Quackgrass (Elytrigia repens) Interference in Canola (Brassica campestris)

Abstract

The effects of quackgrass shoot populations shortly after emergence, and dry weight at harvest on yield of canola were determined in four field experiments conducted near Vegreville, Alberta in 1986 and 1988. A hyperbolic model described the data well in most cases and indicated little intraspecific quackgrass interference among quackgrass shoots until populations exceeded 200 shoots m−2. Magnitudes of predicted canola yield losses among experiments were close, even though quackgrass-free yields varied. A pooled hyperbolic equation, based on shoot density, predicted that an intermediate quackgrass infestation of 50 to 100 shoots m−2would reduce canola yield by 18 to 32%. An economic threshold model based on the hyperbolic model provides a means of estimating when control of quackgrass with herbicides is economical.