Response of Weeds to Soil pH

Ten warm-season and six cool-season weed species were grown in the glasshouse on Hartsells fine sandy loam soil and Lucedale sandy loam soil at pH levels from 4.7 to 6.3. Growth of species varied widely in response to soil pH as measured by herbage yield. Showy crotalaria (Crotalaria spectabilis Roth), coffee senna (Cassia occidentalis L.), and large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.] were highly tolerant to low pH soils. Sicklepod (Cassia obtusifolia L.), annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.), Carolina geranium (Geranium carolinianum L.), and buckhorn plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.), were medium to high in tolerance. Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium L.), tall morningglory [Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth], crowfootgrass [Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Richter], and prickly sida (Sida spinosa L.) were medium to low in tolerance to low soil pH. Growth of Florida beggarweed [Desmodium tortuosum (Sw.) DC], redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), chickweed [Stellaria media (L.) Cyrillo], common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale (Weber), and wild mustard [Brassica kaber (DC.) L.C. Wheeler var. pinnatifida (Stokes) L.C. Wheeler] was severely reduced in soils with low pH.