Interference of Common Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) in Transplanted Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)
Field studies were conducted in 1982 to 1984 to determine the effects of common lambsquarters on growth, yield, and nutrient concentration of transplanted tomato. Common lambsquarters densities ranged from 16 to 64 plants/m tomato row and fresh weight ranged from 26 360 kg/ha at 16 plants/m to 46 000 kg/ha at 64 plants/m row. Common lambsquarters did not affect tomato shoot dry weight at the vegetative stage but decreased the weight at the early fruit stage. Season-long interference of common lambsquarters reduced marketable tomato fruit number and also, marketable fruit weight ranging from 17% at 16 plants/m to 36% to 64 plants/m row. Concentrations of N in tomato leaves were unaltered at vegetative and flowering stages but decreased regardless of common lambsquarters density at early fruit and harvest stages. Weed density did not alter concentrations of P, K, and Ca in tomato leaves.