Combined Effects of Radiation and Nitrogen Limitations on Competition of Two C4 Plants Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.) and Pigweed (Amaranthus albus L.)

Abstract

Introduction: Light is a vital component for photosynthesis and plays a significant role in the competitive ability of plants. The nitrogen response of competing plants may be affected by radiation availability and maximum potential growth rate, which determine N requirements. Shading reduces the light intensity, which leads to changes in the morphology, physiology, biomass, grain yield and quality of crops. Finally, shading stress delays flowering and decreases biomass and grain yield. Because photosynthesis is associated with dry matter accumulation, and light is known to limit carbon accumulation and nitrogen content, understanding these processes in weeds may provide insight as to their effects on crop production, help to predict their occurrence, and ultimately provide the needed information for their management. Materials and Methods: In order to evaluate foxtail millet competition with pigweed at different levels of radiation and nitrogen, two separate experiments in split plot arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications were conducted in 2015 at the Research Farm of Birjand University. Texturally, the soil was loam, with 8.16 pH, 0.03% total N, 12 ppm available P and 250 ppm available K. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications having three shade levels (0, 41 and 75% shade) in main plot and three pigweed density (0, 12 and 24 plant per meter square) in subplots in two separate experiments, one under nitrogen application and the other without it. In 0% shade treatment, sunlight was allowed to fall over the millet and pigweed without any barrier. In 41% and 75% treatments, the light levels in the form of PAR were reduced using sheds nets. At the end of growth stage millet traits including plant height, spike length, peduncle length, stem diameter, number of leaf, lodging, grain yield and biomass and pigweed traits such as plant height, number of Lateral branches, number of seed per plant and biomass were measured. Data analyses were performed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) by SAS 9.1 software. Means of treatments were compared between nitrogen, shade treatments and pigweed densities according to protected least significance differences (LSD) test at the 5% level. Results and Discussion: Nitrogen had a significant effect on all millet traits except for peduncle length and biomass and also on pigweed height. Nitrogen led to significant increase in plant height, lodging percentage, number of leaf, spike length and grain yield of millet and also pigweed height. Shading had a significant (P < 0.01) influence on millet lodging, spike length, stem diameter and grain yield but no significant effects were observed on number of leaf per plant, plant height, peduncle length and biomass. Shading at level of 75% increased millet lodging and its biomass and grain yield. With shading stress at its highest level, grain yield was significantly (P < 0.01) reduced by 61% from 3.70 to 1.44 ton per ha. Shading significantly (P < 0.01) increased pigweed height and reduced its number of seeds (P < 0.05), number of stem and biomass (P < 0.01). The effect of pigweed density on grain yield (P < 0.05) and plant height and stem diameter was significant (P < 0.01). The effect of pigweed density was also significant (P < 0.01) on pigweed height, its number of stem, number of seed and biomass. Pigweed density of 24 plants per square meter led to 21% reduction in millet grain yield relative to control. However, the interaction between nitrogen and pigweed density on millet traits was limited, and only significantly (P < 0.05) affected stem diameter and grain yield. The interaction between nitrogen, shading and pigweed density also significantly (P < 0.05) affected millet biomass. Conclusions: This research provides information on how pigweed and foxtail millet respond to reduced radiation and low nitrogen environments. Under low-radiation environments, pigweed produced less seeds that would limit the replenishment of the next year’s seed bank. Therefore, production practices such as narrow rows that reduce radiation availability would be helpful in reducing pigweed infestations. Once a dense canopy is formed, vegetative growth and the reproductive potential of pigweed seedlings are severely restricted. A uniform dense crop canopy is of paramount importance in developing an integrated approach to control this weed because any gaps in the canopy allowing light penetration will result in a rapid weed growth and prolific seed production. Further, nitrogen deficiency seems to decrease weed competition ability and seed production leading to less infestations.

Keywords

• Interference
• Morphological traits
• Shading
• Yield