Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Abstract
Management of crop fertilization may be an important component of integrated weed management systems. A field experiment
was conducted to determine the effect of various application timing-tillage intensities and nitrogen (N) sources on weed growth and
winter wheat yield. Timing-tillage treatments consisted of applying the various N sources in fall under zero tillage conditions, in fall
under tilled conditions, or in spring under zero tillage. Nitrogen sources consisted of granular ammonium nitrate fertilizer applied
either surface broadcast or subsurface banded 10 cm deep between every second wheat row, fresh cattle manure, and composted
cattle manure. An unfertilized control also was included. Treatments were applied in four consecutive years to determine annual and
cumulative effects. Subsurface banded N was often better than broadcast N fertilizer in terms of N uptake by wheat versus weeds,
weed biomass production, and winter wheat yield. Weed N uptake and growth with fresh and composted manure tended to be
intermediary between banded and broadcast N fertilizer in the initial year but more closely approximated that which was attained
with broadcast N fertilizer in latter years. The gradual N release from manure and compost with time appeared to benefit weeds
more than winter wheat. The ranking of the weed seedbank at the conclusion of the 4-year experiment was composted
manure ¼ broadcast N fertilizer4fresh manure4banded N fertilizer. Information gained in this study will be utilized to develop
more efficient fertilization strategies as components of improved weed management programs in winter wheat.
Crown Copyright r 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Fertilizer placement; Weed nitrogen concentration; Weed seedbank; Wheat yield
0261-2194/$ - see front matter Crown Copyright r 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2005.01.021
ARTICLE IN PRESS
972 R.E. Blackshaw et al. / Crop Protection 24 (2005) 971–980
Table 4 Table 5
Weed shoot biomass response to nitrogen source Weed shoot biomass response to the interactive effects of application
timing and nitrogen source
Nitrogen source Weed biomass (g m2)a,b
Nitrogen source Bromus tectorum (g m2)a Thlaspi arvense (g m2)
1999 2000 2001
1998 1998 1999
Bromus tectorum
Unfertilized control 114c 88c 29c Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring
Broadcast fertilizer 270b 136a 66a
Banded fertilizer 193bc 102bc 43bc Unfertilized control13c 16a 12c 14a 39c 30b
Manure 240b 129ab 48ab Broadcast fertilizer 38a 26a 46a 20a 96a 39b
Compost 442a 157a 54ab Banded fertilizer 16bc 20a 27b 13a 49bc 30b
Manure 27ab 25a 30b 18a 62b 35b
Thlaspi arvense Compost 19bc 18a 24b 16a 113a 73a
Unfertilized control — 1b 1b
Broadcast fertilizer — 6a 11a a
Means within a weed species, year, and application timing followed
Banded fertilizer — 3b 2b by the same letter are not significantly different according to Fisher’s
Manure — 2b 4b Protected LSD test at the 5% level of probability.
Compost — 2b 8a
Descurainia sophia
Unfertilized control 76b 29c 42c
Broadcast fertilizer 122a 113a 85b Table 6
Banded fertilizer 84b 70b 24c Effect of nitrogen application timing-tillage intensity in four con-
Manure 88b 14c 35c secutive years on the weed seedbank at the conclusion of the 4-year
Compost 133a 118a 115a experiment
a
Means within a weed species and year followed by the same letter Seeds m2 a
are not significantly different according to Fisher’s Protected LSD test
at the 5% level of probability. Bromus Thlaspi Descurainia
b
Application timing and nitrogen source interacted to affect Bromus tectorum arvense sophia
tectorum biomass in 1998 and Thlaspi arvense biomass in 1998 and
Fall-zero tillage 21290 a 2730 a 18480 c
1999 (see Table 5). Descurainia sophia biomass was not collected in
Fall-tilled 14620 b 2970 a 30230 a
1998 as few weeds were present.
Spring-zero tillage 21800 a 3350 a 24050 b
Table 7
Effect of nitrogen application timing-tillage intensity on winter wheat
yield when competing with weeds
benefit weeds at the expense of crops. However, the develop more integrated programs for weed manage-
highly responsive nature of some weed species to higher ment in winter wheat production systems.
