Invasive plant benefits a native plant through plant-soil feedback but remains the superior competitor

Plant soil feedback (PSF) occurs when a plant modifies biotic properties and those changes in turn influence growth, survival or reproduction. These effects are not well understood as mechanisms for invasive species. Eragrostis lehmanniana is an species that has extensively colonized the southwest US. To address how PSFs may affect E. invasion native Bouteloua gracilis inoculant from four sites of known age at Appleton-Whittell Audubon Research Ranch Sonoita, AZ were used PSF greenhouse study, incorporating replacement series design. The purpose this research was to evaluate conspecific heterospecific competition outcomes between forage grass, . beneficial B. if developed previously invaded soil. Plant-soil contributed competitive suppression only highest ratio did provide advantage interactions with low levels but advantageous ratio, indicating possible density-dependent effect. Despite being under many conditions, superior competitor.