Advances in Research

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important cereal crops contributing significantly to global food security due to its wide adaptability, nutritional importance, and economic value. However, increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels and weed infestation are emerging challenges affecting sustainable wheat production under changing climatic conditions. Elevated CO₂ may alter the physiological and morphological characteristics of crops and associated weeds, thereby influencing crop growth and weed competitiveness. The present study was conducted during 2013–2015 at the Free-Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment (FACE) facility of the Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India, to evaluate the response of wheat and associated weeds, namely Phalaris minor and Avena ludoviciana (wild oat), under ambient and elevated CO₂ conditions. The experiment was conducted in a factorial arrangement with three replications. Two atmospheric CO₂ environments were maintained, namely ambient CO₂ (385 ± 5 ppm) and elevated CO₂ (550 ± 50 ppm). Growth and developmental parameters were recorded at 30 and 60 days after sowing (DAS). The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis using standard statistical software to evaluate the effects of CO₂ enrichment and weed density on wheat and weed growth characteristics. The results revealed that elevated CO₂ significantly enhanced growth and developmental parameters of wheat, including plant height, tiller production, root growth, leaf area, shoot biomass, and total dry weight. Similar stimulatory effects were also observed in the associated weed species, indicating increased weed competitiveness under elevated CO₂ environments. Enhanced growth under elevated CO₂ was mainly attributed to increased photosynthetic activity and greater carbon assimilation. The findings suggest that rising atmospheric CO₂ levels may improve wheat growth and productivity; however, they may also intensify weed problems in wheat ecosystems. Therefore, appropriate crop and weed management strategies will be necessary to sustain wheat production under future climate change scenarios.