Spring-germinating jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica) produces viable spikelets in spring-seeded wheat

The most common strategy recommended for management of jointed goatgrass infestations is to rotate from winter wheat to a spring crop for several years. A field study was conducted at three locations in 1998 and 1999 to determine the effects of spring seeding date on the ability of jointed goatgrass to flower and produce viable seed in the presence or absence of spring wheat and to determine the effect of jointed goatgrass competition and crop seeding date on spring wheat grain yield. Spring wheat was seeded on four dates at each location in both hand-sown and natural jointed goatgrass infestations. Jointed goatgrass plants from hand-sown spikelets flowered and developed spikelets on all seeding dates except the last; viable seed was produced on the two earliest seeding dates. Jointed goatgrass plant densities from natural infestations were from 1 to 12 plants m⁻⁻², and spikelet production ranged from 0 to 480 spikelets m⁻⁻². Natural jointed goatgrass infestations produced spikelets containing viable seed on all seeding dates at one location in 1998, the driest location. Spring wheat yield was not affected by jointed goatgrass competition; however, jointed goatgrass spikelet production was reduced by spring wheat competition compared with that of monoculture jointed goatgrass. The last seeding date of spring wheat was associated with 51%% less crop yield compared with the recommended seeding date. The decision to manage jointed goatgrass infestations with a spring crop rotation should consider delayed seeding dates to minimize viable spikelet production by spring-germinating jointed goatgrass; however, the cost of this decision may include grain yield reduction.Nomenclature: Jointed goatgrass, Aegilops cylindrica Host. AEGCY; spring wheat, Triticum aestivum L. ‘‘Penewawa’’.