Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) is one of the leading vegetable crops grown worldwide, but its productivity may be reduced due to coexistence with Solanum americanum (black nightshade). This work aimed to evaluate the effect of fertilization on intra- and inter-specific interference between tomato and S. americanum plants. Two plants in intra- and inter-specific coexistence conditions of both species were planted in pots and fertilized with 13, 18 and 24 g of 4-14-8 per pot to evaluate the growth characteristics of both species at 90 days after transplanting. The 4-14-8 fertilization stimulated the development of the leaf area and dry mass of stems, leaves and fruit of S. americanum, consequently and equally influencing the leaf area and leaf and fruit dry mass of tomato. The inter-specific coexistence allowed a greater height of S. americanum plants, promoting a lower height and dry mass of leaves and fruit of the tomato plants. There was interaction between the factors fertilization and coexistence only for the tomato plant. Crop height and leaf dry mass were affected negatively by S. americanum competition and application of higher fertilizer rates.
fertilization; Lycopersicum esculentum; American black nightshade; interference
