Competitive Ability and Neighbor Relation of Parthenium hysterophorus with Crotalaria striata
Abstract
The growth of an obnoxious weed, Parthenium hysterophorous was observed in competition with a large herbaceous legume Crotalaria striata under two light intensity regimes in order to test the effect of a legume of grassland over a problematic weed of the region. The association of each of the common legumes with leguminous and non-leguminous neighbor was evaluated. However, inhibition of this noxious weed by C. striata in laboratory as well as field condition was a manifestation of natural ecological control of this species by a non-harmful nitrogen-fixer. There is no mode of asexual reproduction in this species except for occasional sprouting from stumps. Introduction of suitable indigenous species like C. straita may control the overgrowth of P. hysterophorous.
Keywords
Invasive weeds, Parthenium, Crotalaria, Light, Biomass
