Evaluating the Effect of Onion (Allium cepa L.) Sowing Methods on Growth Characteristics of Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) under Different Levels of Nitrogen Fertilizer

Increasing crop competitive ability is an important part of integrated weed management (IWM). In this regard, identifying weeds reaction to soil fertility status for developing fertilizing methods, as components of IWM programs, is a necessity.
In order to evaluate the growth characteristics of purple nutsedge under the conditions of interference with onion, a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design was conducted with three replications at the Research Greenhouse of University of Birjand in 2013. The first factor included three sowing methods of onion (seed sowing, onion set and transplanting) and the second factor included three levels of nitrogen (50, 100 and 150 kg N ha-1, equivalent to 25, 50 and 75 mg N kg-1 soil), urea fertilizer with a purity of 46% was used for this purpose.
The results of analysis of variance showed that sowing method and nitrogen levels had significant effects on plant height, leaf area, aboveground dry weight as well as tuber number and underground dry weights. Moreover, the interaction between sowing methods and nitrogen levels had a significant effect on plant height, leaf area, aboveground dry weight as well as tuber number and underground dry weights. The results of the comparisons of the mean for the interaction of planting methods and different levels of nitrogen indicated an increased weeds growth in direct seeding method and high levels of nitrogen in weed height trait, so that the greatest nutsedge height during the growing season (92.33 cm) was obtained at direct seeding method and high nitrogen levels . Moreover, the lowest weed height during the growing season was obtained at onion set planting method and 50 kg ha-1 nitrogen. The highest leaf area of purple nutsedge at ten weeks after planting (446.65 cm2), was obtained in direct seeding method and high levels of nitrogen, and the lowest value for this trait (203.38 cm2), was observed in onion set planting method. The greatest shoot dry weight of purple nutsedge during the growing season was observed in direct seeding method and high levels of nitrogen. The maximum amount of this trait at eight and ten weeks after planting was achieved in the level of 100 kg N ha-1 which was about 3.797 and 7.306 gr plant-1, respectively. Also the minimum shoot dry weight of weed was produced in onion set planting method and their amounts were about, 1.161 and 4.229 gr plant-1 at eight and ten weeks after planting, respectively. The greatest tuber number of purple nutsedge during the growing season were observed with seed planting method which were 7 and 15.33 tuber per pot at eight and ten weeks after planting, respectively. Moreover, the minimum tuber number of weed was produced in onion set planting method and were about 1.66 and 5.66 tuber per pot at eight and ten weeks after planting, respectively. The maximum underground dry weight of purple nutsedge during the growing season was obtained at direct seeding method and high levels of nitrogen. The maximum amount of this trait at eight and ten weeks after planting was obtained in the level of 100 kg N ha-1 which were about 2.472 and 5.396 gr plant-1, respectively .The minimum underground dry weight of weed was achieved in onion set planting method which were about, 0.888 and 1.873 gr plant-1 at eight and ten weeks after planting, respectively.
Overall ANOVA results showed that the sowing method and level of nitrogen as well as their interaction had a significant effect on all studied traits of purple nutsedge. Evaluation of growth characteristics of purple nutsedge under the conditions of interference with onion showed that the greatest and lowest growth of purple nutsedge were obtained where seed and onion sets planting methods were implemented, respectively. Moreover, the results indicated a positive response of purple nutsedge to high levels of nitrogen. Thus, in order to minimize the damage caused by purple nutsedge, the application of 100 kg N ha-1 nitrogen in onion set method is recommended as the most appropriate treatment for the management of purple nutsedge in infected onions farms. However, this study was conducted under greenhouse conditions and there is no doubt that repeating the test in the field is essential for verifying the results.