Morphophysiological and Nutritional Responses of Bean Cultivars in Competition with Digitaria insularis

Studies exploring the competitive interactions between common beans and weeds are essential to adopt more efficient management strategies in the field, thereby reducing production costs. This study aimed to evaluate the competitive ability of bean cultivars in the presence of sourgrass (Digitaria insularis), using different plant proportions in associations. The experiments were conducted in a greenhouse, arranged in a randomized block design with four replications, from October 2020 to February 2021. Treatments were organized in the following plant proportions of beans and sourgrass: 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100%. The competitiveness analysis was carried out using replacement series diagrams and relative competitiveness indices. At 50 days after emergence (DAE), measurements were taken for leaf area, plant height, gas exchange, shoot dry mass, and nutrient concentration in bean leaves. The results show that interference between common bean cultivars and sourgrass involves equivalent competition mechanisms. Increasing sourgrass density negatively affects physiological traits and gas exchange in beans by about 10%. Beans show about 15% higher relative growth than sourgrass, based on competitiveness indices. Nutrient levels vary by cultivar and competitor ratio. Intercropping harms species more than intraspecific competition. Further field studies should determine critical control stages and economic impacts, aiding weed management decisions in bean production.