FLORIDA BEGGARWEED (DESMODIUM-TORTUOSUM) GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN PEANUTS (ARACHIS-HYPOGAEA)

Temporal changes in factors that contribute to the competitiveness of Florida beggarweed in peanuts were studied in 1986 and 1987. Florida beggarweed leaves were unifoliate to the ninth node and trifoliolate thereafter. Peanuts grew taller than Florida beggarweed until the R-3 stage of peanuts, after which Florida beggarweed height increased logarithmically. Florida beggarweed branching was suppressed by the peanut canopy until the weed overtopped the peanuts. Florida beggarweed dry weight was reduced 80% by peanuts compared with Florida beggarweed grown alone. Peanuts reduced Florida beggarweed leaf area and canopy area. Percent light attenuation as a function of Florida beggarweed canopy area was described by the equation Y = 1nX/25.5. Peanut yields in 60 cm of row on either side of a single Florida beggarweed plant were reduced 19%.