COMPETITIVE INTERACTIONS OF TOMATO (LYCOPERSICON-ESCULENTUM) AND NUTSEDGES (CYPERUS SPP)

Replacement series experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditi ons to evaluate effects of population densities and proportions on the intraspecific and interspecific interference of either purple nutsedg e or yellow nutsedge with tomato cv. Sunny, under non-limiting conditi ons of water and nutrients. When grown with either nutsedge species fo r 40 d, tomato dry weight per plant increased and dry weight per plant of nutsedge decreased as their relative proportions decreased in mixt ure. Relative yield analysis indicated tomato is a stronger competitor than either nutsedge species. Both nutsedges appeared to be weak inte rspecific competitors but strong intraspecific competitors. Attenuated light on a purple nutsedge canopy showed that tomato additions can re duce light received by the weed compared to pure nutsedge stands.