Response of Wheat to Varying Densities of Rumex Dentatus under Irrigated Condition of Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
Response of Wheat to Varying Densities of Rumex Dentatus under Irrigated Condition of Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
Zafar Waheed, Khalid Usman, Iftikhar Ali
ABSTRACT
Toothed dock (Rumex dentatus L) is a problematic weed found in wheat crop. The study was conducted to investigate the competitive effects of Rumex dentatus sown at varying densities in association with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under field conditions. The experiment was conducted at Agronomic Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan in randomized complete block design having three replications during 2013-2014. The treatments comprised of wheat + Rumex dentatus 0 plants m-2 (T1), wheat + Rumex dentatus 05 plants m-2 (T2), wheat + Rumex dentatus 10 plants m-2 (T3), wheat + Rumex dentatus 15 plants m-2 (T4), wheat + Rumex dentatus 20 plants m-2 (T5), wheat + Rumex dentatus 25 plants m-2 (T6), and wheat + Rumex dentatus 30 plants m-2 (T7). The results revealed that plant height, spikes m-2, spike length, spikelets spike-1, grains spike-1, 1000-grain weight, biological yield, grain yield, harvest index and losses in grain yield were significantly affected by Rumex dentatus population. All parameters decreased with increasing density of Rumex dentatus except loss in grain yield which increased (1.3 to 69.8%) with increasing density of Rumex dentatus (from 5 to 30 plants m-2). The threshold level of Rumex dentatus was observed in T5 and became worse with further increase in population density of Rumex dentatus. It is concluded that yield and yield related parameters were adversely affected in case of higher infestation of Rumex dentatus as it competes with the major crop for resources and exhibits auto-toxicity when grown in association with wheat crop.
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