Relationship between plant weight and numbers in mixed populations of Sinapis alba (L) Rabenh. and Lepidium sativum L.

Published online
01 Jan 1976
Content type
Journal article
Journal title
Journal of Applied Ecology
DOI
10.2307/2401940

Author(s)
Bazzaz, F. A. & Harper, J. L.

Publication language
English
Location
UK

Abstract

Plants of white mustard (Sinapis alba) and garden cress (Lepidium sativum) grown together at high densities underwent collective self-thinning in accordance with the -3/2 Law of Yoda. The subordinate L. sativum contributed most to the mortality and little to the dry wt. increase in the stand while the dominant Sinapis alba contributed most to growth and little to the mortality. Thinning in both species was more pronounced under high fertility levels where the subordinate species was completely eliminated by the last harvest. The weight-class frequency distribution changed from near normal to lognormal with time. From summary.

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