COMPOSITION OF WEED SPECTRUM IN WHEAT FIELDS OF DISTRICT MUZAFFAR-GARH PUNJAB PAKISTAN

  • Shamim Umer and Mumtaz Hussain

Abstract

Weed flora was explored in wheat fields of District Muzaffar-Garh (Pakistan) during 2016-17. Studies were accomplished in eight different locations of the district using quadrat method. Weed spectrum varied spatially in most of these towns. The flora comprised 3 monocot and 7 dicot families. Thirteen dicot weed species belonging to 7 families and seven monocot species from three monocot families were identified in the study area. Family Fabaceae from the dicots and Poaceae among the monocots emerged as the largest families each comprising of five weed species. The next dominant family was Chenopodiaceae having 2 species while rest of the families were represented by a single species each. IVCI exhibited that at Kochak Baloch Cyprus-Spergula-Cheopodium community prevailed, while at Chak 54 L a different community Medicago-Melilotus-Rumex has been the predominant. At Fateh Pur site witnessed the superiority of Chenopodium-Lathyrus-Cyperus community, whereas at Saggray Wala Anagallis-Sonchus-Cynodon dominated. Pattal Munda and Rang Pur had overwhelming stands of Chenopodium, Melilotus Rumex community. While Chowk Sarwar Shaheed and Abbasi Chowk were infested with Avena-Poa-Rumex and Angallis-Rumex-Chenopodium communities, respectively. IVCI identified four most important weeds in the Distict Muzaffar Garh, Punjab Pakistan in descending order in wheat fields are Rumex dentatus (64), Chenopodium album (59.5), Anagallis arvensis (58.4) and Melilotus alba (48.6). In order to harvest the optimum yield of wheat proper management of these and other weeds is recommended.
Published
2018-12-01
Section
Articles