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Common Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) Interference in Newly Planted Peach (Prunus persica) Trees

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Stephen C. Weller ,
Walter A. Skroch  and
Thomas J. Monaco
Stephen C. Weller
Affiliation:
Dep. Hortic. Sci., North Carolina State Univ.
Walter A. Skroch
Affiliation:
Dep. Hortic., Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN 47907
Thomas J. Monaco
Affiliation:
Dep. Hortic. Sci., North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC 27650
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Abstract

Field experiments conducted over a 2-yr period demonstrated that common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. # CYNDA] inhibited growth of newly planted peach (Prunus persica L. ‘Norman’) trees. Common bermudagrass densities of 100, 75, 50, and 25% ground cover reduced tree fresh weight by 86, 64, 43, and 19%, respectively, the first year (1978) and 87, 62, 44, and 28%, respectively, the second year (1979) after planting. Tree trunk diameter relative growth rate (RGR) was reduced by 75 and 100% common bermudagrass ground cover densities at all measurement dates only in 1978. Tree leaf N and K were reduced in both years by common bermudagrass; however, only at the 100% common bermudagrass density in 1978 was N at a deficient level. Leaf chlorophyll was reduced in trees grown in all densities of common bermudagrass only in 1978. Reduced tree growth cannot be explained entirely by competition for essential nutrients; thus an allelopathic effect of the bermudagrass on young peach roots is suspected.

Keywords

AllelopathycompetitionCYNDA
Type
Weed Biology and Ecology
Information
Weed Science , Volume 33 , Issue 1 , January 1985 , pp. 50 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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