Pak. J. Weed Sci. Res. 10(3-4):101-108, 2004

Weed Communities In The Wheat Fields Of Mastuj,

District Chitral, Pakistan

Farrukh Hussain^{^[1]}, Ali Murad¹ and Mufakhirah Jan Durrani^{^[2]}

Abstract

Three weed communities, viz: 1.Mentha-Setaria-Convolvulus in Kargin and in Chapari, 2. Mentha-Silene-Hordeum in Khuz and 3. Convolvulus-Hordeum-Trifolium in Brep were recognized in the wheat fields of Tehsil Mastuj, District Chitral, during July 1993. Based on Importance value-Constancy index, ten top most weeds in decreasing order of importance are Mentha royleana Benth., Convolvulus arvensis L., Hordeum spontaneum C. Koch., Trifolium repens L, Solanum nigrum L., Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv., Galium aparine L.,Avena barbata Polt ex Link, Mentha longifolia L. and Polygonum convolvulus Linn. Majority of species were in constancy class II (65 Sp., 72.22%).

Key words: Chitral Weed communities Importance Value Constancy Index.

Introduction

Wheat is globally important cereal crop including Pakistan. It was grown on 8.46 million hectares during 2003 (Hassan et. al. 2003) in Pakistan ranging from sea level to high altitudes. The per hectare yield is lower in Pakistan than other countries. Weeds are one of the major constraints in wheat production as they reduce productivity due to competition (Zimdhal, 1980), allelopathy (Hussain, 1983), by providing habitats for pathogens and thus severing as alternate host for various insects and fungi and increase harvesting costs (Rao, 1983). Decrease in the yield of crops due to weed infestation has been well documented (Saeed et al., 1977; Mehmood, 1987; Shad et al., 1986; Ansari, 1977). Losses in wheat yield due to weeds amount to more than 28 billion at national level and Rs. 2 billion in NWFP (Hassan et al., 2003). Weeds ecologically become important when their population and growth level reaches to a certain minimum threshold in the field. Every weed therefore would not be important if it does not suppress the crop growth. The knowledge regarding the population dynamics, occurrence and herbage cover (growth) is important in ecologically identifying problem weeds of an area. Ghafoor et al. (1987) recognized ten most serious weeds in Pakistan. Weeds of wheat fields from Peshawar valley (Hussain et al., 1985 a), Quetta (Hussain et al., 1985 b), Hazro (Hussain et al., 1988), Bannu (Shinwari et al., 1988), Kotli (Malik and Hussain, 1990), Attock (Shinwari et al., 1990), Bagh (Khan, 1992) and Mayar-Jandool, Dir (Ayaz et al., 1993) have been reported. Hassan et al. (2003) reported Phalaris minor, Anagallis arvensis, Poa annua, Cirsium arvense, Convolvulus arvensis, Ammi visnaga, Chenopodium album, Fumaria indica, Carthamus oxycantha, Euphorbia helioscopia, Medicago denticulata, Melilotus indica, Silybum marianum, Rumex crisps and Galium aparine to be the most important weeds of wheat fields in NWFP. However, little work has been done on the community establishment of weeds. The only available references are those of Hussain et al. (1988), Khan (1992) and Ayaz et al. (1993). Weed communities give a better idea about over all relationship of the most common and dominant weed species in relation to habitat and accompanying species.

Mastuj is a remote less explored area lying at an altitude of 2500-2600 m with arid temperate to sub alpine climate. Wheat is grown on small scale where some suitable soil is available. The soils are mostly nutrient deficient, gravely and stony. The only available references on the weeds from this area are those of Murad et al. (1995, 1996), Hussain et al. (1994) and Hussain & Murad (2004). The present paper, therefore, reports the weeds, their communities and ecological status based on importance values and frequency-constancy index. The findings would be of help in recognizing the most serious weeds in the area for future intensive studies in wheat-weed management.

Materials and Methods

Four wheat growing localities of Mastuj viz: 1. Kargin, 2. Chapari, 3. Khuz and 4. Brep, all within a radius of 15 km from each other were quantitatively sampled during July-August, 1993. The density, frequency and herbage cover of every weed species was determined in 10 randomly selected fields using 1m² quadrat in duplicate in each of the sites following Hussain (1989). The importance value for each species was calculated, which was changed to Average importance value (AIV) for each species for all the sites. Weeds were classified into constancy classes. Importance Value-Constancy Index (IVCI) was computed by using formula AIV x Constancy class value. Based on the IVCI weeds were assigned ecological status. The nomenclature followed is that of Flora of Pakistan (Nasir and Ali, 1971-1995; Ali and Qaiser, 1995-2004).

