Comparison of impacts of invasive weed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, and native weed, Digitaria chinensis, on soil enzyme activity and fertility

The soil enzyme activity and soil fertility in the invasive ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and native weed (Digitaria chinensis) growing-plots were analyzed and compared by the same experimental garden methods. The results show that compared to non-vegetation and native-weed, the invasive ragweed significantly increases soil nutrient availability, especially, available K content in the invasive ragweed plots is 3.6 and 1.3 times of those in the non-vegetation and native weed plots, respectively. Compared to non-vegetation and native weed plots, the invasive ragweed plot has significantly higher activity of soil enzymes. In a conclusion, the invasive ragweed (A. artemisiifolia), has a more strong capacity to improve soil available fertility and activity of soil enzyme than the native weed (D. chinensis), which benefits its competition with native species.