Competition between safflower and weeds as influenced by crop genotype and sowing time

The effects of crop genotype and sowing time on competition between safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and weeds were investigated in a 2-year field study. Each year, safflower was grown as a pure stand and in mixture with a natural weed infestation, mostly represented by Polygonum aviculare L., Fallopia convolvulus (L.) A. Löve and Chenopodium album L., in an additive design including weed stands grown without the crop. Grain yield reduction ranged from about 50% to 80% depending on crop genotype, and was higher under spring sowing (mid-March) than under winter sowing (mid-February). In general, those genotypes incurring the least yield reduction gave the greatest suppression of weed biomass. More competitive genotypes also tended to reduce the proportion of C. album in the weed biomass at harvest, particularly in 1994 (the wetter growing season). The competitive ability of the crop was mainly correlated with its biomass at early growth stages, but was not related to its grain-yielding ability in the absence of weeds. Results showed that more competitive crops may be obtained by sowing the most competitive genotypes early. Selecting for higher competitive ability in safflower does not seem to imply a reduction in grain-yielding ability.