Tomato and Nightshade (Solanum nigrum L. and S. ptycanthum Dun.) Effects on Soil Water Content

Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the response of eastern black nightshade (Solanum ptycanthum), black nightshade (S. nigrum), and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Heinz 6004) to water stress and the effect of nightshade-to mato competition on soil water content. In the greenhouse, plants were exposed to three water regimes induced by watering either daily, weekly, or biweekly. Water deficit caused a similar decrease in height, weight, and leaf area in all three species. There was more than a 50% reduction in height when the plants were watered biweekly compared with daily watering. Water stress caused a shift in biomass from shoots to roots in all three species. Black nightshade and tomato produced thinner leaves in response to water deficit. Companion field experiments were conducted during the 1989 and 1990 growing seasons in Urbana, Ill. Eastern black nightshade and black nightshade were transplanted at densities of 0.8, 1.6, 3.2, and 4.8 plants/m 2 , 5 days after tomatoes were transplanted. These nightshade densities caused significant reductions in soil water content. In 1989, only the highest density of either nightshade species reduced topsoil water content. In 1990, all densities of nightshade, except the two lowest densities of black nightshade, reduced topsoil water content. Eastern black nightshade consis- tently had a greater effect on tomato yield than black nightshade. Tomato yields averaged over both years were 17,000 and 8,000 kg·ha -1