When you look at the Plant Kingdom, you might think it is a peaceful realm that does not witness any conflicts, unlike the Animal Kingdom. In fact, there are fierce wars between plants over the limited resources needed for survival. In forests, for instance, long trees block sunlight from reaching shorter plants. Also, weeds compete with agricultural crops over resources in farmlands, and even outgrow them.
Competition Between Plants
It refers to the competitive behaviour of plants growing in the same place over the available resources—water, nutrients, and light.
Competition between plants can be classified into three types. The first is competition over limited resources such as sunlight, water, and soil minerals. For example, when adjacent plants have roots of different lengths, the one with the longest roots gets more water and limits the growth of others. The second type is direct or interference competition, where some plants emit poisonous compounds into the soil or the air to limit the growth of nearby plants. The third is preemptive competition, where a plant's roots and leaves occupy available space, limiting the growth and productivity of other plants.
Competition Within the Same Species
You might think this silent war goes only between plants from different species, but this is not the case. When plants of the same species grow on limited space, each gets a smaller share of the available resources. Even if they were planted at the same time, we notice differences between them in terms size and health due to the competition over resources. For example, if tomato or pepper seedlings are planted too closely, some will grow better while others will remain small and weak because they do not receive enough light and water. This fierce competition can even be fatal to weaker plants, allowing only the fittest to survive.
Impact of Plant competition on Agricultural Crops
Weeds are amongst the most notorious plants that compete with agricultural crops over resources, leading to poorer crop growth and reduced production. Sometimes, they secrete substances that harm the crops and cause devastating losses in production. Therefore, farmers must continuously monitor the spread of weeds and implement integrated prevention and control methods. It is also important to monitor crop growth and keep reasonable spaces between plants.
It seems that all creatures on Earth fight over limited resources for survival, and plants are no exception. Competition in the plant kingdom determines the vegetation cover, the distribution of species, and crop production. Understanding these silent wars is essential; it helps humans improve farming methods, increase production, and maintain natural resources.
References
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
cid-inc.com
climatehubs.usda.gov
sciencedirect.com
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