A comparision of the competitive effects and nutrient accumulation of fat‐hen and groundsel

Abstract

The competitive effects of fat-hen (chenopodium album L.) and groundsel (Senecio vulgaris L.) on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. Capitata) were investigated under glasshouse conditions. Weed competition severely reduced growth of the three food crops, the reduction being more pronounced with the longer exposure to the competition. Chenopodium album and 5. vulgaris were considerably different in their competitive abilities, although similar differences among the three food-crop species were found. Senecio vulgaris was affected more by the competition than C. album and had lower tissue concentrations of N, K, and Mg. Growth of both weeds was greatly suppressed when tomato emerged two weeks earlier than the weeds, but the crop plants were severely stunted when the weeds had two weeks initial advantage. It appeared that C. album competed with the three food crops more for K than other elements, while S. vulgaris competed better for P. Cabbage was more competitive with both weed species than tomato while lettuce was the least competitor. Some aspects of these differences in competitive ability among the species could be related to their nutrient use.

Plant Mineral Nutrition and Growth in a Saline Mediterranean Soil Amended with Organic Wastes

“…7 and 8). 8) and previous results for B. carinata and B. oleracea [18,36] and tomato [37] suggest that no plants were N deficient. 8) and previous results for B. carinata and B. oleracea [18,36] and tomato [37] suggest that no plants were N deficient.…”

“…8). 8), [36] due to decreased P availability in this saline soil and/or inhibition of its uptake by Cl À or SO 2À 4 [4] and the amendment-provoked increases in tissue P probably contributed to the enhanced DM production. [6,37] Conversely, control Brassica plants, especially B. oleracea, may well have been P deficient (Fig.…”

“…For control plants of B. carinata, the shoot tissue Na þ level (1324 mmol kg À1 ) was almost certainly toxic and K þ (1206 mmol kg À1 ) was probably suboptimal (Fig. [8,18,36] Thus, the growth stimulation of B. carinata by manure may have been related to the slight decline and increase in shoot Na þ and K þ concentrations, respectively (Fig. [8,18] For control plants of B. oleracea, the shoot tissue Na þ (1184 mmol kg À1 ) and Cl À (901 mmol kg À1 ) concentrations may have been toxic, with K þ (1206 mmol kg À1 ) being sufficient.…”

Growth response of six weed species and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) to increasing levels of nitrogen and phosphorus

“…C. album responded to the fertiliser by increasing its population, while the number of Spergula arvensis plants decreased (Ciuberkis, 1996). In studies by Qasem and Hill (1993, 1995), competitive effects of C. album and Senecio vulgaris L. on three vegetable crops were investigated. It appeared that C. album competed with the crop more for potassium than for other elements and that its competitive ability and accumulation of nutrients was greatly dependent of high potassium levels in the media.…”