Characterization of biological features of the Kongwa weed (Astripomoea hyoscyamoides vatke verdc) in Kongwa district, Central Tanzania
Loading...
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
A study was carried out in Kongwa ranch and surrounding villages to evaluate the
biological characteristics of kongwa weed. The study site was stratified into three land use
types namely; Grazing Land (GL), Crop Land (CL) and Bush Land (BL). The study used
split-split-plot design, whereas study areas (Kongwa Ranch, Sejeli and Ngomai villages)
were considered as main factor while land use types and soil textural compositions were
treated as minor factors within the split plots. Range inventory techniques were used to
determine species composition. Soil samples were taken from each land use types for
laboratory analysis. Three textural soil types (Clay, Loamy-Sand, and Sand-Clay-Loamy)
were determined from each land use type. Kongwa weed seeds were randomly planted in
different soil texture sampled from grazing, crop and bush land. A total of forty one plant
species were identified during range inventory of which the Kongwa weed was significantly
higher in terms of coverage, occurrence and density in grazing land in the grazing land of
Kongwa Ranch. The soil pH from grazing (5.35) and crop land (5.72) was relatively acidic
than in the bush land (7.11) it seemed to favour the growth of kongwa weed. The highest
mean soil bulk density values (1.57 g/100 cm -3 ) recorded in the grazing land and crop lands
(1.49 g/100 cm -3 ). The relatively lowest soil bulk density in the bush land (1.42 g/100 cm -3 )
was attributed to litter decomposition available in the bushland soil. Moreover, the poor
performance of Kongwa weed was observed in the bush land x clay interaction, crop land x
clay interaction and grazing land x clay interaction rather than the two land use type x sandy
clay loam and land-use type x loamy sand. By understanding appropriate biological
characteristic of the weed in different land use types and soil textural soils may be useful in
developing effective integrated control measures and increasing awareness among a wider
range of stockholders such as agro-pastoralists, pastoralists, researchers and policy makers.
Keywords: Growth, Characteristics, Kongwa weed, Land use type, Plant species
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Astripomoea hyoscyamoides Vatke verdc, Kongwa weed, Seed yield, Soil properties, Kongwa District, Central Tanzania, Plant species, Land use type