Plant Competition
October 23, 2012
Ad. Biology, Period G
Interspecific and Intraspecific Plant Competition
Abstract
A study was conducted to address the problem of interspecific and intraspecific competition among wheat and mustard plants. It was hypothesized that increasing the plant density, and therefore increasing intraspecific competition, would negatively impact the plant biomass. It was also hypothesized that interspecific competition would have a stronger negative effect on the plant biomasses. This was tested by planting varying numbers wheat and/or mustard plants in pots, and measuring their biomass. The data confirmed the above hypotheses. Findings suggest that intraspecific competition and increasing plant densities had a negative effect on plant biomass, however, interspecific competition had a more severe negative effect. The future study of this topic could allow for greater agricultural success by developing new means of spacing plants, and fertilizing them to combat intraspecific competition. This could also allow for a greater understanding of how to combat interspecific competition in agriculture.
Hypothesis
Before testing began, the researcher hypothesized that if intraspecific competition was increased, than it would have a negative impact on the overall biomass of the plants, however, if the amount of plants involved in intraspecific competition per pot increased, than the biomass would be more greatly negatively impacted. If interspecific competition increased, than it would have a stronger negative effect on the plants involved in it, even in lower densities. However, the researcher postulated that if plant density increased, than it would also have a negative effect on the overall biomass of both plant species.
Materials and Methods
• 42 equal, 4 inch pots
• Artificial soil mixture
• Mustard seeds
• Wheat seeds
• Tray (to hold pots)
• Supplemental light source
• Water
• Scissors
Ad. Biology, Period G
Interspecific and Intraspecific Plant Competition
Abstract
A study was conducted to address the problem of interspecific and intraspecific competition among wheat and mustard plants. It was hypothesized that increasing the plant density, and therefore increasing intraspecific competition, would negatively impact the plant biomass. It was also hypothesized that interspecific competition would have a stronger negative effect on the plant biomasses. This was tested by planting varying numbers wheat and/or mustard plants in pots, and measuring their biomass. The data confirmed the above hypotheses. Findings suggest that intraspecific competition and increasing plant densities had a negative effect on plant biomass, however, interspecific competition had a more severe negative effect. The future study of this topic could allow for greater agricultural success by developing new means of spacing plants, and fertilizing them to combat intraspecific competition. This could also allow for a greater understanding of how to combat interspecific competition in agriculture.
Hypothesis
Before testing began, the researcher hypothesized that if intraspecific competition was increased, than it would have a negative impact on the overall biomass of the plants, however, if the amount of plants involved in intraspecific competition per pot increased, than the biomass would be more greatly negatively impacted. If interspecific competition increased, than it would have a stronger negative effect on the plants involved in it, even in lower densities. However, the researcher postulated that if plant density increased, than it would also have a negative effect on the overall biomass of both plant species.
Materials and Methods
• 42 equal, 4 inch pots
• Artificial soil mixture
• Mustard seeds
• Wheat seeds
• Tray (to hold pots)
• Supplemental light source
• Water
• Scissors
References: “Competition Among Plants.” Pnas. University of Nevada, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. “INTERSPECIFIC COMPETITION.” The Institute for Environmental Modeling (TIEM). N.p., n.d Web. 12 Oct. 2012. http://www.tiem.utk.edu/~gross/bioed/bealsmodules/competition.html “Intraspecific Competition.” classes. classes, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2012.