Effect of Plant Density and Weed Interference on Yield and Yied Components of Grain Sorghum

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• S. Sarani
• Seeyed Gholamreza Moosavi

Birjand Branch, Islamic Azad University

10.22067/jpp.v31i3.60537

Abstract

Introduction Weed control is an essential part of all crop production systems. Weeds reduce yields by competing with crops for water, nutrients, and sunlight. Weeds also directly reduce profits by hindering harvest operations, lowering crop quality, and producing chemicals which are harmful to crop plants. Plant density is an efficient management tool for maximizing grain yield by increasing the capture of solar radiation within the canopy, which can significantly affect development of crop-weed association. The response of yield and yield components to weed competition varies by crop and weeds species and weeds interference duration. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of weed interference periods and plant density on the yield and yield components of sorghum.
Materials and Methods In order to study the effect of plant density and weeds interference on weeds traits, yield and yield components of sorghum (Var. Saravan), an experiment was conducted as in factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the research field of Islamic Azad University, Birjand Branch in South Khorasan province during year of 2013. Experimental treatments consisted of three plant density (10, 20 and 30 plants m-2)) and four weeds interference (weed free until end of growth season, interference until 6-8 leaf stage, interference until stage of panicle emergence, interference until end of growth season). Measuring traits included the panicle length, number of panicle per plant, number of panicle per m2, number of seed per panicle, 1000-seed weight, seed yield, biological yield, number and weight of weeds per m2. Weed sampling in each plot have done manually from a square meter and different weed species counted and oven dried at 72 °C for 48 hours. MSTAT-C statistical software used for data analysis and means compared with Duncan multiple range test at 5% probability level.
Results and Discussion Results showed that all measured traits except seed yield were significantly affected by plant density. Although the increase in plant density from 10 to 30 plants m-2 significantly decreased panicle number per plant, number of seed per panicle and 1000-seed weight by 45.5, 16.2 and 12.3%, respectively but significantly increased number of panicle per m2 by 54.3%. This subject caused seed yield did not show significant changes as plant density per area unit was changed. Also, means comparison showed that increase in density from 10 to 30 plants m-2 had positive significant effect on biological yield so that its increased by 56.7%. Interference treatment had significant effect on all measured traits except number of panicle per plant. Traits of 1000-seed weight, seed yield and biological yield decreased considerably by extending of weeds interference period and the highest seed yield with 350.04.37 g. m-2 achieved in treatment of weed free until end of growth season which were 18.9, 47.6 and 73 percent more than interference until 6-8 leaf stage, interference until stage of panicle emergence, interference until end of growth season, respectively. Also, weed interference until the end of growing season of sorghum reduced biological yield by 59.9 percent compared to treatment of weed free until end of growth season. The highest weed density with 182 plants per m2 was observed in interference until 6-8 leaf stage and weed density per unit area reduced by increase in interference period. Despite the declining in weed density, weeds dry weight per m2 was increased by increasing interference period until the end of growth season. On other word, weeds were in early development, with high density and low dry mass accumulation, which are desirable from a technical point of view for weed control.
Conclusions This research showed that increase in plant density non significantly increased on seed yield but change of density from 10 to 30 plants m-2 had positive significant effect on biological yield. Moreover, presence of weeds in farm of grain sorghum is inhibitor factor for maximum production. Weed interference decreased seed and biological yields of sorghum by decline in yield components and tillering. Given that Saravan variety is a plant of double purpose (grain and forage) can be suggested density of 10 plants per m2 and weed free until the end of growth season treatment for sorghum (Var. Saravan) cultivation in Birjand region. Also, evaluation of higher densities of sorghum (Var. Saravan) and early season interference can be recommended for subsequent studies.

Keywords

• Density
• Panicle
• Sorghum
• Weed interference
• Yield components

20.1001.1.20084749.1396.31.3.16.7

---

References

1- Amiri Z., Tavakkoli A., and Rastgoo M. 2014. Responses of corn to plant density and weed interference period. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 21(10):1746-1750.

