Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Crop Competitiveness

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Managing and Breeding Wheat for Organic Systems

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Agriculture ((BRIEFSAGRO))

Abstract

Organic agriculture is being practiced in many countries around the globe and the area under organic agriculture is gradually increasing. Many biotic and abiotic factors affect wheat production in the field; however, competition for water, light, space and nutrients is often severe under organic systems due to the existence of weeds in a larger number. Weed management in organic systems is more challenging because the organic system prohibits use of herbicides. Moreover, weeds are rapidly becoming resistant to herbicides. This has led the scientific community to use other management strategies such as breeding cultivars with improved competitive ability to cope with weed’s infestation. Breeding for crop competitive ability requires selection of traits that confer competiveness against various stresses, which is becoming a main objective in breeding cultivars for organically managed systems. Competitive ability traits reduce weed germination, growth, establishment and seed set, ultimately leading towards an improvement in grain yield. This Chapter reviews the importance of crop competiveness and highlights various morphological traits that confer competitive ability in crop plants with respect to developing new wheat cultivars for organically managed lands with enhanced competiveness.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bertholdsson NO (2005) Early vigour and allelopathy—two useful traits for enhanced barley and wheat competitiveness against weeds. Weed Res 45:94–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhatt MD, Tewari A (2006) Losses in growth and yield attributes due to weed composition in transplanted paddy in terai region. Scientific World 4:99–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Caton BP, Cope AE, Mortimer M (2003) Growth traits of diverse rice cultivars under severe competition: implications for screening for competitiveness. Field Crops Res 83:157–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Challaiah O, Ramsel RE, Wicks GA, Burnside OC, Johnson VA (1986) Evaluation of the weed competitive ability of winter wheat cultivars. Proceedings of the North Central Weed Control Conference Tasmanian Weeds Society, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, pp 85–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Champion GT, Froud-Williams RJ, Holland JM (1998) Interactions between wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar, row spacing and density and the effect on weed suppression and crop yield. Annals Appl Biol 133:443–453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen S (1993) Weed Suppression in Cereal Varieties. Min. Agric. Statens Planeavlsforsog, Denmark, p 104

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman RD, Gill GS, Rebetzke GJ (2001) Identification of quantitative trait loci for traits conferring weed competitiveness in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Aust J Agric Res 52:1235–1246

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cousens RD, Barnett AG, Barry GC (2003a) Dynamics of competition between wheat and oat: I. Effects of changing the timing of phenological events. Agronomy J 95:1295–1304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cousens RD, Rebetzke GJ, Barnett AG (2003b) Dynamics of competition between wheat and oat: II. Effects of dwarfing genes. Agronomy J 95:1305–1313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cudney DW, Jordan LS, Hall AE (1991) Effect of wild oat (Avena fatua) infestations on light interception and growth-rate of wheat (Triticum aestivum). Weed Sci 39:175–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Deirdre L, Donald T (2001) World wheat and herbicide resistance. Herbicide Resistance and World Grains. CRC Press, FL

    Google Scholar 

  • Didon UME (2002) Variation between barley cultivars in early response to weed competition. J Agron Crop Sci 188:176–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Didon UME, Bostrom U (2003) Growth and development of six barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp vulgare L.) cultivars in response to a model weed (Sinapis alba L.). J Agron Crop Sci 189:409–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Didon UME, Hansson ML (2002) Competition between six spring barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp vulgare L.) cultivars and two weed flora in relation to interception of photosynthetic active radiation. Biol Agric Hortic 20:257–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dingkuhn M, Johnson DE, Sow A, Audebert AY (1999) Relationships between upland rice canopy characteristics and weed competitiveness. Field Crops Res 61:79–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donald CM (1968) Breeding of crop ideotypes. Euphytica 17:385–403

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drews S, Juroszek P, Neuhoff D, Kopke U (2004) Optimizing shading ability of winter wheat stands as a method of weed control. Z Pflanzenk Pflanzens-J Plant Dis Prot 19:545–552

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckersten H, Andersson L, Holstein F, Mannerstedt Fogelfors B, Lewan E, Sigvald R, Torssell B, Karlsson S (2008) An evaluation of climate change effects on crop production in Sweden. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Crop Production Ecology, Report No 6, ISBN 978-91-576-7237-7, Uppsala, Sweden

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckersten H, Lundkvist A, Torssell B (2010) Comparison of monocultures of perennial sow-thistle and spring barley in estimated shoot radiation-use and nitrogen-uptake efficiencies. Acta Agr Scand Section B-Soil Plant Sci 60:126–135

