Erodium cicutarium density and duration of interference effects on yield of wheat,oilseed rape,pea and dry bean

Field studies were conducted to determine the effect of various densities and duration of interference of Erodium cicutarium (L.) L'Her. ex Ait. on the yield of wheat, oilseed rape, pea and dry bean. The magnitude of yield reductions caused by E. cicutarium differed among the crops. Results indicate that the ranking of crop tolerance to E. cicutarium, when established at their recommended planting densities, was wheat > oilseed rape > pea ? dry bean. Maximum yield reduction occurred at E. cicutarium densities of 100–200 plants m^?2 and were 36% for wheat, 37% for oilseed rape, 82% for dry bean and 92% for pea. Crop yield progressively decreased as the duration of E. cicutarium interference increased. Three weeks of E. cicutarium interference after emergence was sufficient to reduce the yield of all crops, indicating the importance of controlling this weed early in the growing season. The mean yield reduction for each week of E. cicutarium interference was 1·6%, 2·7%, 3·6% and 6·3% for wheat, oilseed rape, pea and dry bean respectively. E. cicutarium is therefore a weed that warrants consideration for control in annual cropping systems.