Results And Discussion

There were 90 weed species in the wheat fields, which have been listed in decreasing order of Importance Value Constancy Index (IVCI) [Table-1] with varying ecological status. Based on the importance values, three plant communities viz.1.Mentha-Setaria-Convolvulus in Kargin and in Chapari, 2. Mentha-Silene-Hordeum in Khuz and 3. Convolvulus-Hordeum-Trifolium in Brep, were recognized in the wheat fields of Tehsil Mastuj, District Chitral during July, 1993.

The data indicates that the communities and their dominants were almost similar, except that their phytosociological status among the communities changed. In all, six species appeared as the dominants in various communities. However, based on Importance value-Constancy index (Table-1), the ten top most important weeds in decreasing order of importance were Convolvulus arvensis (IVCI= 105), Hordeum spontaneum (IVCI=83.8), Trifolium repense (IVCI=53.8), Solanum nigrum (IVCI=52.5). Setaria viridis IVCI=45), Galium aparine (IVCI=37), Mentha royleana (IVCI=33), Avena barbata (IVCI=30) and Mentha longifolia (IVCI=29). They were followed by Polygonum convolvulus (IVCI=25), Silene conoidia (IVCI=24.8), Glycrhiza glabra (IVCI=22), Lepidium apetlium, Epilobium hirsutum, Artemesia scoparia, Centaurium meyeri, Alloteropsis crimicina and Chenopodium album having IVCI in between 12 to 25 (Table 1). All these above mentioned weeds were considered as serious weeds because of high IVCI value. Such weeds need to be controlled with a combination of manual and chemical methods. Some of these weeds such as Chenopodium, Cynodon, Convolvulus and Setaria etc. have been successfully controlled by application of chemical in rapeseeds (Marwat et. al., 2003).

Some of the weeds had higher importance value at one or two sites only and exerted a local pressure. When an over situation was assessed using AIV and constancy value then the situation changed with respect to those species which were recorded in one or two localities. The species with the IVCI values, therefore show overall high density and better herbage cover and spread more uniformly in the area. The high IVCI value of weeds might be due to the reasons that such weeds are either perennial, produce more viable seeds or reproduce vegetatively that make them more competitive and tolerable to the existing conditions. Seeds of Poa, Setaria, Melilotus and Medicago are very minute with hard testa that helps them survive for long time in the field. The nature of seed coat and shape of seeds play important role in the survival of species and their management. Weeds such as Mentha and Trifolium that also reproduce through underground suckers resist eradication due to aggressive vegetative spread, more competitive and long survival time.

Some of the recorded weeds such as Lolium and Avena (Hussain et al., 1987) and Taraxacum (Zebunisa, 1984) and Cynodon dactylon (Hussain and Khan, 1987) might allelopathically suppress the growth and yield of the susceptible crop. Weeds always compete with crops (Zimdhal, 1980). However, growth stages of weeds and crops, density of weeds and agronomic practices affect competitive capacity of weeds. Weeds with low importance values might not affect crops. The growing wheat generally over shadows such weeds. Small prostrate weeds might fail to compete for light with wheat. Ghafoor et al. (1987) placed Convolvulus among the 10 most important weeds in Pakistan, which also emerged as the most important weed of wheat in the investigated area. Khan et al. (2003) stated that Avena, Phalaris, Poa annua, Chenopodium album and Gallium aparine as the most competitive weeds of wheat in NWFP. Our findings agree with them as some of the same weeds have dominant status in the present case. Some grassy weeds such as Avena, Lolium and Poa are difficult to distinguish from wheat during early stage of growth. Climbing and twinning weeds such as Convolvulus, Galium and Vicia besides competing with wheat, might also distort wheat plant and reduce light availability by overgrowing it. Some of the weeds such as Cynodon, Chenopodium, Setaria, Melilotus, Vicia, Conolvulus and Avena etc. recorded at Mastaj have also been reported from other wheat growing areas of Pakistan. However, most the weeds present in this case have not been reported from low altitude wheat growing regions of Pakistan. The similarity in the occurrence of weeds depends upon the ecological amplitude of weed species with respect to climatic condition. The investigated area lies with in the arid temperate region with an altitude of 2500-2600m. Thus, only weeds with wide ecological range such as Convolvulus arvensis, Coronopus didymus, Setaria, Chenopodium album, Galium aparine, Rumex and Cynodon dactylon etc. might be present from the plains to high altitude area of Pakistan.