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis MH, Rebetzke GJ, Chandler P, Bonnett D, Spielmeyer W, Richards RA (2004) The effect of different height reducing genes on the early growth of wheat. Funct Plant Biol 31:583–589

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Entz MH, Gross KG, Fowler DB (1992) Root-growth and soil-water extraction by winter and spring wheat. Can J Plant Sci 72:1109–1120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang Y, Liu L, Xu BC, Li FM (2011) The relationship between competitive ability and yield stability in an old and a modern winter wheat cultivar. Plant Soil 347:7–23

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • FAOSTAT (2012) http://faostat.fao.org

  • Fischer AJ, Ramirez HV, Gibson KD, Pinheiro BD (2001) Competitiveness of semidwarf upland rice cultivars against palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha) and signalgrass (B. decumbens). Agronomy J 93:967–973

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Froud-Williams RJ (1999) A biological framework for developing a weed management support system for weed control in winter wheat: weed seed biology. In: Proceedings Brighton conference weeds, pp 747–752

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaudet CL, Keddy PA (1988) A comparative approach to predicting competitive ability from plant traits. Nature 334:242–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzaliz-Ponce R, Santin I (2001) Competitive ability of wheat cultivars with wildoats depending on nitrogen fertilization. Agronomie 21:119–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gooding MJ, Cosser ND, Thompson AJ, Davies WP, Froud-Williams RJ (1997) The effect of cultivar and Rht genes on the competitive ability, yield and bread-making qualities of organically grown wheat. Proceedings of the 3rd ENOF workshop: resource use in organic farming, Ancona, pp 113–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Gooding MJ, Thompson AJ, Davies WP (1993) Interception of photosynthetically active radiation, competitive ability and yield of organically grown wheat varieties. Aspects of applied biology/Association of Applied Biologists 34:355–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Grime JP (1979) Plant strategy and vegetation processes. Wiley, Chichester, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Harker KN (2001) Survey of yield losses due to weeds in central Alberta. Can J Plant Sci 81:339–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holman JD, Bussan AJ, Maxwell BD, Miller PR, Mickelson JA (2004) Spring wheat, canola, and sunflower response to Persian darnel (Lolium persicam) interference. Weed Technol 18:509–520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huel DG, Hucl P (1996) Genotypic variation for competitive ability in spring wheat. Plant Breeding 115:325–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Infanger CA (1956) Economic consequences of 2,4-D in controlling Canada thistle in irrigated spring wheat. Montana State College

    Google Scholar 

  • Jennings PR, Aquino RC (1968) Studies on competition in rice. III. The mechanism of competition among phenotypes. Evolution 22:529–542

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson DE, Dingkuhn M, Jones MP, Mahamane MC (1998) The influence of rice plant type on the effect of weed competition on Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima. Weed Res 38:207–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan IA, Hassan G, Khan SA, Shah SMA (2012) Wheat-wild oats interactions at varying densities and proportions. Pak J Bot 44:1053–1057

    Google Scholar 

  • Korres NE, Froud-Williams RJ (2002) Effects of winter wheat cultivars and seed rate on the biological characteristics of naturally occurring weed flora. Weed Res 42:417–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemerle D, Gill GS, Murphy CE, Walker SR, Cousens RD, Mokhtari S, Peltzer SJ, Coleman R, Luckett DJ (2001a) Genetic improvement and agronomy for enhanced wheat competitiveness with weeds. Aust J Agric Res 52:527–548

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemerle D, Verbeek B, Coombes N (1995) Losses in grain yield of winter crops from Lolium rigidum competition depend on crop species, cultivar and season. Weed Res 35:503–509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemerle D, Verbeek B, Cousens RD, Coombes NE (1996a) The potential for selecting wheat varieties strongly competitive against weeds. Weed Res 36:505–513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemerle D, Verbeek B, Martin P (1996b) Breeding wheat cultivars more competitive against weeds

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemerle D, Verbeek B, Orchard B (2001b) Ranking the ability of wheat varieties to compete with Lolium rigidum. Weed Res 41:197–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez C, Richards RA, Farquhar GD, Williamson RE (1996) Seed and seedling characteristics contributing to variation in early vigor among temperate cereals. Crop Sci 36:1257–1266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lucas BC, Froud WRJ (1994) The role of varietal selection for enhanced crop competitiveness in winter wheat. Aspects Appl Biol 40:343–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Lutman PJW, Dixon FL, Risiott R (1994) The response of four spring-sown combinable arable crops to weed competition. Weed Res 34:137–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mason HE, Navabi A, Frick BL, O’Donovan JT, Spaner DM (2007) The weed-competitive ability of Canada western red spring wheat cultivars grown under organic management. Crop Sci 47:1167–1176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mason HE, Spaner D (2006) Competitive ability of wheat in conventional and organic management systems: A review of the literature. Can J Plant Sci 86:333–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald GK, Gill GS (2009) Improving crop competitiveness with weeds: Adaptations and trade-offs. Crop Physiology. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 449–488

