The effects of nitrogen rate on weed occurrence in a spring barley crop.

Abstract

Less intensive agriculture presents a number of implications for the arable weed flora. Continued intensive nitrogen use increases the occurrence of more nitrophilous species to the detriment of less competitive species and so leading to a reduction of species diversity (Wilson et al. 1990. Therefore it has been suggested that a reduction in nitrogen fertiliser use would favour a more diverse weed flora. Such a diverse weed flora would offer considerable benefits for the arable wildlife community, providing potential host plants within the crop for insects, which contribute to the diet of gamebird chicks (Potts, 1991).
The objectives of the experiment outlined in this paper, were to investigate the effects of various nitrogen rates on the weed flora composition, species density and above-ground dry weight within a commercial crop of spring barley.