Weed Interference, Pulse Species, and Plant Density Effects on Rotational Benefits

Abstract

Pulse crop management can increase pulse yields and N fixation, but the effects of previous pulse crop management on subsequent crop performance is poorly understood. Field studies were conducted at three locations, in the Parkland region of Alberta, Canada, between 2004 and 2006. Tannin-free faba bean, narrowleaf lupin, and field pea were planted at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 times the recommended pulse planting density (PPD), with or without barley as a model weed. Faba bean produced the highest seed yields in higher precipitation environments, whereas pea produced the highest seed yields in lower precipitation environments. Lupin seed yields were consistently low. In the absence of weed interference, faba bean, pea, and lupin N-fixation yields ranged from 70 to 223, 78 to 147, and 46 to 173 kg N ha−1, respectively. On average, faba bean produced the highest N-fixation yield. The absence of weed interference and a high PPD increased pulse seed and N-fixation yields. Quality wheat crops were grown on pulse stubble without additional N fertilizer in some site–years. Management practices that increased N fixation resulted in only marginal subsequent wheat yield increases. Subsequent wheat seed yield was primarily influenced by pulse species. Pea stubble produced 11% higher wheat yields than lupin stubble but only 2% higher wheat yields than faba bean stubble. Consistently high wheat yields on pea stubble may be attributed to synchronized N release from decomposing pea residues with subsequent crop N demand and superior non-N rotational benefits.

Agronomic performance of naked oat (Avena nuda L.) and faba bean intercropping

“…Cultivated faba bean is mainly used as human food in developing countries and as animal feed for pigs, horses, poultry, and pigeons in industrialized countries (Rubiales, 2010;Flores et al, 2012). Faba bean is a very promising crop thanks to its protein value, high stem strength compared to other legumes and its adaptation to a range of temperate growing conditions (Strydhorst et al, 2008;Jensen et al, 2010).…”

Canola seed yield and phenological responses to plant density

“…Plant density is a key component in an integrated weed management program. In many situations, high plant density is demonstrated to provide substantial weed control (Beckie et al 2008;Strydhorst et al 2008). In an organic oat (Avena sativa) cropping system, for example, the combination of competitive genotype, increased plant density, and post-emergence harrowing decreased weed biomass by 71% compared with standard practices (Benaragama and Shirtliffe 2013).…”

Competitiveness of Selected Pasture Plant Species with Parthenium Weed (<i>Parthenium hysterophorus</i> L.)

“…Moreover, their poor suppressive ability could be due to their susceptibility to allelopatic compounds released from roots and leaves of weed that resulted in retardation of the activities of nitrogen fixing bacteria which in line with [22], noted that a wide range of plant species affected by allelopathic inhibition of parthenium. Similarly, [23] reported that Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) had a higher nitrogen fixating ability in absence than presence of weed.…”