Competition between cowpea and weeds for water: Effect on plants growth

Abstract

Water is the most important resource for agricultural production. The understanding of water competition mechanisms may lead to the development of new control strategies or coexistence with certain weed species, especially in situations where water is scarce. The objective of this work was to evaluate the competition between cowpea and weeds by water under the effect on plant growth. It was carried out experiment in greenhouse in the period from September to November 2015, in a randomized complete block design, with four replications. The treatments were arranged in factorial 5 x 2, with the first factor corresponding to the competition arrangements between the species (V. unguiculata + C. benghalensis; V. unguiculata + W. indica; V. unguiculata, C. benghalensis and W. indica in monoculture), and the second of water regimes (irrigated and water deficit). The water deficit reduces the growth of cowpea plants, C. benghalensis and W. indica. The competition between plants increases the effects of temporary water deficit in the soil. The W. indica leaf is the organ most affected by the water deficit. The weed specie W. indica has greater capacity competition for water with V. unguiculata than C. benghalensis.