Suppression of the invasive plant mile-a-minute (Mikania micrantha) by local crop sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) by means of higher growth rate and competition for soil nutrients

Table 2 Relative yield, relative yield total and competitive balance index of sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas ) and mile-a-minute ( Mikania micrantha ) in mixed culture

Ratios (sweet potato: mile-a-minute)	Sweet potato relative yield (RYa)	Mile-a-minute relative yield (RYb)	Relative yield total (RYT)	Competitive balance index (CB) for sweet potato
3:1	0.87 ± 0.004a**	0.13 ± 0.001d**	0.50 ± 0.001b**	1.87 ± 0.014a**
2:1	0.80 ± 0.008b**	0.21 ± 0.003c**	0.51 ± 0.005b**	1.35 ± 0.008b**
1:1	0.64 ± 0.007c**	0.25 ± 0.001c**	0.45 ± 0.003d**	0.93 ± 0.013c**
1:2	0.60 ± 0.004d**	0.33 ± 0.005b**	0.46 ± 0.002c**	0.60 ± 0.019d**
1:3	0.43 ± 0.004e**	0.64 ± 0.017a**	0.54 ± 0.009a**	−0.39 ± 0.028e**

Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. The different letters within same column mean significant differences at P<0.05. The t-test was used to compare each value with 1.0 and 0, ** indicate significant differences at 0.01 level.

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