N levels may be a weakness to be exploited. Species with
the highest relative growth rate under optimal nutrient
conditions often have the largest reductions in growth Acknowledgments
rate under deficient nutrient conditions (Shipley and
Keddy, 1988; Harbur and Owen, 2004). The authors thank A.F. Olson for laboratory manure
Banded N was often better than broadcast N fertilizer analyses, T. Entz for statistical analyses, and E. Cadieu
in terms of N uptake by wheat versus weeds, weed for preparing the figures. This research was partially
biomass production, and winter wheat yield. Weeds funded by the Matching Investment Initiative of
often germinate at or near the soil surface, especially in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. This is LRC
zero tillage systems (Hoffman et al., 1998), and it is in contribution no. 38704057.
this situation that the greatest benefits may be realized
by physically placing N in an area of the soil profile
where crop seed, but not weed seed, is germinating. References
N uptake and growth of weeds with fresh and
composted manure tended to be intermediary between Anderson, R.L., 1998. Seedling emergence of winter annual grasses as
affected by limited tillage and crop canopy. Weed Technol. 12,
broadcast and banded N fertilizer. In the first study
262–267.
year, weed shoot N concentration and biomass often Angonin, C., Caussanel, J.P., Meynard, J.M., 1996. Competition
was lower with fresh or composted manure than between winter wheat and Veronica hederifolia: influence of weed
with broadcast N fertilizer. However, with repeated density and the amount and timing of nitrogen application. Weed
annual applications, weed shoot N concentration, Res. 36, 175–187.
density, and biomass with the manure treatments Ball, D.A., Wysocki, D.J., Chastain, T.G., 1996. Nitrogen application
timing effects on downy brome (Bromus tectorum) and winter
tended to be similar to those of broadcast N fertilizer. wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth and yield. Weed Technol. 10,
This was especially evident with composted manure; 305–310.
weeds sometimes benefited more from composted Best, K.F., 1977. The biology of Canadian weeds. 22. Descurainia
manure than from broadcast N fertilizer in the latter sophia (L.) Webb. Can. J. Plant Sci. 57, 499–507.
Blackshaw, R.E., Semach, G.P., O’Donovan, J.T., 2000. Utilization of
years. This was likely due to gradual N release from
wheat seed rate to manage redstem filaree (Erodium cicutarium) in a
compost over years (Eghball et al., 2004). Weed-infested zero-till cropping system. Weed Technol. 14, 389–396.
winter wheat yield with fresh and composted manure Blackshaw, R.E., Brandt, R.N., Janzen, H.H., Entz, T., Grant, C.A.,
was usually similar to that with broadcast N fertilizer Derksen, D.A., 2003. Differential response of weed species to
and was often lower than that attained with banded N added nitrogen. Weed Sci. 51, 532–539.
fertilizer. The weed seedbank at the conclusion of Brust, G.E., House, G.J., 1988. Weed seed destruction by arthropods
and rodents in low-input soybean agroecosystems. Am. J.
this 4-year experiment was greatest with composted Alternative Agric. 3, 19–25.
manure and broadcast N fertilizer, indicating that they Camara, K.M., Payne, W.A., Rasmussen, P.E., 2003. Long-term
were the least desirable N treatments in terms of weed effects of tillage, nitrogen, and rainfall on winter wheat yields in the
management. Pacific Northwest. Agron. J. 95, 828–835.
Our study indicates that fresh and composted manure Cardina, J., Sparrow, D.H., 1996. A comparison of methods to predict
weed seedling populations from the soil seedbank. Weed Sci. 44,
have the potential to increase winter wheat yield but also 46–51.
the level of weed competition. Menalled et al. (2004) Cathcart, R.J., Swanton, C.J., 2003. Nitrogen management will
similarly documented that composted swine manure influence threshold values of green foxtail (Setaria viridis) in corn.
increased the competitive ability of Amaranthus rudis Weed Sci. 51, 975–986.
