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Altered weed reproduction and maternal effects under low-nitrogen fertility

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Kimberly D. Tungate ,
Michael G. Burton ,
David J. Susko ,
Shannon M. Sermons  and
Thomas W. Rufty
Kimberly D. Tungate
Affiliation:
Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
David J. Susko
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI 48128
Shannon M. Sermons
Affiliation:
Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
Thomas W. Rufty
Affiliation:
Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
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Abstract

The low-nitrogen status of highly weathered soils may offer a potential alternative for weed suppression in agricultural systems with N2-fixing crops. In this study, we used sicklepod as a model to evaluate weed response that might occur with managed reductions in nitrogen-soil fertility. A field study was conducted with the parental generation supplied 0, 112, 224, or 448 kg N ha−1. Decreased nitrogen fertility led to reduced shoot biomass, seed number, and total seed mass. Individual seed mass was lower, but seed % nitrogen was not affected. Analysis of seed-mass distribution confirmed that low parental fertility was associated with more small seeds as a proportion of total seeds produced. Additional experiments in hydroponics culture revealed slower growth rates of seedlings produced from small seeds when grown under low-nitrogen conditions. Competitiveness of plants from small (low nitrogen) and large (high nitrogen) seed classes was determined in a replacement-series experiment conducted in sand culture in a controlled environment at two densities and two levels of nitrogen nutrition. Plants produced from smaller seeds were less competitive in low-nitrogen fertility conditions, but plants from small and large seeds competed similarly when grown under high-nitrogen fertility. The results support the hypothesis that comprehensive management strategies to reduce nitrogen availability for weed growth in low-fertility conditions could decrease weed interference by decreasing growth and seed production of parental plants and through maternal effects that lower competitiveness of offspring.

Keywords

Sicklepod, Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby CASOBCompetitioninterferencenitrogen
Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 54 , Issue 5 , October 2006 , pp. 847 - 853
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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