Crop–weed competition rather than temperature limits the population establishment of two annual C 4 weeds at the edge of their northern range

Summary Climate change is predicted to affect range expansion of harmful C 4 weeds into the boreal region, given that they are able to successfully colonise both C 3 and C 4 crops. We studied the impact of a 3°C elevation in temperature on the establishment and maintenance of populations of two annual C 4 weeds ( A maranthus retroflexus and E chinochloa crus‐galli ) with and without a competing C 3 (barley) or C 4 (maize) crop. Data obtained from field and glasshouse experiments were modelled using a periodic matrix population model. Competition of a weed with a crop appeared to be a more important factor for limiting the maintenance of weed populations than elevation in temperature, as neither of the weed species was able to maintain populations in competition with crops. Even an increase in the frequency of warm years did not result in viable weed populations establishing. However, A . retroflexus was able to form persistent populations in competition with maize when released from competition every fifth year. Simulations parameterised from glasshouse data predicted that both weed species would persist without competition in the current climate, whereas simulations parameterised from field data suggested only A . retroflexus to be able to persist. These results demonstrate that competition affects the range expansion of arable weed species more than elevation in temperature, necessitating the inclusion of crop–weed interactions in models of range shifts as a consequence of climate change.