Cochran, V.L., Morrow, L.A., Schirman, R.D., 1990. The effect of N
(common waterhemp) without increasing soybean (Gly-
placement on grass weeds and winter wheat in three tillage systems.
cine max) yield. Realization of maximum manure Soil Till. Res. 18, 347–355.
benefits to crops may involve alternative application Davis, A.S., Liebman, M., 2001. Nitrogen source influences wild
methods. Petersen (2003) reported that weed N uptake mustard growth and competitive effect on sweet corn. Weed Sci.
and weed biomass was 50% lower with subsurface 49, 558–566.
banded compared with surface broadcast liquid swine DeLuca, T.H., DeLuca, D.K., 1997. Composting for feedlot manure
management and soil quality. J. Prod. Agric. 10, 233–241.
manure. Additionally, weed management programs that Derksen, D.A., Anderson, R.L., Blackshaw, R.E., Maxwell, B., 2002.
emphasize competitive crops and timely herbicide use Weed dynamics and management strategies for cropping systems in
would help achieve the many advantages of manure the northern Great Plains. Agron. J. 94, 174–185.
application to crop production. DiTomaso, J.M., 1995. Approaches for improving crop competitive-
Manipulation of crop fertilization should be consid- ness through the manipulation of fertilization strategies. Weed Sci.
43, 491–497.
ered an important component of long-term weed Eghball, B., Power, J.F., 1999. Phosphorus and nitrogen-based
management and sustainable crop production systems. manure and compost application: corn production and soil
Information gained in the current study will be used to phosphorus. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 63, 895–901.
ARTICLE IN PRESS
980 R.E. Blackshaw et al. / Crop Protection 24 (2005) 971–980
Eghball, B., Ginting, D., Gilley, J.E., 2004. Residual effects of manure Menalled, F.D., Liebman, M., Buhler, D.D., 2004. Impact of
and compost applications on corn production and soil properties. composted swine manure and tillage on common waterhemp
Agron. J. 96, 442–447. (Amaranthus rudis) competition with soybean. Weed Sci. 52,
Egley, G.H., Duke, S.O., 1985. Physiology of weed seed dormancy and 605–613.
germination. In: Duke, S.O. (Ed.), Weed Physiology. Volume I. Mesbah, A.O., Miller, S.D., 1999. Fertilizer placement affects jointed
Reproduction and Ecophysiology. CRC Press, Boca Raton, USA, goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica) competition in winter wheat
pp. 27–34. (Triticum aestivum). Weed Technol. 13, 374–377.
Egley, G.L., Williams, R.D., 1990. Decline of weed seeds and seedling Mooleki, S.P., Schoenau, J.J., Charles, J.L., Wen, G., 2004. Effect of
emergence over five years as affected by soil disturbance. Weed Sci. rate, frequency and incorporation of feedlot cattle manure on soil
38, 504–510. nitrogen availability, crop performance and nitrogen use efficiency
Fowler, D.B., Brydon, J., 1989. No-till winter wheat production on the in east-central Saskatchewan. Can. J. Soil Sci. 84, 199–210.
Canadian prairies: placement of urea and ammonium nitrate Petersen, J., 2003. Weed:spring barley competition for applied nitrogen
fertilizers. Agron. J. 81, 518–524. in pig slurry. Weed Res. 43, 33–39.
Gonzalez Ponce, R., 1998. Competition between barley and Lolium Qasem, J.R., 1992. Nutrient accumulation by weeds and their
rigidum for nitrate. Weed Res. 38, 453–460. associated vegetable crops. J. Hortic. Sci. 67, 189–195.
Hans, S.R., Johnson, W.G., 2002. Influence of shattercane [Sorghum Rao, S.C., Dao, T.H., 1996. Nitrogen placement and tillage effects on
bicolor (L.) Moench.] interference on corn (Zea mays L.) yield and dry matter and nitrogen accumulation and redistribution in winter
nitrogen accumulation. Weed Technol. 16, 787–791. wheat. Agron. J. 88, 365–371.
Harbur, M.M., Owen, M.D.K., 2004. Light and growth rate effects on Rasmussen, P.E., 1995. Effects of fertilizer and stubble burning on
crop and weed responses to nitrogen. Weed Sci. 52, 578–583. downy brome competition in winter wheat. Commun. Soil Sci.
Hoffman, M.L., Owen, M.D.K., Buhler, D.D., 1998. Effects of crop Plant Anal. 26, 951–960.
and weed management on density and vertical distribution of weed Raun, W.R., Johnson, G.V., 1999. Improving nitrogen use efficiency
seeds in soil. Agron. J. 90, 793–799. for cereal production. Agron. J. 9, 357–363.