The ecological status of weeds in different sites and within the area as a whole depends upon time of survey, habitat, climatic conditions, growth stages of weeds and wheat and agronomic practices. The present study revealed that of the 90 recorded species, first 24 species (Table-1; Serial No. 1-24) were ecologically important as they have high IV and IVCI in the investigated area. A well-managed crop ensures higher yield. However, weeds persist even under best management as a result of seed reserve in the soil (Hussain et al., 1989), contaminant seeds in wheat seeds, dissemination of weed seeds through water, wind and animals. The time of emergence of weed seedling might indicate about the future problem (Ogg & Dawson, 1984). The present study was confined to the identification of weeds and their spread in the area. Therefore, further study is required to understand the autecology of important weeds, to investigate the negative interaction of the weeds against wheat and to suggest the best suitable methods for their eradication.

Table-1. Importance Value and Average Importance values (AIV), Constancy and Importance value Constancy index (IVCI) of weeds in wheat fields of Tehsil Mastuj, District Chitral during July-August

S. No.	Weed species	Importance values and communities in 4 sites				AIV	Constancy class	IVCI
		Kargin	Chapari	Khuz	Brep
		MSC	MSC	MSH	CHT
1	Mentha royleana Benth.	31 a	34 a	33 a	15	28.25	5	141.3
2	Convoluvlus arvensis L.	24 c	24 c	15	21 a	21	5	105.0
3	Hordeum spontaneum C. Koch.	3	23	25 b	16 b	16.75	5	83.8
4	Trifolium repens L.	9	12	6	16 c	10.75	5	53.8
5	Solanum nigrum L.	9	12	12	9	10.5	5	52.5
6	Setaria viridis L.	29 b	31 b	-	-	15	3	45.0
7	Galium aparine L.	14	9	-	14	9.25	4	37.0
8	Avena barbata Polt. ex Link.	9	-	12	9	7.5	4	30.0
9	Mentha longifolia L.	-	10	5	14	7.25	4	29.0
10	Polygonum convolvulus Linn.	3	8	5	4	5.0	5	25
11	Silene conoidia L.	-	-	27 c	6	8.25	3	24.8
12	Glycyrrhiza glabra L.	2	12	8	-	5.5	4	22.0
13	Lepidium apetalum H. & T .Willd.	7	3	-	8	4.5	4	18.0
14	Epilobium hirsutum L.	4	7	5	-	4.0	4	16.0
15	Artemisia scoparia Wald. ex. Kit.	-	10	-	11	5.25	3	15.8
16	Alloteropsis crimicina Linn.	-	10	10	-	5	3	15.0
17	Centaurium meyeri (Bunge) Druce.	4	6	5	-	3.75	4	15.0
18	Chenopodium album L.	9	-	8	-	4.25	3	12.8
19	Cynoglossum glochidiatum Wall. ex Benth.	4	11	-	-	3.75	3	11.3
20	Medicago denticulata Linn.	5	-	8	-	3.25	3	9.8
21	Clematis graveolens Lindl.	2	3	3	-	2	4	8.0
22	Sonchus asper L.	-	-	16	-	4	2	8.0
23	Capsella bursa-pastoris L.	-	-	-	15	3.75	2	7.5
24	Lolium persicum Boiss.	-	-	14	-	3.5	2	7.0
25	Cichorium intybus L.	6	-	3	-	2.25	3	6.8
26	Epilobium cylindricum D. Don.	-	-	-	13	3.25	2	6.5
27	Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.	-	-	-	13	3.25	2	6.5
28	Dactylorhiza hatagirea D. Don.	-	-	13	-	3.25	2	6.5
29	Aster altiacus Walld.	-	12	-	-	3	2	6.0
30	Ranunculus natans C.A. Mey	-	-	-	12	3	2	6.0
31	Sonchus arvensis Boiss	11	-	-	-	2.75	2	5.5
32	Launaea polyclada (Boiss) Burkill.	2	5	-	-	1.75	3	5.3
33	Coriandrum sativum L.	-	10	-	-	2.5	2	5.0
34	Gnaphalium thomsonii Hk. f.	-	10	--	-	2.5	2	5.0
35	Lactuca orientalis Boiss.	-	-	-	10	2.5	2	5.0
36	Astragalus gilgitensis Ali.	-	4	2	-	1.5	3	4.5
