Separation of allelopathy and resource competition by the boreal dwarf shrub Empetrum hermaphroditum Hagerup
1994
Nilsson, M.C. (Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, Umea (Sweden). Dept. of Forest Vegetation Ecology)
An experimental technique was used to separate and evaluate the magnitude of allelopathic interference relative to resource competition by the boreal dwarf shrub Empetrum hermaphroditum Hagerup (Empetraceae). To test for resource competition and allelopathy respectively, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings were grown in both the greenhouse and in the field over a 3 year period, in four different treatments within E. hermaphroditum vegetation: (1) PVC tubes were used to reduce effects of interspecific below-ground competition; (2) activated carbon was spread on the soil to adsorb toxins leached from E. hermaphroditum litter and green leaves, thus reducing effects of allelopathic interference; (3) E. hermaphroditum vegetation was left untreated to evaluate inhibiting effects when both allelopathy and resource competition were present; (4) PVC tubes, placed in E. hermaphroditum vegetation spread with activated carbon were used to determine growth of seedlings when both allelopathy and resource competition were reduced. Scots pine seedlings grown in untreated vegetation (with both root competition and allelopathy present) had the lowest shoot length and dry weight; seedlings with both allelopathy and root competition reduced (activated carbon in tube) were the largest. Reducing either root competition alone (tube treatment) or allelopathy alone (carbon treatment) produced seedlings of intermediate size, but reduced competition had a greater effect than reduced allelopathy (although, in the greenhouse, significantly so only for root biomass).
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