Evaluating the Competitive Ability of Potato Cultivars With Weeds

Using competitive cultivars can be an important integrated weed management (IWM) tool in sustainable agricultural systems and in cultivation of healthy products. Differential competitive ability of 10 potato cultivars was examined in 2015 and 2016 in the research field of the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. Experiment was established using a randomized complete block design with three replications. 10 potato cultivars (Caesar, Kennebec, Banba, Markies, Hermes, Marfona, 397097-14, Difla, Satina, Natascha) were observed that has grown with and without natural weed flora. Potato cultivars differed in ability to reduce weed density and weed biomass. In weed conditions, tuber yield ranged from 19.27 in Hermes to 55.56 t ha -1 in Satina. Also yield loss ranged from 0 to 38.93%. Satina cultivar had the highest competitive index (CI) and could reduce the weed dry mass by 2 to 3 times more than Hermes as a poor cultivar. In general, the results of this study declare that Satina cultivar was considered as competitive and recommended more for cultivation in Ardabil region than other cultivars. It is more stable than weed, and could have greatly reduce the density and biomass of weed.