Growth performance and ferulic acid composition of Amaranthus species and Mitracarpus villosus in competition with weeds species

Abstract

Leafy vegetables are important for food security and human health and nutrition. However, their growth, development and yield are often affected by weeds. Therefore, we investigated the growth performance and ferulic acid composition of Amaranthus species and Mitracarpus villosus in competition with local weed species by measuring growth and productivity rate, morphological anomalies, chlorophyll content, acid exudation by roots, and ferulic acid content, Results suggest that weed competition had negative effects on Amaranthus and Mitracarpus with an inverse relationship in most of the parameters assessed. Amaranthus hybridus in the weeded plot had a plant height of 13.30 cm after 6 weeks whereas it was 11.50 cm in the unweeded plot. After 6 weeks, the leaf area index of Mitracarpus villosus was 5.40 cm2 and 4.80 cm2 in the weeded and unweeded plots, compared to Amaranthus viridis in both the weeded and unweeded plots, which were 12.90 cm2 and 6.20 cm2 respectively. Ferulic acid content in M. villosus was 33.9 µg/ml in the unweeded plot and 64.27 µg/ml in the weeded plot. Weed competition had greater effects on growth parameters than ferulic acid. Overall, weed competition has species-specific effects on the two vegetable species and also depends on the density, diversity and richness of weed species.