Effect of Nearby Weeds on Various Corn Varieties.

The purpose of this research project is to determine whether the presence of nearby weeds affects corn growth rate, even with no contact between plants. A similar experiment showed a connection between soybeans and weeds. A randomized split block experiment was set up to test each individual plant for four different varieties of corn, with a wheat crop grown around it. Each corn plant was in a separate pot that was set in another, larger pot so the wheat could be grown with no root contact between the two. The wheat was trimmed to be no taller than the edge of the pot in the test samples while it was allowed to grow unimpeded in the control samples. Plant height was measured at several points in the experiment in order to test the effects of nearby weeds.