Janzen, R.A., McGill, W.B., Leonard, J.J., Jeffrey, S.R., 1999. Manure Reider, C.R., Herdman, W.R., Drinkwater, L.E., Janke, R., 2000.
as a resource-ecological and economic considerations in balance. Yields and nutrient budgets under composts, raw dairy manure and
Trans. Am. Soc. Agric. Eng. 42, 1261–1273. mineral fertilizer. Compost Sci. Util. 8, 328–339.
Jornsgard, B., Rasmussen, K., Hill, J., Christiansen, J.L., 1996. Richard, T.L., Choi, H.L., 1999. Eliminating waste: strategies for
Influence of nitrogen on competition between cereals and their sustainable manure management. Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 12,
natural weed populations. Weed Res. 36, 461–470. 1162–1169.
Karamanos, R.E., Stonehouse, T.A., Flore, N.A., 2003. Response of Rodd, A.V., Warman, P.R., Hicklenton, P., Webb, K., 2002.
winter wheat to nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer placement and Comparison of N fertilizer, source-separated municipal solid waste
time of application. Can. J. Plant Sci. 83, 483–488. compost and semi-solid beef manure on the nutrient concentration
Kirkland, K.J., Beckie, H.J., 1998. Contribution of nitrogen fertilizer in boot-stage barley and wheat tissue. Can. J. Soil Sci. 82,
placement to weed management in spring wheat (Triticum 33–43.
aestivum). Weed Technol. 12, 507–514. Satorre, E.H., Snaydon, R.W., 1992. A comparison of root and shoot
Larney, F.J., Blackshaw, R.E., 2003. Weed seed viability in composted competition between spring cereals and Avena fatua L. Weed Res.
beef cattle feedlot manure. J. Environ. Qual. 32, 1105–1113. 32, 45–55.
Larney, F.J., Olson, A.F., DeMaere, P.R., 2002. Implications of Shipley, B., Keddy, P.A., 1988. The relationship between relative
feedlot manure composting for land application of nitrogen. growth rate and sensitivity to nutrient stress in twenty-eight species
Proceedings of the 39th Annual Alberta Soil Science Workshop, of emergent macrophytes. J. Ecol. 76, 1101–1110.
Nisku, AB, Canada, pp. 23–29. Statistical Analysis Systems, 1999. SAS/STAT User’s Guide, Version
Liebman, M., Mohler, C.L., Staver, C.P., 2001. Ecological Manage- 8. Statistical Analysis Systems Institute, Cary, NC.
ment of Agricultural Weeds. Cambridge University Press, Cam- Steel, R.G.D., Torrie, J.H., 1980. Principles and Procedures of
bridge, UK. Statistics, second ed. McGraw-Hill, New York, USA.
Lintell-Smith, G., Baylis, J.M., Watkinson, A.R., 1992. The effects of Supasilapa, S., Steer, B.T., Milroy, S.P., 1992. Competition between
reduced nitrogen and weed competition on the yield of winter lupin (Lupinus angustifolia L.) and great brome (Bromus diandrus
wheat. Aspects Appl. Biol. 30, 367–372. Roth.): development of leaf area, light interception and yields.
Locke, T.D., Liebman, M., Cambardella, C.A., Richard, T.L., 2004. Aust. J. Exp. Agric. 32, 71–81.
Corn response to composting and time of application of solid swine Swanton, C.J., Weise, S.F., 1991. Integrated weed management: the
manure. Agron. J. 96, 214–223. rationale and approach. Weed Technol. 5, 657–663.
Mason, M., 1987. Effect of agronomic practices on wheat protein Van Delden, A., Lotz, L.A., Bastiaans, L., Franke, A.C., Smid, H.G.,
levels. J. Agric. West. Aust. 28, 128–130. Groeneveld, M.W., Kropff, M.J., 2002. The influence of nitrogen
Menalled, F.D., Liebman, M., Buhler, D.D., 2002. Impact of supply on the ability of wheat and potato to suppress Stellaria
composted swine manure on crop and weed establishment and media growth and reproduction. Weed Res. 42, 429–445.
growth. Proceedings of the Workshop European Weed Research Wiese, A.F., Sweeten, J.M., Bean, B.W., Salisbury, C.D., Chenault,
Society Working Group on Physical and Cultural Weed Control, E.W., 1998. High temperature composting of cattle feedlot manure
Pisa, Italy, p. 183. kills weed seed. Appl. Eng. Agric. 14, 377–380.