A mathematical approach to fitting parameters in a competition model.

Published online
07 Sep 1972
Content type
Journal article
Journal title
Journal of Applied Ecology
DOI
10.2307/2401973

Author(s)
Thomas, V. J.

Publication language
English

Abstract

Mathematical parameters were fitted to a 2-species competition model and a statistical test for the hypothesis that the species are competing for the same space was developed. The resulting analyses were applied to data from an experiment in which perennial ryegrass, white clover and Holcus lanatus were grown in monoculture and 2-species mixtures and were cut from 3 in to 1 in or from 5 in down to 2 in. The results suggested that H. lanatus differed in behaviour from the other 2 species, that there were indications of mutual inhibition between H. lanatus and clover, and that lenient cutting appeared to allow greater competitive interference between species. Herbage Abstracts 42: 1302.

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