37	Thymelaea passerina L.	-	-	-	9	2.25	2	4.5
38	Vicia sativa L.	-	-	-	9	2.25	2	4.5
39	Verbascum erianthumm Benth.	-	9	-	-	2.25	2	4.5
40	Cirsium argyacanthum D.C.	-	-	8	-	2.0	2	4.0
41	Nasturtium officinale R. Br.	-	8	-	-	2	2	4.0
42	Carum carvi Linn.	-	-	-	7	1.75	2	3.5
43	Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf.	-	7	-	-	1.75	2	3.5
44	Lactuca tatarica L.	-	-	7	-	1.75	2	3.5
45	Parnassia cabulica Planch.	-	7	-	-	1.75	2	3.5
46	Polygonum aviculare L.	6	-	-	-	1.5	2	3.0
47	Arenaria serpyllifolia L	6	-	-	-	1.5	2	3.0
48	Astragalus corrugatus Bertol.	-	-	-	5	1.25	2	3.0
49	Conyza canadensis L.	-	6	-	-	1.5	2	3.0
50	Minuartia hybrida Vill.	6	-	-	-	1.5	2	3.0
51	Arnebia hispidissima A.D. C	-	-	-	5	1.25	2	2.5
52	Bidens tripertita L.	-	-	-	5	1.25	2	2.5
53	Geranium pratense L.	-	5	-	-	1.25	2	2.5
54	Lotus corniculatus L.	5	-	-	-	1.25	2	2.5
55	Setaria intermedia Roem	-	-	5	-	1.25	2	2.5
56	Artemisia maritime L.	-	-	-	4	1	2	2.0
57	Atriplex canescens James.	-	-	-	4	1.0	2	2.0
58	Capparis spinosa L.	-	-	4	-	1.0	2	2.0
59	Chenopodium ambrosioides L.	-	-	4	-	1.0	2	2.0
60	Clematis orientalis L.	-	4	-	-	1.0	2	2.0
61	Coronopus didymus (L.) SM.	4	-	-	-	1.0	2	2.0
62	Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.	-	-	-	4	1.0	2	2.0
63	Ischaemum timorense Kunth.	-	-	4	-	1.0	2	2.0
64	Papaver somniferum L.	-	-	-	4	1	2	2.0
65	Plantago major Aitch.	4	-	-	-	1.0	2	2.0
66	Polygonum barbatum Linn.	-	-	4	-	1.0	2	2.0
67	Polygonum nepalense Meiss.	-	-	-	4	1.0	2	2.0
68	Potentilla ornithopoda Tausch.	-	-	-	4	1.0	2	2.0
69	Salvia aegyptiaca L.	-	-	-	4	1.0	2	2.0
70	Silene arenosa L.	-	-	-	8	2	2	2.0
71	Artemisia rutifolia Steph ex Sprang.	-	-	-	3	0.75	2	1.5
72	A. linearifolia A.D.C.	-	-	-	3	0.75	2	1.5
73	Astragalus chlorostachys L.	-	-	-	3	0.75	2	1.5
74	Cannabis sativa L.	-	-	3	-	0.75	2	1.5
75	Cosmos bipinnatus Cav.	-	3	-	-	0.75	2	1.5
76	Cyperipedium cordigerum D. Don.	3	-	-	-	0.75	2	1.5
77	Lolium rigidum Guad.	3	-	-	-	0.75	2	1.5
78	Malcolmia cabulica L.	-	-	-	3	0.75	2	1.5
79	Otostegia limbata Benth.	-	-	-	3	0.75	2	1.5
80	Polygonum chinensis L.	3	-	-	-	0.75	2	1.5
81	Pulicaria gnaphaloides Boiss.	3	-	-	-	0.75	2	1.5
82	Artemisia brevifolia Wall.	2	-	-	-	0.5	2	1.0
83	Astragalus subumbellatus Klotzsch.	-	-	-	2	0.5	2	1.0
84	Crepis thomsonii Babe.	2		-	-	0.5	2	1.0
85	Eragrostis nigra Nees ex Steud.	-	2	-	-	0.5	2	1.0
86	Malva parviflora L.	2	-	-	-	0.5	2	1.0
87	Matricaria chamomila L.	2	-	-	-	0.5	2	1.0
88	Scrophularia scoparia Penn.	-	2	-	-	0.5	2	1.0
89	Taraxacum officinale L.	2	-	-	-	0.5	2	1.0
90	Melilotus indica (L) All.	-	-	1	-	0.25	2	0.5

* Weeds have been arranged in descending order of IVCI in the Table.

(Key to communities: MSC= Mentha-Setaria-Convolvulus; MSH= Mentha-Silene-Hordeum; CHT= Convolvulus-Hordeum-Trifolium commuities) a,b and c, respectively first, second and third dominant species with in each community/site.

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[1] Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar � Pakistan.

[2] Department of Botany, University of Balochistan, Quetta- Pakistan.

Copyrights� Weed Science Society of Pakistan�

Department of Weed Science
NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar