DOWNY BROME (BROMUS-TECTORUM) INTERFERENCE IN WINTER RYE (SECALE-CEREALE)

Field experiments over 3 yr at Lethbridge, Alberta, determined the effect of various downy brome densities and times of its emergence on winter rye biomass and seed yield. Downy brome reduced yields most when it emerged within 3 wk of rye, but densities of more than 100 downy brome m(-2) were required to reduce yields by 20 to 30%. The greatest reductions in rye biomass (28%) and seed (33%) yields over the 3 yr occurred when 400 downy brome m(-2) emerged with the crop. Downy brome, at densities up to 400 plants m(-2), emerging 6 wk after rye or in early spring, reduced rye biomass and seed yield less than 10% in all years. Winter rye effectively shaded downy brome (40 to 90%) for much of the growing season.