The effect of low and high input cultivation systems on weed production and diversity in wheat production fields of Qazvin province, Iran

To evaluate the population and diversity of weeds in wheat fields in Qazvin, Iran, an experiment was conducted during 2015-2016 growing season. A net sampling method was employed to take samples from 9 fields of 3-hectar area which were managed either in dry farming, no-tillage, or irrigated systems. Samples were taken at two growing stages when wheat plants were at tillering and when they reached full stem growth stage. The highest population and diversity of weeds was observed in dry farming system and the lowest was seen in irrigated system. The frequency of weed population was lowest in no-till system. The highest grain yield (6231 kg/ha) and total dry matter (18580 kg/ha) was measured in irrigated system, and the lowest grain yield (2078 kg/ha) and total dry matter (60180 kg/ha) was obtained in dry farming system, respectively. Based on the low weed population and a grain yield of 5830 kg/ha in no-till system, it seems that this production system is economically and environmentally justifiable for wheat production in Qazvin Provence, Iran.