Effect of Weediness on the Water Content of the Soil: A Field Study

Abstract

Maize is a vigorous and tall‐growing plant. Still, as a widely spaced crop, maize is highly susceptible to competition from weeds during its early growth period, with losses greater than 30% commonly reported. To characterize the nature of maize–weed competition, nutrient and water contents of maize and weed plants and the soil were determined in a field study. The experiment was carried out at Baracska, Hungary, in 2003, in a 9.2‐ha project area. Sampling areas (2×2 m in size, 21 altogether) were assigned, identified with global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, and left without weed control. After the emergence of maize, the frequency and density of weeds at the sampling sites were regularly determined, and samples of crop and weed plants and soil (from the depths of 0–20, 20–40, 40–60, 60–80, and 80–100 cm) were taken for analysis of water and nutrient contents. Three weed species were dominant: jimsonweed (Datura stramonium L.), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), and wild hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). A linear negative relationship was observed between the weediness and the water content in the top 20‐cm layer of the soil at the sampling areas.

Keywords:

• Water content of soil
• weediness
• maize
• weeds
• biomass production
• competition

Acknowledgment

The project was supported by the National Research and Development Program of Hungary (NKFP 4/037/2001).