILSON B. J.,
COUSENS R.,
WRIGHT KATHRYN J.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1990.tb06643.x
Subject(s) - avena fatua , agronomy , biology , crop , weed , competition (biology) , population , yield (engineering) , ecology , materials science , demography , sociology , metallurgy
Summary Populations of Avena fatua were established in crops of spring barley and winter wheat, and relationships derived between yield and other crop parameters, and weed density. Competitive effects of A. fatua, which were similar to those found in other countries, were greatest at low crop densities. Crop head numbers were reduced proportionately less than crop yield, indicating that competition was affecting other yield components. Competition increased the proportion of thin grain of barley but not of wheat. Competition had little effect on the moisture content and the contamination of the harvested grain by A. fatua, suggesting that at threshold populations these factors are unlikely to be of economic significance. It was concluded that at average crop densities, low infestations of A. fatua are likely to result in cereal yield losses in the region of 1 % for each A. fatua plant m ‐2 .