Comparative plant growth responses in a crop-weed mix; a case study of Zea mays (L.) and Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn

Abstract

The comparative plant growth responses of Zea mays and Eleusine indica were monitored in this studyunder an open field experiment.Both crop and weed were grown separately on the bowls and also in a crop-weed mix. Crop-weed mix were studied in different proportions. The experiment started first by acclimatizing the E. indica on the soil for a period of three days before sowing the maize. Forty (40) days after plant interactions, results showed significant decreases in plant heights and of both maize and E. indica depending on the ratio of both plants in the crop-weed mix.comparative to individual height. Similarly, significant decreases in leaf area was reported in E. indica (p=0.015) owing to the interaction. In the control, leaf area was 11.4cm2, but this decreased significantly to 5.94cm2 in the 2e3m mix. Similar decreases in maize leaf area have been reported with leaf area values being low (4.32cm2) in the 5e3m mix compared to 19.9cm2 in the control (1m). Changes in prominent root length showed a significant decrease between the control E. indica and the crop-weed mix. Similar result was observed for maize plant. Although shoot - root ratio was 1.0 in the control weed (1e), a higher value (4.5) was observed in 1m1e followed by 3.5 in the 1m3e and 2m3e mix respectively. For maize plant however, the shoot-root ratio was 4.5 in the control (1m), but reduced to 1.5 in the 1e3m mix. The maize plant was also observed to release allelochemicals, which further indicate its competitive strength.