    Google Scholar 

  • Mishra AK, Tripathi P, Pal RK, Mishra SR (2009) Light interception and radiation use efficiency of wheat varieties as influenced by number of irrigations. J Agrometeorol 11:140–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Moukoumbi YD, Sie M, Vodouhe R, Bonou W, Toulou B, Ahanchede A (2011) Screening of rice varieties for their weed competitiveness. Afr J Agric Res 6:5446–5456

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavlychenko TK, Harrington JB (1934) Competitive efficiency of weeds and cereal crops. Can J Res 10:77–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powles SB, Preston C, Bryan IB, Jutsum AR (1997) Herbicide resistance: Impact and management. In: Sparks DL (ed) Advances in agronomy, vol 58, pp 57–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Preston C, Roush RT, Powles SB (1999) Herbicide resistance in weeds of southern Australia: why are we the worst in the world? Proceedings of the 12th Australian Weeds conference. Tasmanian Weeds Society, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, pp 454–459

    Google Scholar 

  • Qasem JR (2003) Weeds and their control. University of Jordan Publications Amman, Jordan 628

    Google Scholar 

  • Rebetzke GJ, Richards RA (1999) Genetic improvement of early vigour in wheat. Aust J Agric Res 50:291–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid T, Yang R-C, Salmon D, Spaner D (2009) Should spring wheat breeding for organically managed systems be conducted on organically managed land? Euphytica 169:239–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richards RA (1983) Manipulation of leaf-area and its effect on grain-yield in droughted wheat. Aust J Agric Res 34:23–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson AE, Hadobas PA, Hayes JE (2001) Extracellular secretion of Aspergillus phytase from Arabidopsis roots enables plants to obtain phosphorus from phytate. Plant J 25:641–649

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Salisbury EJ (1936) Natural selection and competition. Proc Roy Soc Lond B 121:47–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Satorre EH, Snaydon RW (1992) A comparison of root and shoot competition between spring cereals and Avena fatua L. Weed Res 32:45–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seavers GP, Wright KJ (1999) Crop canopy development and structure influence weed suppression. Weed Res 39:319–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seefeldt SS, Ogg AG, Hou YS (1999) Near-isogenic lines for Triticum aestivum height and crop competitiveness. Weed Sci 47:316–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Sligh M, Christman C (2003) Who owns organic? The global status, prospects and challenges of a changing organic market. Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI), USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Swanton CJ, Harker KN, Anderson RL (1993) Crop losses due to weeds in canada. Weed Technol 7:537–542

    Google Scholar 

  • Vandeleur RK, Gill GS (2004) The impact of plant breeding on the grain yield and competitive ability of wheat in Australia. Aust J Agric Res 55:855–861

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vanheemst HDJ (1985) The influence of weed competition on crop yield. Agric Syst 18:81–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson PR, Derksen DA, Van Acker RC (2006) The ability of 29 barley cultivars to compete and withstand competition. Weed Sci 54:783–792

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wicks GA, Ramsel RE, Nordquist PT, Schmidt JW, Challaiah (1986) Impact of wheat cultivars on establishment and suppression of summer annual weeds. Agronomy J 78:59–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Willer H, Kilcher L (2012) The World of Organic Agriculture—Statistics and Emerging Trends Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Frick, and International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), Bonn

    Google Scholar 

  • Yenish JR, Young FL (2004) Winter wheat competition against jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica) as influenced by wheat plant height, seeding rate, and seed size. Weed Sci 52:996–1001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zerner MC, Gill GS, Vandeleur RK (2008) Effect of height on the competitive ability of wheat with oats. Agronomy J 100:1729–1734

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou XB, Chen YH, Ouyang Z (2011) Row spacing effect on leaf area development, light interception, crop growth and grain yield of summer soybean crops in Northern China. Afr J Agric Res 6:1430–1437

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Muhammad Asif & Dean Spaner

  2. National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Iqbal

  3. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Centre, Lethbridge, AB, Canada

    Harpinder Randhawa

Authors
  1. Muhammad Asif
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Muhammad Iqbal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Harpinder Randhawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dean Spaner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Muhammad Asif .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Asif, M., Iqbal, M., Randhawa, H., Spaner, D. (2014). Crop Competitiveness. In: Managing and Breeding Wheat for Organic Systems. SpringerBriefs in Agriculture. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05002-7_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation