Common weeds found in selected cassava farms in Eastern zone of Tanzania
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Date
2022-04-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
A field study was conducted at Kiimbwanindi village, Mkuranga district and Ilonga
village, Kilosa district. Coast and Morogoro regions of Tanzania, respectively to
identify the common weeds affecting cassava fields. A total of 24 random 1 m × 1 m
quadrat were placed in each cassava field where by all weed species found in each
quadrat were identified to a species level. During weed identification, weed density,
uniformity and frequency were calculated according to Thomas methodology and
used to determine weeds’ relative abundance. Also, a composite soil samples were
collected based on random sampling procedure at a depth of 0 to 50 cm from each
field before land preparation and analysed in the laboratory in order to determine
the amount of nutrient content available in the soil. A total of 22 weeds species
belonging to 16 families were identified, whereby out of these 14 were broad leaved
weeds, 6 grassy weeds, 1 mushroom and 1 sedged weed belonging to 10 perennial
and 12 annual weeds plant. During weed identification, Cyperus rotundus and
Echinochloa colona were the most abundantweed species while Dactyloctenium
aegyptium, Portulaca oleracea, Agaricus sp and Bidens pilosa were the least
occurred weed species. Perennial weeds Cyperus rotundus, Echinochloa colona,
Trichodesma zeylanicum, Reissantia sp, Mucuna pruriens and Commelina
benghalensis found to be the mostly abundant weed species due to their ability to
adapt into various soil types and their ability to reproduce as compared to other
weeds. The study recommended that, research toward new or improved weed
control measures is needed and also more survey work is needed on a regular
basis to identify possible weed population shifts.
Description
Research article
Keywords
Weed, Thomas methodology, Relative Abundance, Weed density