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Allelopathy of Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

D. A. Steenhagen  and
R. L. Zimdahl
D. A. Steenhagen
Affiliation:
Dep. Bot. and Plant Pathol., Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO 80523
R. L. Zimdahl
Affiliation:
Dep. Bot. and Plant Pathol., Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO 80523
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Abstract

The allelopathic potential of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) was investigated in the field and greenhouse. Reductions in frequency and density of quackgrass [Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.] and common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) were noted where leafy spurge had high densities in the field. Field soil samples taken from areas of moderate and high leafy spurge densities inhibited tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in the greenhouse. Growth of seedlings was inhibited up to 60% when leafy spurge leaves, roots, or litter were incorporated into soil, but surface applied leafy spurge litter had no effect. Growth inhibition was demonstrated for crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.] and tomato when 0.1 to 1.0% (w/w) of leafy spurge leaves or roots were added to soil. Based on these studies we postulate that leafy spurge exhibits allelopathic characteristics which may result from the incorporation of dead or decaying plant material in soil.

Keywords

Plant littertomatocrabgrass
Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 27 , Issue 1 , January 1979 , pp. 1 - 3
Copyright
Copyright © 1979 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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