TY - JOUR AU - BULU, Yetunde I. AU - AHMED, Rilwan O. AU - FADAYOMI, Opefoluwa D. AU - KEKERE, Otitoloju PY - 2023/03/16 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Soil seed bank studies of Tithonia rotundifolia invaded fallow land and competitive association with Chromolaena odorata JF - Notulae Scientia Biologicae JA - Not Sci Biol VL - 15 IS - 1 SE - Research articles DO - 10.55779/nsb15111380 UR - https://www.notulaebiologicae.ro/index.php/nsb/article/view/11380 SP - 11380 AB - <p>In Nigeria,<em> Chromolaena odorata</em> (L.) R. M. King and H. Rob and <em>Tithonia </em><em>rotundifolia</em> (Mill.) S. F. Blake, are exotic invasive weeds, but a gradual decrease in the population of <em>C. odorata</em> with the rapid invasion of <em>T. rotundifolia</em> is now observed. Therefore, this study investigated the adaptive features of each weed in competition, with a further determination of seedling recruitment from the soil seed bank of plots invaded by <em>T. rotundifolia</em>. Field sampling was carried out in 10 plots: <em>T. rotundifolia</em> invaded plots and low or uninvaded plots in co-existing with other plants using 10 m x 10 m quadrats. The readily germinable seed species composition and the Sorensen index of similarity between the seed bank and their above ground vegetation were determined. Competition Series Experiment was also conducted for the two plants. <em>Mariscus alternifolius</em> (227) and <em>Oldenlandia corymbosa</em> (358) were the most abundant species in the seed bank while <em>T. rotundifolia</em> recruited 25 individuals. Low similarity index existed between the seed bank and the standing vegetation of the invaded and uninvaded plots. <em>T</em>. <em>rotundifolia</em> had improved growth in heteroculture with <em>C. odorata</em> over when in monoculture. However, a reduction in growth of <em>C. odorata </em>occurred when in competitive association with <em>T. rotundifolia</em> compared to when in monoculture. <em>T. rotundifolia</em> had competitive advantage over <em>C. odorata.</em> </p> ER -