Cutleaf Evening Primrose and Palmer Amaranth Reduce Growth of Nonbearing Pecan Trees

Abstract

Growth of `Apache' pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] seedlings was evaluated for 3 years when grown in a 11.2-m2 weed-free area or when various combinations of one or two plants of cutleaf evening primrose (Oenothera laciniata Hill), a cool-season species, or Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.), a warm-season species, were grown 30 cm from the tree, with the rest of the 11.2-m2 area weed-free. Either weed species alone suppressed tree growth compared to the weed-free control. A temporal succession of primrose followed by amaranth reduced growth most. After 3 years, two plants of primrose followed in succession by two of amaranth caused a 79% reduction in cumulative current-season's growth.