Competition of Different Densities of Wild Mustard (Brassica kaber) and Rapeseed (Brassica napus) in Greenhouse

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Former M.Sc. Student, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

2 Professor, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the competitive effects of different densities of wild mustard
as against rapeseed. The experiment was performed in a randomized complete block design with four replications
using replacement series in which wild mustard and rapeseed were respectively planted in different ratios of 4:0, 3:1,
2:2, 1:3 and 0:4 plants per pot. Results indicated that the maximum height, number of siliques per plant, silique length
and number of seeds per silique in rapeseed vs. the maximum height, silique length and number of seeds per silique
in wild mustard were obtained in their monoculture states. Overall evaluation of relative yield showed that both
species were exploiting the resources in different ways or even somehow benefiting each other. Relative crowding
coefficient of rapeseed as against wild mustard in the 3:1 treatment was greater than that in the other plant ratio
treatments. Competition indices revealed that rapeseed benefited from a more competitive ability than wild mustard.

Keywords