The Interaction of Soybean (Glycine max) and Five Weed Species in the Greenhouse

Abstract

The influence of relative planting date on the growth of common cocklebur (Xanthium pensylvanicumWallr. ♯ XANST), common ragweed (Ambrosia artemesiifoliaL. ♯ AMBEL), sicklepod (Cassia obtusifoliaL. ♯ CASOB), and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexusL. ♯ AMARE) grown in competition with soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr. ‘Bragg’] was studied in the greenhouse. Increases in dry matter and height were slower for the five weed species than for soybean throughout the period of the study. The root: shoot ratio of soybean was the highest of any plant in the study, while common ragweed, common cocklebur, common lambsquarters, and sicklepod were intermediate, and redroot pigweed was the lowest. Soybean dry weight was always reduced when grown in competition with a weed. Soybean dry-matter production was reduced most when weeds were planted 2 weeks before soybean, especially with common cocklebur and common lambsquarters. Weed dry-matter content was severely reduced when the weed seed were planted simultaneously with or following soybean. Soybean height was usually reduced by competition with the weeds. The height of common ragweed was increased, however, when planted simultaneously with soybean. Common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, and common ragweed heights were increased when planted 2 weeks prior to soybean.