Plant Succession and

Competition
(Suksesi Tumbuhan dan
Kompetisi)
Ecological Succession =
development of an ecosystem =
changes in species structure and
community composition over time
Ecological Succession
1. Succession = change in species structure
and community composition over time.
Bare Herbs, Small Mature
ground grasses Shrubs trees forest (climax)

Colonizers Persisters
(adapt to new area) (relatively stable over time)
Low diversity High diversity
P>R PR

Ecological Succession
1. Succession = change in species structure
and community composition over time.
Bare Herbs, Small Mature
ground grasses Shrubs trees forest (climax)

Physical factors and climate (e.g., soil,
fire) can dictate endpoint in succession
Grassland end point due to fire,
soils, moisture, etc
Ecological Succession
1. Succession = change in species structure
and community composition over time.
Bare Herbs, Small Mature
ground grasses Shrubs trees forest (climax)

Secondary succession
occurs on cleared land
Ecological Succession
Application to Agriculture
Secondary succession occurs on cleared
land
Certain herbaceous plants (grasses,
nutsedge, etc.) are well adapted as
colonizers become weeds in
agricultural fields
Competition
Two species occupying similar niche
Compete for water, nutrients, space, light,
etc.
Characteristics of the plant species
(growth habits, genetics/variety, etc.) and
environment (season, temp., moisture,
etc.) determine which species will
prevail
Allelopathy = unusual advantage in
some competitions
Allelopathy -- some plants secrete
chemicals that are suppressive to other
plants

Sunflower
Walnut trees (not much undergrowth)
Oak tannins
Grains some cultivars of rye, wheat, oats
Competition
Interspecific competition between
different species (crop plant vs. weeds)
Intraspecific competition among plants
of the same species (controlled in
agriculture by planting rate plant density)
Increased plant density (reduced
row spacing) may increase yields to a
point (more plants/ha)
Increased
plant
population
Increased plant density (reduced
row spacing) may increase yields to a
point (more plants/ha)
Increased
plant
population
Optimum
spacing
Low yield due
to low plant
population
Increased plant density (reduced
row spacing) may increase yields to a
point (more plants/ha)
Increased
plant
population
Optimum
spacing
Low yield due
to low plant
population
Low yield due
to competition,
crowded plants
Plant density depends on:
Row spacing (previous example)
Distance between plants in rows (e.g., if
corn plant populations too high lodging,
barren plants)
Broadcast seeding rates (for plants not
in rows)
Effects of decreasing space
between plant rows:
+++ Increases plant population and yield
(to a point)
+++ Improved competition vs weeds (less
open row space for weed colonization)
- - - Difficult passage for equipment
- - - Possible increase in plant diseases
(mortality)
Effects of decreasing space
between plant rows:
+++ Increases plant population and yield
(to a point)
+++ Improved competition vs weeds (less
open row space for weed colonization)
- - - Difficult passage for equipment
- - - Possible increase in plant diseases
(mortality)
Important to know optimum plant
spacing for each crop cultivar
References
Text, pp. 30-31, 126-127, 134-137.
Altieri, M.A. 1987. Agroecology. The
Scientific Basis of Alternative Agriculture.
Westview Press, Boulder, CO. Ch. 14.
Begon et al., 1990.
Carroll et al. 1990. Ch. 8.
Odum, 1983. Ch. 8.
Russo, V.M. 1995. HortScience 30:53-54.