THE BIOLOGY OF CANADIAN WEEDS.: 27. AVENA FATUA L.

Abstract

This contribution on Avena fatua L., wild oats, is part of a series which presents biological information on plants that are weedy in Canada. Wild oats rate as by far the most serious annual weed of cultivated fields in the prairie provinces of Canada. The weed occurs in a wide variety of habitats: spring cereal and oilseed crop fields, fallow fields, roadsides, waste places, gardens and other habitats disturbed by man. Seed dormancy and irregular germination throughout the growing season are the most important features contributing to the persistence of wild oats. The weed is susceptible to a number of soil- and foliage-applied herbicides.