Competitive Cultivars for Weed Suppression in Arable Crops

Competitive cultivars are crop varieties that suppress weeds through rapid growth, dense canopy formation, and efficient resource use, reducing reliance on herbicides. Key traits include early vigour, tall growth with drooping leaves, strong root systems, high tillering, and allelopathic effects. These characteristics limit light, water, and nutrient availability to weeds, reducing weed seedbank replenishment. Optimizing sowing date, row width, and seed rate enhances their effectiveness. Using complementary cultivars with varied maturity and architecture improves weed suppression and yield stability. Funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme (grant No 101605695).