Why do some plants grow better than others in the same field?

Question

Why do some plants grow better than others in the same field?

Answer 1

If you're asking about within a species, that results from within-species genetic variation and environmental variation among different areas of the field.

Answer 2

Because different plants have differing requirements for fertility, soil pH and nutrients.

Clover, for example, can flourish in nitrogen-poor soil, whereas most other plants will be severely stunted. This is because clover can process atmospheric nitrogen, unlike many other plants.

In acidic soil, most nutrients (particularly iron) are freely available, so iron-loving plants prefer acid soil. Others prefer the high calcium of alkaline soils, and will grow better there than iron-lovers.

Answer 3

Different corps require different nutrients from the soil and that is the foundation of crop rotation.  I.E planting corn one year and then switching over to soy beans.