Fertilization benefits the facultative parasitic plant Rhamphicarpa fistulosa while gains by the infected host Oryza sativa are marginalized.

Fertilization benefits to rice plants are severely reduced but not completely nullified by R. fistulosa infection. The parasite's production and reproduction benefits accrued from increased nutrient availability are restricted to conditions in presence of a host plant. Host presence and nutrient effects are thus observed to be synergetic; R. fistulosa plants parasitizing a suitable host respond strongly to increasing levels of nutrients. This is associated with an increased root biomass of the parasitic plant itself but more likely resulting from exploitation of the nutrient uptake capacity of the host plant it parasitizes on.