Crop competition effects on weeds and crops

Abstract

Take home message
• There is convincing evidence that increased crop competition in sorghum, mungbean, faba bean and chickpea resulting from narrower row spacing and/or increased crop density reduces growth and seed production of feathertop Rhodes grass and sowthistle
• Importantly, in most instances, narrower row spacing and increased plant density did not have a negative impact on grain yield. In situations where resources (e.g. water) were not limiting, more competitive crops resulted in higher yield
• In general, when there is low yield potential (usually due to limited resources) growing a crop at a narrow row spacing or increased crop density is more likely to result in yield loss. In contrast, when there is a high yield potential, crops grown at wide row spacing are likely to result in yield loss when compared to narrow row spacing.