Competitive Interference of Galium aparine with Winter Wheat and Its Effect on Yield Components and Grain Quality

Abstract

Infestation of Galium aparine in winter wheat fields has become an important constraint affecting crop productivity, harvesting efficiency, and grain quality in temperate cereal-growing regions. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the competitive interference of G. aparine on growth, yield components, and grain quality traits of winter wheat under varying weed densities. Different infestation levels of the weed were established to assess their influence on crop performance throughout the growing season. Increased weed density significantly reduced wheat plant height, tiller production, leaf area development, and biomass accumulation due to intense competition for light, moisture, nutrients, and space. Yield-related parameters including spike length, number of grains per spike, thousand-kernel weight, and grain yield declined progressively with increasing G. aparine population. Severe infestations caused substantial lodging and reduced photosynthetic efficiency, leading to lower assimilate translocation toward developing grains. Grain quality analysis revealed reductions in protein content, test weight, and kernel uniformity in heavily infested plots compared with weed-free treatments. Competitive indices demonstrated that early establishment and rapid canopy expansion of G. aparine enhanced its ability to suppress wheat growth during critical developmental stages. Seasonal observations indicated that environmental conditions favoring vigorous weed growth intensified crop–weed interference and yield reduction. The findings highlight the aggressive competitive nature of G. aparine and emphasize the importance of timely weed management interventions to minimize economic losses in winter wheat production systems. Adoption of integrated weed management practices, including optimized sowing density, crop rotation, and strategic herbicide application, may effectively reduce weed pressure and improve grain yield and quality.