Competition of Mikania with Common Crops of Kerala
Abstract
Effect of competition from Mikania on crop plants such as cocoa, rubber, coconut, teak, banana and pineapple was studied during June 1996 to September 1997. For each crop, competition with one, two and four Mikania was compared with plants growing without any competition. Growth and dry matter production of crop plants free of competition from Mikania were significantly better than those overgrown by the weed. In pineapple and banana, competition from Mikania delayed the flowering and reduced the fruit yield. In all these crops studied;'there was no significant difference in their growth due to variation in the number of Mikania plants competing.