2- Arabi A., and Saffari M. 2015. The effect of weeding and plant density on yield and yield components of forage sorghum cultivars. Iranian Journal of Agronomy Sciences, 5(10):39-52. (in Persian with English abstract)

3- Arefi R. 2010. Effect of N fertilization and plant density on yield and yield components of grain sorghum under climatic conditions of Sistan. M.Sc. Thesis of Agronomy, Islamic Azad University of Birjand Branch, Birjand, Iran. (in Persian with English abstract)

4- Asghari J., Vahedi A., and Khoshghaul H.R. 2011. Critical period of weed control in sunflower (Helianthus annus, L.) in west of Guilan province. Journal of Plant Protection, 25(2):116-126. (in Persian with English abstract)

5- Asghari M., and Armin M. 2014. Effect of weed interference in different agronomic managements on grain yield and yield components of chickpea (Cicer arietinuml.). Journal of Crop Ecophysiology, 8(4):407-422. (in Persian with English abstract)

6- Baradaran‍ R., Javadi H., and Moosavi Gh.R. 2006. Effect of plant density on yield and yield components of grain sorghum cultivars in Birjand climate. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 12(1):31-39. (in Persian with English abstract)

7- Chaab A., Fathi G., Siadat A., Zand E., Gharineh M., Ebrahimpoor F., and Anfajeh Z. 2006. Effect of time interference natural population weeds and plant density on some growth indices, yield and yield component of corn. Electronic Journal of Crop Production, 2(1):41-56. (in Persian with English abstract)

8- Dehghanian H., and Nasrollahzadeh S. 2014. Effect of plant density and weed interference on morphological characteristics and yield of corn (Zea mays L.). International Journal of Advanced Biological and Biomedical Research, 2(7):2225-2229.

9- Farahmand N. 2015. Effect of planting date and plant density on morphological traits, yield and yield components of Cannabis. M.Sc. Thesis of Agronomy, Islamic Azad University of Birjand Branch, Birjand, Iran. (in Persian with English abstract)

10- Ghamali A., Ahmadvand Q., Sepehri A., and Jahedi A. 2010.The critical period of weeds control in corn. Journal of Plant Protection, 24(4):457-464.

11- Ghamari H., Ahmadvand G., and Aboutalebian M.A. 2013. Determination of critical period of weed control in dry bean under climatic conditions of Hamadan. Journal of Crop Production and Processing, 3(8):53-60. (in Persian with English abstract)

12- Khazaie M., Hadizadeh M.H., and Zeidali E. 2014. Determining the critical period of weed control in corn at Nahavand. Agricultural Crop Management (Journal of Agricultural), 16(4):911-919. (in Persian with English abstract)

13- LotfiMavi F., Daneshian J., Baghestani M., Framarzi A., and Shayesteh R. 2012. Effect of integrated weed management on yield and yield components of broomcorn (Sorghum vulgar L.). Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences, 13(4):596-610. (in Persian with English abstract)

14- Makarian H., Banaian M., Rahimian H., and Isadi Darbandi E. 2003. Planting date and population density influence on competitiveness of corn (Zea mays L.) with redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.). Iranian Journal of Crop Research, 2:271-279. (in Persian with English abstract)

15- Mohammadi G.R., and Amiri F. 2011. Critical period or weed control in soybean (Glycine max) as influenced by starter fertilizer. Australian Journal of Crop Science, 5(11):1350-1355.

16- Nasrollahzadeh S., Hajebrahimi A., Shafagh-Kolvanagh J., and Shaker Kouhi S. 2015. Effect of nitrogen rates and weed interference on yield and yield components of corn (Zea mays L.). International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research, 7(1):1-6.

17- Niroomand Tomaj I., Jami Al-Ahmadi M., Zamani Gh., and Riasi A. 2012. Effects of sowing date and plant density on yield and yield components of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) in Birjand region. Journal of Crop production and processing, 2(3):57-66. (in Persian with English abstract)

18- Radosevich S.R. 1987. Methodes to study interactions among crops and weeds. Weed Technology, 1:190-198.

19- Rezvani Moghaddam P., and Seyyedi S.M. 2015. The study of critical period of weed control and yield of black seed (Nigella sativa L.) affected by weed free and infested periods. Journal of Plant Protection, 29(2):175-186. (in Persian with English abstract)

20- Saeidinezhad M. and Saffari M. 2013. The effects of plant density, number and stages of weed control in corn (Zea mays L.) varieties on seed yield and weeds dry matter in Kerman. Agronomy Journal (Pajouhesh & Sazandegi), 107:74-81. (in Persian with English abstract)

21- Seyed Sharifi R., Mohammadi Khanghah P., and Raey Y. 2014. Effect of plant density on yield, yield components and some physiological indices of chickpea cultivars three. Crop Physiology Journal, 5(20):25-38. (in Persian with English abstract)

22- Silva C., Silva A.F., Vale W.G., Galon L., Petter F.A., May A., and Karam D. 2014. Weed interference in the sweet sorghum crop. Bragantia, Campinas, 73(4):438-445.

23- Zand N., Shakiba M. R., Moghaddam-Vahed M., and Dabbagh-Mohammadai-nasab A. 2014. Response of sorghum to nitrogen fertilizer at different plant densities. International Journal of Farming and Allied Sciences, 3(1):71-74.