The interaction of competition for light and for nutrients.
The interaction of competition for light and for nutrients.
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DOI:
10.1071/ar9580421
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发表时间:
1958-01-01
影响因子:
--
通讯作者:
Donald, C. M.
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
Donald, C. M.
A new pot technique is described for the study of the interaction between competition for light and competition for a nutrient or for water. This was applied in a study of competition between Lolium perenne and Phalaris tuberosa. Under conditions of competition for both light and nutrients, the yield of L. perenne was about equal to that in pure culture, while that of Ph. tuberosa was greatly depressed. The final yields of the 2 spp. in pure culture were similar, but the early growth of L. perenne was greater. The final aggregate yield per pot was decreased by competition for nutrients, and by competition for light in the absence of competition for nutrients, but not in its presence. Under conditions of competition for light, alone, at a low N level, L. perenne yields were as great as those in pure culture; Ph. tuberosa yields were decreased by 20%. At a high N level, L. perenne yields were slightly reduced and those of Ph. tuberosa reduced by 31%. Under competition for nutrients alone the mean reduction of Ph. tuberosa yields was 74% and that of L. perenne yields 13%. The effects of competition for both factors operating together differed from the additive effect of the 2 acting separately. L. perenne was a more successful competitor when both means of competition were available to it. Competition for light reduced tiller weight in Ph. tuberosa, while competition for nutrients reduced both tiller number and weight. Tiller number in L. perenne was depressed when either factor was operating alone, but not when both were operating. An analysis is made of the nature of competition for one or more factors and the interaction between them.-A.M.H.A new technique for the study of the interaction between competition for light and competition for a nutrient or for water was applied in a study of the competition between 2 grasses for light and for nitrogen. The aggressor species showed a negative interaction in the effect of the modes of competition, its yield was slightly reduced by competition for either factor alone and was virtually unaffected when competition for both factors was operative. The effect of the 2 modes of competition on the suppressed species showed a positive interaction, the depression in yield when there was competition for both factors greatly exceeded the sum of the effects of competition for the separate factors. Competition for even a single factor involves interaction between direct and indirect effects; competition for 2 factors leads to multiple interactions between 2 groups of effects and thus greatly intensifies the effects of competition for either factor operating alone. - Author's Summary (modified).